By Brooke Tunstall - CHARLOTTE, NC (Jul 10, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- For Chad Marshall, it’s all about the zero.
In his return to the United States National Team after a nearly four-year absence, the big Columbus Crew center back has helped the US to a pair of clean sheets in this year’s CONCAF Gold Cup, adding to a rather remarkable string of shutouts while playing for his country.
In a statistic that has to make any goalkeeper smile, the US has yet to allow a goal in all six of Marshall’s caps.
“It felt good to be back with the National Team. It’s been lot of fun and it’s good to get back out there and get the zero,” said Marshall, who anchored the defense that posted a 4-0 win over Grenada July 4 and a 2-0 win over Honduras Wednesday. “I definitely take a lot of satisfaction in (a shutout). Anytime you keep the ball out of your own net it’s a positive. I like to score goals but keeping the zero is more important.”
As he does in MLS, the 6-foot-4 Marshall has used his size to great effect in the Gold Cup, winning almost every aerial battle. He’s also shown good mobility and strength in the tackle, especially when he frustrated Honduras striker Carlos Costly.
“I think tonight he was very solid in the back,” US National Team boss Bob Bradley told reporters after the Honduras game. “His decision making was good and he was very good in the air. When you talk about playing in a harder game and playing against difficult players, like Carlos Costly, who are physically strong and imposing players, I think this was good to see."
Adding to the satisfaction for Marshall, who turns 25 next month, is as recently as two-years ago there was a real possibility that his playing days were over. After a promising start to his MLS and National Team career in 2004 and ‘05, a string of concussions derailed him and after the last one he began to consider alternative employment.
“That was a very real option for me. It was definitely something I thought about a lot after the last one in August of 2007. (The Crew) said ‘take the rest of season off’ but I didn’t know if that would help,” said Marshall, who turned pro after two seasons at Stanford. “I thought about what schools I would go back to and thought about what about I’d be doing if things didn‘t work out.”
Boy, did they work out. Marshall helped the Crew to the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield double last season, was named defender of the year and capped off his season scoring the game-winning goal in MLS Cup.
“It was a fun year,” he said.
That fun has Marshall back with the National Team for the first time since 2005. He debuted for the US that March, scoring a goal in his first cap in a 3-0 win over Colombia then going 90 in a 1-0 friendly over Honduras. He played in two of the later World Cup qualifiers – a scoreless draw with Guatemala and a 2-0 win over Panama – and looked set to push for a place on the 2006 World Cup roster.
“I wasn’t able to go into the January (2006) camp following those last two games because of tendinitis in my knee,” explained Marshall. “It was disappointing not to be able to go into the January camp and at least try. I don’t know how legit of a chance to make the World Cup team I had but it would have been nice to see."
Bradley invited Marshall into this year’s January camp but he was again hampered by a minor knee injury that once again tested his patience.
“I was kind of at the point where what can I do about it? It’s just bad luck with injuries coming at the end of the MLS season and carrying over to the offseason. I just stopped trying to think about it and if it worked out, it worked out. Thankfully I got called in.”
Marshall believes this is his best chance to show Bradley he should be a regular and should be in the mix for future qualifiers and next year’s World Cup. “This is my one shot to show him I can play at this level,” he said. “With qualifiers from here on, it’s going to be the A-Team so this is my shot to show I can be part of that.“
Whether it leads to more call-ups or not, Marshall is savoring every minute back with the National Team. “You don’t always think about it when you’re playing and maybe you take it for granted, he said.
“I got to see that with my time away. I’m really enjoying my time out because, who knows, it could end tomorrow night.”
Veteran sportswriter Brooke Tunstall is a freelance writer based in Charlotte, NC. He can be reached at BrookeTunstall@aim.com
