Last month, Jermaine Jones got his first taste of life as a U.S. national teamer. The injured Bundesliga midfield star didn't pull on one of those snazzy new jerseys, but his meet-the-Yanks visit in Amsterdam couldn't have gone more smoothly.
He fit in so well, in fact, that it appeared Jones -- who has an American father and a German mother, but grew up in Germany -- would be included in Bob Bradley's World Cup roster if he managed to get any meaningful action for league-leading Schalke this season.
To read about Jones' chances of overcoming his shin injury to play in the World Cup, plus the latest on Bob Bradley's other midfield options and Jozy Altidore, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine. He has covered American and international soccer since 2002.
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U.S. National Soccer Team Blog
We're your regular source for all the inside info on the U.S. national team. Whether it's breakdowns of player pool developments, news and notes from the club soccer world and its impact on the American side, or game coverage, we'll bring you consistent, exclusive access and insight. Contact us with comments and tips at ESPNUSSoccerblog@gmail.com.
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Doug McIntyre
Doug McIntyre has watched or attended almost every U.S. national team game since Paul Caligiuri's "shot heard 'round the world" in 1989. He is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and has covered American and international soccer since 2002.
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