FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Tuesday night’s international friendly between the U.S. Men’s National Team and star-studded Brazil didn’t go exactly how Jermaine Jones had planned.
Representing the Stars and Stripes at Gillette Stadium for the first time since joining the hometown New England Revolution a little more than one year ago, Jones received the loudest ovation from the Foxborough faithful during pregame player introductions. From there, however, it was a frustrating night.
Barcelona starlet Neymar scored a pair of second-half goals as the Brazilians rolled to a comprehensive 4-1 win, only a late Danny Williams thunderbolt putting the USMNT on the board.
But Jones was quick to pull the silver lining from the performance, noting that there were many lessons to be learned on Tuesday night ahead of the all-important October 10 playoff against Mexico.
“I would say today was a little bit like a learning process,” Jones said. “All three goals that we gave away in the second half were counterattacks or mistakes from us in front.
“We have to put it away. It’s Brazil. They have a good team. We knew that before. Of course, we don’t want to lose 4-1, but now it’s done and we will [turn our] concentration to Mexico.”
More immediately, Jones will return to the Revs as they continue their late-season push toward the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and as he does so, he’s nearing full fitness.
After playing 121 total minutes in his last three appearances for the Revs – marking his return from bilateral sports hernia surgery – Jones continued his progression in this pair of friendlies with the U.S., playing 71 minutes in a 2-1 win over Peru last Friday and 72 minutes against Brazil.
“I feel good,” Jones said. “Now I go back, have a couple days, and travel to Toronto with my club team. This is the next game for me and I look forward and try to get for my club the next three points.”
Sunday evening’s nationally-televised meeting with Toronto FC (5 p.m. ET on ESPN2) will pit Jones against two of his teammates on Tuesday night, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley.
And while Jones is always keen to match up against top competition, his focus ahead of this weekend isn’t on individual opponents, but instead on the collective task facing the Revolution.
“It’s a big game, but it’s not a game between me and Jozy and Michael – it’s between New England and Toronto,” Jones said. “We want the three points. We know it’s difficult. They have a good team, but we travel there to win that game.”
