SEATTLE – As impromptu American soccer nicknames go, Tim Howard’s “Secretary of Defense” moniker, given after his 16-save performance in the United States’ World Cup defeat to Belgium in 2014, remains the gold standard.
John Brooks’ tag – the “Wall of Brooks” – doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as easily, yet we should probably either get used to it or come up with a speedy alternative.
For if his performances in Copa America are reliable evidence, then Brooks, the 23-year-old German-born defender, is here to stay as part of the backbone of Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad.
In the aftermath of Saturday’s final group game victory over Paraguay and ahead of Thursday’s quarterfinal against Ecuador at CenturyLink Field, Brooks was the most discussed member of the squad, following a breakout display of defensive quality.
“It is fun to see young players coming through,” Klinsmann said. “I think John Brooks, for a performance like that, all of Europe is watching. That was a big statement.”
Klinsmann’s comment was followed with a plea to “keep him grounded, please”, but such is the desire for fresh soccer heroes in this country that there was little chance of that.
Brooks was and remains the man of the hour, for now at least, and will be much needed again in Seattle, as the USA seeks to reach the last four.
“We are very optimistic about his future,” Klinsmann said on Wednesday. “He is a young player, very eager to learn and a good listener. Now he is becoming more consistent in everything he does. Players just learn at that age how to live a professional lifestyle. It is a big learning curve. He will only get better.”
For the USA, the ride of the last week has been remarkable, with a rapid revival following an opening game defeat to Colombia that saw Klinsmann’s job called into question – all the way to top spot in the group and renewed hope.
However, 13th ranked Ecuador has more than enough ability to threaten the recent wave of American momentum. Indeed, if this game was taking place anywhere other than Seattle, perhaps the biggest source of home field advantage, the USA would not have their present status as marginal favorites.
Klinsmann has been searching for defensive stability for some time, with a demoralizing 2-0 defeat in Guatemala as part of World Cup qualifying still fresh in the memory. The way Brooks has stepped up gives optimism that he can be a high level contributor in that department for years to come, especially as he is also making strides in his club career.
There have, however, been some stumbles along the way. Brooks lost his starting place with his German Bundesliga team Hertha Berlin last year in bizarre fashion – after a large fresh tattoo on his back caused club officials to fear that playing would cause inflammation. He quickly fought his way back in, and is now firmly entrenched in the line-up, while rumors persist of interest from various teams in the English Premier League.
“I am feeling more comfortable with everything now,” Brooks, a man of few words, said recently. “Especially with my position in the national team.”
Brooks appeared for only 45 minutes at the last World Cup, but made a crucial contribution. His late headed goal against Ghana in the team’s opening match secured a 2-1 win, the USA’s only victory of the competition.
Back then he was still raw, and somewhat of a surprise to have even made the World Cup squad. Now, he is first choice in defense and, out of all the members of the USA’s German-born brigade, Brooks could turn out to be the one with the greatest long-term upside.
He is an interesting character, with his reluctance to utter any type of public comment conflicting with reports from his teammates of a sharp sense of humor. While still speaking with a German accent he embraces both sides of his upbringing too, with a tattoo celebrating his father’s birthplace of Illinois on one elbow and one of his childhood and current home of Berlin on the other.
Heck, maybe we should call him the “Berlin Wall” instead. Klinsmann doesn’t probably care too much either way, as long as he can call on him for more of the same kind of performances as last week’s.
