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    •  August 30, 2016

    Klinsmann Taps Unlikely Candidate For World Cup Qualifiers

    August 30, 2016
    Ethan Tait
    Subscriber
    Ethan Tait
    Subscriber

    For the love of all things American, it’s about damn time that the mustachioed maestro, Sacha Kljestan, is back in the USMNT fray.

    Kljestan looks as if he belongs in Portland drinking some God-awful Kombucha, talking about the NGO he gives to while leaning against fixie; he’s a hipster.

    All jokes aside regarding the aesthetic of the New York Red Bulls midfielder, he’s one hell of a footballer and has helped transform the side from a playoff side into a title contender.

    With 14 assists in 2015, Kljestan proved his importance and class to NYRB and has continued his stalwart form into the 2016 season.

    The combo of Bradley Wright-Phillips and Kljestan is money.

    Unfortunately, he didn’t receive the credit he earned until now.

    Kljestan was one of the first US players to settle into a European side and gain relative success in the process.

    Although he didn’t play in a top four league in Europe, Sacha Kljestan managed to win 3 Belgian league titles and 4 Super Cups while at Anderlecht and played in the Champions League.

    He was consistent in the midfield for the Belgian giants and deserved more recognition on the international stage.

    With Michael Bradley being severely inconsistent and Jermaine Jones only having a decent game once in a blue moon, Kljestan would have guided the USMNT through some rough patches with ease.

    But Jurgen Klinsmann decided to be overly reliant on the old guard that has led us to very little improvement as a national team…I’m not bitter.

    Finally, Klinsmann has come to his senses and has brought Kljestan back into the national team for the upcoming qualifiers to replace the injured John Brooks.

    Sad to see a quality center-back injured for such important games, but putting Kljestan back into the midfield will add the finesse and fire we’ve been missing lately.

    If we could only convince Klinsmann to put Benny Feilhaber back into the squad, I would be a happy man. One can dream…

    But first, let’s take a moment and remember what he can do…

    Ball’s in your court, Klinsmann.

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