I WAS 16 YEARS OLD WHEN I WATCHED my first World Cup, in 2010. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. When Landon Donovan scored the goal against Algeria that sent us through to the knock-out rounds, I jumped and screamed at the TV. No other sport had ever made me feel like that. It made me fall in love with the game.
After that, I enjoyed playing football. The fact that I started playing at 16 and have made it as far as I have as the goalkeeper for Arsenal [currently the top team in the English Premier League], and for the U.S. team in the upcoming World Cup-is pretty rare. It shows that anything is possible if you're willing to learn.
When the U.S. team failed to qualify in 2017, I felt so far away from the national team picture that I was more of a fan than a player. Obviously I was sad and couldn't believe that it had happened, but it ended up being the biggest opportunity for me. I didn't have experience playing at the international level, but when the new coaches came in, they were willing to give anybody a chance-and I ended.
up being one of those "anybodies." But I found it hard to feel like I belonged at camp in the qualifying window. I was talking to guys at some of the biggest clubs in the world, while I was playing for the New England Revolution. I didn't feel like I had the right to share the field with some of these guys. That was really challenging to overcome.
I started earning the respect of my teammates after spending more time together, training and from the way I played in games. After my transfer to Arsenal earlier this year, I felt like I came into my own. I showed more of my personality on and off the field in the last two qualifying windo in June and September. I don't think the transfer was necessary for me to feel more secure in who I was on the pitch, but it definitely helped. It made me feel like I had more credibility with those guys.
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