Usually when national anthems are played at the World Cup, half of the stadium enjoys one and half likes the other. This week, there will be a group who are moved by both.
On Thursday, midfielder Jermaine Jones is one of several US players who will have split allegiances. Jones is set to play Germany, the country where he was born, bred and played most of his soccer.
“With both the anthems I’ll close my eyes, let everything go through and then after I will try to make my game,” said the German-accented 32-year-old.
Jones played three friendlies for Germany in 2008, but he switched to the US after being overlooked by coach Joachim Loew for that year’s European championship.
His origins are not unique. German-Americans John Brooks, Fabian Johnson, Timothy Chandler and Julian Green are all included in the squad led by Jurgen Klinsmann, a former Germany player and coach.
Now Jones, whose superb strike nearly earned the US a famous win over Portugal, is to play a team including German friends and acquaintances as the US bid for the World Cup’s last 16.
“I always say that I’m proud of both countries. I grew up in Germany and they gave me a lot. I took my first steps there and I played my first games and first leagues there,” he said. “I’m not going to say bad things about Germany, I have a lot of friends in Germany. Everything is good and everything happens for a reason.”
Jones, the son of a US soldier and German mother, has pledged not to celebrate if he scores in Recife. The US, who beat Ghana and drew 2-2 with Portugal, need at least a point to ensure their progress.
After coming through the ranks of German soccer, the uncompromising Jones said he appreciates the straightfoward approach that has helped bring them three World Cup titles.
“The whole time when I was playing there and grew up, the people are straight, concentrated and always focused. They know what they want to do,” Jones said.
“The expectations in Germany are very simple. They’ve always got to win it. Otherwise they’re disappointed,” Klinsmann said.
Jones, who formerly played for Schalke 04, but now plays for Turkish side Besiktas JK, admitted he was upset for “two or three days” after missing out on a place in Germany’s Euro 2008 squad.
However, buoyed by his strike against Portugal, which was canceled out by a late equalizer, he said the US now felt ready to take on anyone.
“We showed we can play against these teams,” he said.
The next generation of running talent takes center stage at today’s Berlin Marathon, in the absence of stars including Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopian world record holder Tigist Assefa. With most of the major marathon stars skipping the event in the wake of the Paris Olympics just more than a month ago, the field is wide open in the men’s and women’s races. Since 2015, Kipchoge has won five times in Berlin, Kenenisa Bekele has won twice and Guye Adola once — with all three missing today. Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie and Ethiopian Tadese Takele are among the favourites for the men, while
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
RSS