Homecoming: Ex-Fire Stars Return to Chicago for Gold Cup Opener

It’s hard to believe that it was just five days ago that the U.S. Men’s National Team hoisted their third consecutive regional title when they won the CONCACAF Nations League in Las Vegas, with Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Chris Richards, and Folarin Balogun among those propelling them to glory. Less than a week later, though, it’s once again time to get down to business for the USMNT as they prepared at UIC’s training facility ahead of tomorrow’s Gold Cup opener at Soldier Field.

What is worth noting is that the group of 23 players that arrived in Chicago on Wednesday is very different from the team that defeated Mexico and Canada last week. Starting goalkeeper Matt Turner is here, as is center-back Miles Robinson (though he is working through an injury setback). Alex Zendejas and Alan Soñora were with the team in Vegas, though they didn’t see the field. Finally, there’s former Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who was one of the reserve keepers with the first team at the World Cup in Qatar and at the Nations League finals.

“It’s a privilege every time you get to represent your country,” Johnson told media on Wednesday ahead of what his remarkably be his fifth Gold Cup. “You can never take it for granted.”

The 34-year-old, who was with the Fire from 2010 to 2016, is by far the oldest member of the squad. Johnson brings a wealth of experience to the group; despite having never actually appeared in a knockout match, he still has four CONCACAF winners medals in his pocket, including Gold Cups in 2013, 2017, 2021, and the Nations League this summer.

“Chicago is a special place to me,” Johnson said of his return to the Windy City, a place where the USMNT has not played in four years. “It’s where I started my career as a professional, and that gave me the platform to be the player and man I am today. It’s always had a special place in my heart, it’s great to come back.”

As in previous tournaments, Johnson likely won’t see the field much. He’ll be 37 by the time 2026 rolls around, and with all the young goalkeeping talent that the U.S. has, it’s difficult to imagine a world in which the veteran makes another World Cup roster. It’s impossible to deny, though, that he has an important role to play at this tournament in particular, especially with a 19-year-old rising star as a part of the goalkeeping core.

“I’ve known Gaga [Slonina] for a while now,” he says. “In his time at Chelsea now, he's gotten a lot of experience, a lot more than I did at his age, for sure. We've worked together in the past, and I’m looking forward to working with him here as well.”

Back in his hometown for the first time since he left the Fire for London at the end of last season, Slonina is happy to be back in comfortable surroundings and excited for the opportunity to put on the national team shirt once again. He made his debut against Serbia in January, becoming the youngest goalkeeper in the history of the USMNT at just 18 years old.

“It's amazing just to be back home,” says Gaga. “You can definitely feel the energy of just being here and being able to have my family come out to the game, and everything is going to be amazing. It's really nice to be back home, and especially with the national team, it’s an honor.”

The third and final Fire alumnus was Djordje Mihailovic. A highly touted prospect in his teenage years, Djordje was traded from Chicago to Montréal at the end of 2020 as he sought to take the next step in his career and go somewhere the team would be built around him. He succeeded there, earning a multi-million dollar move to AZ Alkmaar in Holland; for the last few weeks, he’s been back in town, his first return since his European adventure began.

“It’s been a while,” began Mihailovic. “To be a part of a team that's in a competition, fighting for a trophy, these are the games you want to play, and these are good steps when we come to Copa América and the World Cup when it comes here, to develop yourself and to make your point into the team to be selected.”

“If I get the opportunity to play, it's something special. It's rare for my family to see me in person these days when I play, being over there in Europe, but I'm going to have a good amount of family there watching.”

This Gold Cup will be essential for Djordje. As shown by the first team last week, the barrier for entry into the national team is now very, very high. The standard that was set in Vegas means it will be difficult for new players like Djordje to break in, regardless of how well he’s performed over the last three years. Gregg Berhalter, who’s returning as head coach following this tournament, often shown reluctance to call him up once he was cap-tied, and failed to integrate him before the World Cup last fall. This tournament, where he’ll most likely be the focal point going forward, is his chance to prove that he belongs in the national team shirt, and that he’ll be someone to keep around for years to come.

The U.S. will take on Jamaica on Saturday night, with kickoff at 9:06 PM.

Read More:

https://meninred97.com/catching-up-with-gaga-slonina/

https://meninred97.com/mihailovic-slonina-named-to-usmnts-gold-cup-roster/