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Jeff Carlisle, American football reporter
Fulham and US defender Tim Ream said he is “not really thinking about age” as he begins his 16th season in professional football.
Reem, 35, is in his hometown of St. Louis preparing for the US team’s friendly against Uzbekistan on Sept. 9, which will be followed by a second friendly against Oman in St. Paul, Minnesota, four days later.
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Despite the United States’ supremacy at the 2022 World Cup, it was no surprise to see the United States turn to other, younger defenders, but Ream is determined to continue contributing to his country.
“I just play and live in the moment, I just enjoy what I’m doing. I don’t, I don’t really think about age,” Reem told reporters on a conference call on Monday. “I set goals for myself every season. I set long-term goals to try to get to the World Cup again, to try to be able to play in the Copa America next summer.
“I just think about being able to enjoy what you’re doing. As you get older, most people’s bodies start to tire. Their minds start to wander. And for me, I just try to enjoy it all, I try to take it all in. I do a lot and play as much as I can.”
Nahdet Riam – a somewhat surprising join to the team that reached the last 16 in Qatar – has proven to be an inspiration to young players and veterans alike.
“Obviously everyone knows that Tim is a really important player for this team and for this program,” said US goaltender Matt Turner. “To perform at the level he’s been at, week after week, over the last few years, to be away from the national team and then come back… the resilience he shows, but also that calmness even in his way of speaking.
“On the field it’s really useful for me. Off the field it’s really useful. If I could have half of the career that this guy’s had, I would consider it to be very successful.”
Turner is making the most of his move to Nottingham Forest, where he won the starting goalkeeper spot after spending a solitary season with Arsenal as a substitute for England international Aaron Ramsdale.
The US No. 1 got his first clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Chelsea last weekend.
“I think it’s easy to get into a situation where you feel comfortable, not competing and just collecting your paycheck and going to work,” Turner said. “I think the reason I fell in love with the game is the competition element in everything. So, speaking of competition, wherever you play in the Premier League, it’s the best league in the world and you’ll have competition. For spots.
“If we’re going to be the club we want to go with, you’re going to have to compete all over the field every training day, just to fight complacency and everything. So I’m looking forward to the challenges.” “I’m looking forward to fighting and ultimately want to play as many matches as possible and maintain that sense of competition on the pitch.”
