As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Dempsey, Altidore absence gives US youngsters great opportunity - Klinsmann

USA national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann expects some of his less experienced players to stand up in his side's upcoming internationals.

With the likes of Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore and Jermaine Jones sidelined for various reasons, Klinsmann has implored his younger personnel to grab any potential opportunity with both hands in Friday's friendly with Holland and the meeting with World Champions Germany on June 10.

"I think every player always thinks day-in and day-out, 'How far can I go in my career at the international level?' and sometimes when you have big names in front of you maybe just don't believe that you can get there," Klinsmann told USsoccer.com.

"You have Clint Dempsey in front of you, Jozy Altidore in front of you, also Alejandro Bedoya, who really became an important piece in our team, in front of you, and then maybe you don't expect to get that opportunity.

"So now you get that opportunity. You can play against Holland, you can play against Germany, and now you have to understand that you better use it. You better make the best out of it and prove to the coaches and the fans that you deserve to be a part of the program moving forward. So I think that's pretty cool. I think that's very exciting, even though it's difficult for a coach when some key players are not there because you also want to have positive results and show these big name teams that you are able to play with them."

Video of the day:

Andrew Slevison
About the author

Andrew Slevison

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free