CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – “From day one, he set the tone.”
“He was unquestionably in the starting lineup after a week.”
“After three weeks of training and hard work, he’s definitely one of the winners of this period.”
U.S. National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann was full of praise for Lee Nguyen on Sunday after the New England Revolution midfielder was a standout performer in the USMNT’s 3-2 win over Iceland.
Nguyen went the full 90 minutes at StubHub Center – his first-ever start with the U.S. and a just reward after totaling only 139 minutes in the first eight games of an international career which began all the way back in 2007 and was rekindled late in 2014.
“It’s always good to see your guys do well with the national team,” said Revs head coach Jay Heaps, who watched the U.S game from New England’s preseason camp in Casa Grande, Arizona. “I think Lee’s a player that has been pushing to get in with the national team, he got an opportunity to start and it was well deserved from what I heard from camp.”
By all accounts Nguyen arrived at USMNT camp on Jan. 11 in top shape, fitter than he’d been at previous national team camps and already sharp after increasing his offseason workout regimen.
That helped earn the 29-year-old midfielder a start against Iceland, and he made the most of the opportunity. Nguyen was tidy and creative, playing the first half wide on the left and drifting inside, before moving to a more central role after the halftime break.
He looked comfortable in both spots, and could’ve had a first-half assist when he delivered an inch-perfect cross to the head of Gyasi Zardes at the far post. Zardes bounced his effort over the bar.
“It’s great to see someone that’s motivated,” said Heaps. “We see it with players; when they’re playing for their country and they’re playing for their club, usually they’re at their best.”
Nguyen will be back with his club soon – he’s expected to be available for the Revolution’s next trip to Arizona and the Desert Diamond Cup from Feb. 14-28 – but not before finishing up the USMNT’s January camp with another game against Canada on Friday night.
