Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe is off with the U.S. National Team for the 2016 Copa America Centenario as they prepare for tonight’s quarterfinal battle with Ecuador (6:30pm PT, FS1, MATCHCENTER). The team secured the top spot in Group A after a gritty, 10-man 1-0 win over Paraguay in their final group stage match.
Though Nagbe did not feature in the match, he’s been training hard with the squad as they prepare now for the knockout stage of the tournament. You can read part one of the series here.
Brian Costello:
The team is on to the knockout round. What does that feel like for you?
Darlington Nagbe:
“It feels amazing. It’s part of my first major tournament with the country. So it feels amazing. The group is good. We’re excited about it and I’m sure the whole country’s excited about it.”
BC:
What does it say about the team, especially coming out of that game against Paraguay where you go down to 10 men and yet you’re still able to close out the win and advance?
DN:
“It’s huge, you know. I mean, especially, like you say, going down 10 men at the same time. So being able to win the game, to hold on to that one goal is huge. So a lot of great effort from the guys; a lot of heart, and a lot of work, especially from the whole team. Not just the back four, but also the midfielders and the attacking group.”
BC:
How are you feeling personally at this stage? As you say, it’s a major tournament. It’s a longer setup. How are you feeling, and are you getting into kind of rhythm with the team?
DN:
“I feel good. The training’s been going well. The group’s been going well and I’ve playing well, so I’m excited by it. I’m just waiting for my opportunity. Right now the group is doing well, and I don’t see a reason to change anything that’s been working. So overall, I’m enjoying it. I’m just happy to be here and be a part of everything and hopefully we’ll go through to the next round.”
BC:
How is it a different experience, I guess, being with a national team setup versus a club experience?
DN:
“It’s just different. Because you’re with the guys every single day. And the games. We don’t play as many games. You’re here for a short amount of games. So I’d say it’s mostly different that way. And with the tournament you go with what’s working, and right now with the lineup that we have and the team that we have, we’re doing doing a good job for now. So I think that’s just probably the biggest change, playing for the national team, especially for a tournament.”
BC:
I noticed you posted a picture of your baby on social media. Is the family around? Are you able to see them while you’ve been traveling from place to place, or have they been just mostly on the West Coast?
DN:
"On the West Coast. They came down to San Jose and they’re in Seattle right now, so it’s been good for them to see me and also a different setup. I know my wife enjoys coming to the games, and seeing a different game outside the Timbers."
BC:
Is it kind of nice being able to have that element of home while you’re traveling all over the country?
DN:
“Definitely. That’s a huge thing. I don’t know how long I’ve been gone, maybe three weeks? But if I had to go these three weeks without seeing my family it would have been tough. But like you said, it was good being able to have them here, able to see them and hang out with them and that’s great fun, makes it feel a bit more homey.
BC:
Do you think it helps you maybe play a little better too?
DN:
“Yeah, definitely. (Laughs.) Always nice having them there. It makes me play better.”
BC:
Thursday is a big game; and I’m not talking about your game, I’m talking about your beloved Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
DN:
(Laughs.) Yeah.
BC:
I know you’ve been following them. Are you going to record the game? How are you going to kind of handle that? And watch it after the game?
DN:
“Yeah. I’m going to try and watch it after the game, but I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to get out the locker room without hearing the score of the game.”
BC:
Down three games to two, how are you feeling about the Cavs’ chances in that game?
DN:
“Pretty good. We’re back home in Cleveland. So being able to get a win there and then going back to Golden State for a Game Seven will be the real big test. But hopefully we can just hold in Cleveland and take it back to the Golden State.”
BC:
Let’s go back to the other big game, your big game. It’s Ecuador, a team you will always remember in part having scored your first-ever USMNT goal against them. How are you feeling and how is the team feeling heading into that match?
DN:
“We feel good about it. I actually feel good about it as well, personally, but like you said it’s a team that we played in Dallas in a friendly game and figured we'd get a good chance to see them again. But that was a friendly, and now it’s a tournament game, more at stake. So even though we did beat them, we got the goal to win at the end, we’re still expecting them to come out hungry, the way they came out in Dallas. So we’re looking forward to it.”
