SAN JOSE, Calif. -
Quakes midfielder Tommy Thompson has spent the past month with the U.S. U-20s in New Zealand for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The Quakes homegrown player has appeared as a substitute in two of the first three matches, helping the U.S. tally a total of six goals in Group A. Slated to face Columbia in the tournament’s Round of 16, we caught up with Tommy to review his memorable World Cup experience.
SJEarthquakes.com:
Take us through your first appearance in the U-20s match against Myanmar. What was that feeling like to participate in your first World Cup match?
Tommy Thompson:
It was an unbelievable experience making my first appearance in a World Cup game. It was a great feeling to finally live the moment I had been dreaming about for a long time now. Of course I would've liked my shot inside the six to sneak in there, but that's how it goes sometimes.
SJEQ:
How has the vibe been amongst your teammates during your time in New Zealand?
TT:
The morale of the group has been great so far. It's a fun team to be around on and off the field which is a great trait to have considering the amount of time we spend together. It says a lot about this group that regardless if we win against New Zealand or come up short against Ukraine, we're still all in good spirits and remain focused on what we have to do win the tournament.
SJEQ:
Explain what it was like to have Landon Donovan come to training and surprise you guys. What did he tell you all? Anything to you in particular?
TT:
It was surreal to have Landon join us in New Zealand. He provided the team with great insight into what to expect going into such a big tournament. He obviously had an unbelievable international career, so having a guy like that mentor us young players is an experience we'll never forget. Him joining us in training was just the cherry on top. Even though he's retired now, I promise you he's still got it. I spoke with him
directly about his time in San Jose. It was awesome to hear about his experiences with some of the same people I interact with now.
SJEQ: Give fans a quick rundown of what a typical day looks like for you and your team at the World Cup.
TT:
A typical day in New Zealand consists of food, sleep and soccer. This trip has been a combination of a lot of intense training sessions with a lot of rest. Then a few games sprinkled in there as well. Prior to the game, we always take a team walk around the city. Yesterday, we had Jurgen Klinsmann Skype us to wish us good luck against Columbia. I wouldn't say speaking with him is a typical day, but it was great to hear from him and to know that he's supporting us in the tournament.
SJEQ:
What does it mean for you to represent your country in such a prestigious tournament where some of the best soccer players have taken apart in?
TT:
It has been an absolute honor representing my country in this tournament. Very few players have the opportunity to play in a World Cup at any level, so I'm taking it all in and trying to enjoy every minute of it. It's been a great ride with this team going all the way back to my first call-up. To continue to grow with this team while testing our abilities against some of the best players in the world has been really special.
SJEQ: What has been the biggest thing you’ve taken away from this trip that will help you moving forward in your career?
TT:
It's difficult to cut it down to just one take away from being a part of this team. Tab Ramos and the rest of the coaching staff have done a great job of preparing us for all of the obstacles that come with qualifying and then playing in a World Cup. I'm grateful for all of the ups and downs I've experienced with this team over the past year and I look forward to working my hardest to continue to be a part of U.S. Soccer going forward.
SJEQ: Talk about the success you guys had in group play and how the team is preparing for Columbia in the Round of 16.
TT:
There was a lot of good moments throughout our first three World Cup games. Our team is looking to build on that momentum going into the Round of 16. We came to New Zealand to compete against the best young players in the world, so every single one of us is excited to play against a very talented Colombian side on Wednesday. We have now entered the knock out stages so the stakes are going to be sky high, but we're ready.
