Skip to content

U.S. boss Klinsmann talks about Graham Zusi, Will Bruin

Jan 20, 2013, 8:45 AM EDT

Toronto FC v Houston Dynamo Getty Images

We know Jurgen Klinsmann prefers to swim in the “positive” end of the pool. Always.

As a starting point, we can probably assume that everybody is having a great national team camp out in sunny Southern California.

But perhaps some people are having a really super-duper great camp — even greater than everyone else.

Graham Zusi and Will Bruin seem to particularly be impressing the boss, for instance.

Zusi got a head start on the training camp bunch, training for a few days at West Ham. The additional fitness work and the sharp edge needed to train with an English Premier League outfit  certainly didn’t hurt the Sporting KC man as he got into U.S. camp.

Here’s Klinsmann on how Zusi looks with the U.S. men after training with West Ham:

He’s in very, very good shape. Graham obviously has a little advantage because he’s already done this before, and players that were already in a camp know now that you can’t come in unprepared. So he’s very well prepared and certain players you could see right from the beginning had given themselves a head start, which is normal.

Bruin (pictured) is participating in his first camp. The Houston Dynamo striker needs to step lively here and seize the opportunity, because Alan Gordon or Chris Pontius could well have been picked over Bruin but for their injuries. It sounds like he’s holding his own:

Will is a team player, is focused 24/7 and he’s a great finisher. We’re trying now to give him another level, a more fast-paced rhythm than what he’s used to – which is normal for a new player in a National Team environment – and he adjusted to it right away. So far he’s done really well.”

There’s more from Klinsmann in an interview he did two late last week in California with the USSoccer.com staff.

Latest Posts
  1. MLS may be backpedalling on Queens as NYC site

    May 21, 2013, 8:02 PM EDT

    Queens

    Wait a minute … didn’t MLS commissioner Don Garber say there “is no Plan B …” beyond the Queens location?

  2. Are Spurs putting the “For Sale” sign on Clint Dempsey?

    May 21, 2013, 6:40 PM EDT

    FBL-ENG-PR-TOTTENHAM-MAN CITY

    Well, phooey! Didn’t Dempsey just go through a summer of transfer instability?

  3. U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley training in Fort Lauderdale

    May 21, 2013, 5:55 PM EDT

    Costa Rica v United States - FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier Getty Images

    The U.S. midfielder is doing his part to stay fit and sharp ahead of the important internationals ahead:

  4. News and notes on United States national team

    May 21, 2013, 4:50 PM EDT

    Rio Tinto Stadium

    This and that as the U.S. contingent preps to gather in Cleveland ahead of five matches over the next few weeks:

  5. ProSoccerTalk’s weekly Major League Soccer rankings

    May 21, 2013, 4:10 PM EDT

    Toronto FC v New England Revolution Getty Images

    The updated ordering in ProSoccerTalk’s ranking of Major League Soccer teams following 12 rounds of play:

  6. Officials from MLS, Yankees, Manchester City and NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg to speak tomorrow on expansion news

    May 21, 2013, 3:15 PM EDT

    Museum Of The Moving Image And The Jim Henson Legacy Collaboration Press Conference Getty Images

    How very convenient that Manchester City just happens to be in the States for a brief two-game tour.

  7. Why MLS was so focused on New York as the 20th market

    May 21, 2013, 2:30 PM EDT

    NYC pic

    It’s really about two things, and not much else:

  8. A few implications of the ‘sister-club’ relationship between City and NYC FC

    May 21, 2013, 2:05 PM EDT

    Manchester City v Southampton - Premier League Getty Images

    By forming NYC FC, City and the Yankees have created a ‘sister-club’ relationship – an innovative bond between a Premiership and MLS club.

  9. Notes from today’s big announcement on MLS, NYCFC the Yankees and the rest

    May 21, 2013, 1:23 PM EDT

    Garber-Queens

    Early thoughts on the facility and the ripples of today’s big announcement on the 20th MLS franchise:

  10. Cavani for Dzeko swap could be massive for Manchester City

    May 21, 2013, 11:45 AM EDT

    PST Cava

    By swapping Dzeko for Cavani, City can hamstring Manchester United and Chelsea, as both are rumored to be seeking a world-class striker.

  11. Kolo Toure could prove to be a cheeky buy for Liverpool

    May 21, 2013, 9:33 AM EDT

    Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League Getty Images

    During his Premiership tenure Toure has proven himself a leader, captaining both the Gunners and the Citizens, as well as Cote d’Ivoire.

  12. Gareth Bale set to re-sign with Tottenham – But is it a good deal for the Welshman?

    May 21, 2013, 8:37 AM EDT

    Bale tri

    Has Daniel Levy already forgotten about what happened when he tried to pin Luka Modric down with this ‘no sale’ line of bull?

  13. As far as transfer rumors go, Gonzalo Higuaín to Arsenal actually makes some sense

    May 20, 2013, 11:23 PM EDT

    FBL-ESP-REAL MADRID-ESPANYOL Getty Images

    If Real Madrid’s going to shake things up, Higuaín could do worse than land at The Emirates.

  14. Taking inventory of José Mourinho’s Chelsea wish list

    May 20, 2013, 9:45 PM EDT

    Atletico Madrid's Falcao celebrates his goal against Deportivo La Coruna during their Spanish first division soccer match in Madrid Reuters

    Four players were on the original list. None of them may end up at Stamford Bridge.

  15. Chelis increasingly sounds like a man broken by Chivas USA

    May 20, 2013, 8:13 PM EDT

    Jose Luis Sanchez Sola

    Our sympathy continues to grow for a man in a bad spot.

  16. Brighton & Hove Albion formally apologize to Crystal Palace over ‘excrement’ incident

    May 20, 2013, 7:21 PM EDT

    Brighton_&_Hove_Albion_logo

    MLS will not have arrived until it has a high-profile feces incident.

  17. Get ready for an interminal summer of Neymar-to-Barcelona talk

    May 20, 2013, 6:40 PM EDT

    Neymar of Brazil's Santos celebrates after scoring against Bolivia's Bolivar during their Copa Libertadores soccer match in Santos

    It probably won’t happen this summer, and if it does … I’m sure we’ll run that into the ground, too.

  18. Silvio Berlusconi says he hasn’t fired Maximiliano Allegri. Yet.

    May 20, 2013, 5:45 PM EDT

    FBL-ITA-EUR-C1-MILAN-ANDERLECHT Getty Images

    For a moment, it looked like Milan had fired their coaching staff … via an open letter from a television show.

Top 10 Player Searches
  1. M. Goodson (NFL)
  2. M. Garza (MLB)
  3. B. Beachy (MLB)
  4. G. Hill (NBA)
  5. D. Freeney (NFL)