KANSAS CITY, Mo – Teen sensation Christian Pulisic might be the most hotly scrutinized young US national team prospect in years. But Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe is getting plenty of attention for his play, too, after naturalizing and donning an American jersey late last year.
The Liberian-born Nagbe is coming off his first goal for the US, a 90th-minute match-winner in Wednesday's 1-0 friendly victory over Ecuador after he came on as a half-time sub. It wasn't just the late score that turned heads, though. It was the fact that Nagbe completed all 26 of his passes, while showing off the pace that makes him such a threat.
“Definitely a lot of encouragement, a lot of positives I can take from it,” Nagbe told MLSsoccer.com on Friday. “Hopefully I can build on it going forward and continue doing what I've been doing, trying to get on the field and create chances and help the team on the ball.”
Consistency is one key to that hope becoming a reality for Nagbe, US coach Jurgen Klinsmann told reporters on the eve of Saturday's friendly against Bolivia (8 pm ET, FS1), their final match ahead of next month's Copa Centenario.
“Darlington is a player with the elements in his games being very technical, explosive and moving forward,” Klinsmann said. “It's nice that he grows more and more in our group now and gives us that element.
“Over time you want to see more and more that the players kind of put their own little stamp on the team: personality, hopefully making some killer passes in his position, or a goal like he did. But you also need to give these players time to grow into that role. And then, obviously, there is the competition with the ones that are already here. That's just normal for every team.”
The other key to Nagbe's long-term future with his country? Solid effort – again, consistently – on the other side of the ball.
“You just want to see him become consistent, demand the maximum out of himself, go both ways,” Klinsmann said. “You've got to grind it out defensively as well. That's a demand that he has to learn with us, because he is not asked to do that role–his job is not doing that at Portland most of the time. So it's just a normal process he is now going through.”
Nagbe will be 27–a prime age for someone who plays his position–when the next World Cup rolls around in 2018. A solid showing against elite international sides this summer would bolster his case for inclusion, should the US qualify for an eighth straight time. But Nagbe said on Friday that he isn't looking that far ahead.
“Right now I'm focused on this as the main priority,” he said. “If you don't do well here, then being on the roster for the World Cup won't come about.”
Steve Brisendine covers soccer in Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
