US quarterback John Brooks said he would be in contention for a spot on Gregg Berhalter’s final World Championship squad if the USMNT got to Qatar despite not being called up for the three upcoming qualifying matches.
– World Cup Qualification: CONCACAF standings
– World Cup 2022: Like USMNT, Mexico could qualify
On Thursday, Berhalter presented his 27-man squad for the games against Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica, but Wolfsburg centre-back Brooks was not among those called up. Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, James Sands, Eric Palmer-Brown and Aaron Long will be the quarterbacks heading to USMNT training camp in Houston this weekend.
Speaking with ESPN Bundesliga announcer Derek RayBrooks said he would look to be on future teams as if his “American identity is a bet”.
“A few months ago, I took responsibility for my game and the decision that got me out of the squad. Now I’m happy to have regained my form, but unfortunately I was not invited to the camp,” said Brooks, quoted by Ray.
Brooks continued: “I accept this as a manager’s decision, but I will not agree that I cannot change this before the final selection of the squad for the World Cup. There should be no questions about my desire to play for this team. My plan is this. fight tooth and nail to get back to [USMNT].”
“My American identity is at stake, an identity that has been questioned by some over the years. [Americans] everyone was at different times, but we always resist and I plan to do the same.”
“My American identity is at stake, an identity that has been questioned by some over the years. We (Americans) have all been in decline at different times, but we always fight back, and I plan to do the same.”
— Derek Ray (@RaeComm) March 17, 2022
Born to an American father and a German mother in Berlin, Brooks played 45 games for the USMNT and competed in the 2014 World Cup.
Speaking to reporters about Brooks’ expulsion, Berhalter said he “had a good talk with him and explained to him what we thought of that window.”
“That’s what we decided to do in this window. This does not determine his future in the national team. And I think that’s a very important difference,” Berhalter said. “Like all these guys who weren’t included in the original cast, that doesn’t mean they won’t have a role in the future.
CONCACAF table
| general doctor | PTS | DG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – Canada | eleven | 25 | +14 |
| 2 – USA | eleven | 21 | +9 |
| 3 – Mexico | eleven | 21 | +6 |
| 4 – Panama | eleven | 17 | +1 |
| 5 – Costa Rica | eleven | 16 | one |
| 6 – El Salvador | eleven | nine | -7 |
| 7 – Jamaica | eleven | 7 | -7 |
| 8 – Honduras | eleven | 3 | -17 |
| 1-3 qualify; 4 in the playoffs | |||
“So we did what we think is best for this window, the way we want to play, and sometimes we let players in, sometimes we bring them in depending on our opponents and depending on what we’re trying. do in this window.
Brooks has not played since September 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Honduras and has not been called up to camp since last October due to a back injury. His form at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga also deteriorated, but he returned to the team’s starting line-up. However, the club announced they would part ways with the 29-year-old at the end of the season.
Brooks made over 200 Bundesliga appearances for Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg, including 13 appearances in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
The US is currently second in a group of eight teams, tied on points with third-place Mexico and four points ahead of fourth-place Panama. The top three teams will automatically qualify, with the fourth-placed team advancing to the playoffs against Oceania’s representative in Qatar in mid-June. To guarantee automatic qualification, the USA needs to earn five points in three matches.