After being doing 2-0 at Halftime in Bosnia, USMNT came back in an impressive manner scoring back-to-back goals at the 55th and 58th minute before taking the lead in the last minutes of the game. Altidore responded with a hat-trick and a wonderful free kick. USA has now extend their winning streak to 12 games. USA are getting ready for the next World cup qualifiers clash against Costa Rican and Mexico rivals.
Bosnia 3-4 USA – reactions:
U.S. Men’s National Team forward JOZY ALTIDORE
On going down two goals and how the team responded:
“I think Jurgen has always said even if we go down a goal to keep responding. This time we went down two goals so it was a challenge for us. But I think you saw in the game we were never outplayed. It was just a matter of ironing out the mental errors, which we did, and we created a lot of chances.”
On setting up Eddie Johnson’s goal:
“I made a run and Michael [Bradley] picked me out. Eddie [Johnson], like a good striker, was around there and I touched it back for him and he got us on the board. From there the guys were brimming with confidence and you saw that. I’m happy I could play a part in this good victory.”
On the two free kicks he took, including his goal:
“I’ve been training the past couple of years and I’m not saying I’m Ronaldinho but I felt like I had it in me tonight. The first one I thought I hit decent but it was a little close for me. The second one I got right. I was thinking just get it up and over and I’m happy I could score there.”
On Aron Johannsson’s debut for the U.S. Men’s National Team and his impact on the match:
“I’m not surprised at all. Aron, over the past six months I was with him at AZ, you saw in training his ability to see passes and score goals and beat people so effortlessly. He’s such a smart player and I’m so happy he chose the U.S. I think he’ll be an asset going forward and I think he’ll help us a lot.”
On the 12-game winning streak:
“It’s exciting and I think it shows how far the program has come. At the same time we understand we still have to raise the bar. We can’t afford to make mistakes [like the ones tonight] because in group stages of the World Cup you can’t come back from them. We have to learn to iron those out but we take the positives from tonight and move forward with our head held high.”
On the depth of the team moving towards next month’s crucial World Cup Qualifiers:
“Everybody has confidence and tonight shows the depth we have in this team. Guys can step in at any time and put in a good performance. It makes us all better and demands the best out of each other. I think for the qualifiers we will look good.”
U.S. Men’s National Team head coach JURGEN KLINSMANN
On the win in Sarajevo:
“I think [the players] deserve a huge, huge compliment. It’s a test game and a friendly where you want to see certain things from new players coming in and where your top players are right now, especially at the beginning of the European season. You don’t really know where you stand but I think they showed amazing character.”
On coming back from two goals down:
“We conceded the two goals and we knew that Dzeko and Ibisevic are such a threat, especially from set pieces. But we already had chances to score and I said to the guys at halftime ‘there’s a game to play and we can come back in this game.’ It was wonderful to see the energy and dynamic of the whole group. We pushed and pushed, kept the tempo higher than Bosnia did and absolutely deserved the win.”
On what the win means for the U.S team:
“It’s good for the guys to see we can come to Europe and we’re not here to defend, we’re here to play eye-to-eye. I think everybody here in Bosnia saw that the second half we dictated the tempo and kept the rhythm going. The passing in moments was fun to watch.”
On Jozy Altidore’s performances in 2013:
“We see Jozy understanding the demands at this level, to be consistent and always focused. He went through a lot of maturing the last couple years. The ups and downs are normal. But he really understands when it counts and how he has to be there with his presence. He makes everybody around him a better player and its real enjoyable, real fun.”
On John Brooks’ debut:
“Already in training he was very calm and very balanced. I just told him to play here, like you play for Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga, and guys will help you. That’s what he did and he played against some of the best strikers in the world, Dzeko and Ibisevic. It’s big because it gives us even more options now in the centerback role.”
On how these games prepare the team for World Cup Qualifiers:
“It definitely prepares us confidence-wise. If something goes wrong and we’re down a goal or two goals, we know how to react the right way. We know to keep playing at our rhythm and our pace and our passing game. Going into Costa Rica it will be very dramatic and we’ll need to have a calm element in our game to say, even if something goes wrong, we’ll still make it through, score and even win the game.”
