By Clemente Lisi - PHILADELPHIA, PA (Jul 17, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- It must feel good to be Stuart Holden right now. After an impressive string of performances for the US in the first round of the Gold Cup, Holden is ready to take on Panama in the quarterfinals Saturday to help the Americans remain in the hunt to win the CONCACAF trophy for a third straight time.
“This is a big tournament for all of us,” said Holden. “When you are representing your country at this level, you always want to go out there and do well.”
Aside from trying to win the Gold Cup, Holden is also one of handful of players hoping to grab a spot on the USA's World Cup roster. Holden has had a great week at practice, even joining Philadelphia Eagles placekicker David Akers for a training session on Wednesday. Holden nailed a 35-yard attempt before hitting one from 50 – prompting onlookers to speculate that he might consider joining the NFL.
Instead, Holden is hoping for another great game against Panama at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Against Haiti this past Saturday, the US was able to eke out a 2-2 tie after some late-game heroics from Holden. With the US down 2-1 going into stoppage time, Holden gained possession outside the penalty area, with a defender glued to him, and sent in an off-balance shot into the top right side of the net to tie the match.
“That was for sure the best goal of my career,” said Holden. “It was a great feeling to score such an important goal.”
His only regret? “I wanted to get the ball back one more time to try and win the game,” said the enthusiastic Scottish-born Holden, who was raised in Houston.
Holden has shown that he can play nearly anywhere on the field. He has excelled as an attacking midfielder, creating plays and pushing the ball forward. Holden, however, is a player who doesn't lack hustle, often retreating into the US's defensive half in order to win crucial balls and support the defense.
“He is capable of playing really anywhere in the midfield, so that helps,” Bradley said of Holden following the Haiti match. “He brings a lot of good qualities. When you look at players that are here and players that we think are going to step up and help, Stuart is one of those guys.”
Holden agreed, saying he has “played all over the midfield” for the US and the Houston Dynamo in the past.
“I’ve grown comfortable with it,” he added.
After playing at Clemson University for just two years, Holden signed with English club Sunderland in March 2005. Less than a week later, Holden was attacked outside a bar in Newcastle, leaving him with a fractured eye socket and cheekbone. The injury prevented him from ever making an appearance with the club.
Holden returned to the US in 2006 and made his MLS debut with the Houston Dynamo that May. He scored his first league goal on July 22, 2006 during a 1-1 home draw against the New England Revolution. Since then, Holden has scored 13 goals in 77 appearances.
Holden was named to the US Under-20 squad in 2007 and made the Olympic team last year. Bradley called him to the senior team camp in January, but a hip injury forced him to miss the friendly against Sweden. He was named to the Gold Cup roster last month and scored against Grenada on July 4 in his National Team debut.
Holden hopes Gold Cup success equals a World Cup call up.
"I've always wanted to play at a World Cup. That's been a dream of mine since I was a child," he said. “I need to show the coach that I can compete at a high level. If I do that over the next year, my chance will come.”
Clemente Lisi is the author of “A History of the World Cup: 1930-2006.” Contact him at: CAL4477@yahoo.com
