Last month, Jonathan Bornstein defended the colors of Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center. Then, he donned the United States national team jersey in California and Massachusetts. Later this month, the MLS 2006 Rookie of the Year might travel with the U.S. national team to Copa America in Venezuela.
But through it all, Bornstein maintains his focus on the task at hand.
"I'll just have to keep an open mind and work hard during the training sessions and hopefully I'll get a chance," Bornstein said.
The Chivas USA defender has thus far been a vital cog in the U.S. national team, who is preparing for Saturday's CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal in Gillette Stadium against Panama. Bornstein went the distance in the tournament opener against Guatemala, a 1-0 win on June 7, and Tuesday's 4-0 rout over El Salvador.
If things go well, Bornstein could help the U.S. to the latter stages of the tournament as the U.S. tries to defend the 2005 Gold Cup title. He could also be part of the USA's Copa America squad.
Before the start of the Gold Cup, Chivas USA coach Preki said Bornstein and club teammate Brad Guzan would be on the Copa America squad "for sure." While he said his focus is on the Gold Cup, Bornstein added that he had heard his name linked to a possible Copa America call-up.
"Nothing official has been said to me personally but I've heard stuff probably like they heard, through the grapevine, just to be prepared to be gone a little bit longer," Bornstein said. "I'll be excited if I get to play in that. It's a big tournament and it has a lot of implications internationally. It's a big tournament and I'll be looking forward to it if I get called up."
Still, Bornstein said the Gold Cup has been a good experience.
"(Copa America has) bigger teams, great competition ... not to give this tournament any less hype or significance," he said. "Those are definitely teams that I watched growing up and I'd be really excited to play against."
Regardless of what the next four weeks hold in store, Bornstein left southern California last week with quite a few memories. He played his first tournament match with the United States in the same building he debuted as a professional and where he got his first taste of international soccer.
A fourth-round SuperDraft pick in 2006, Bornstein was named the league's top rookie in 2006 and joined the U.S. national team for a January friendly against Denmark at The Home Depot Center. He scored a goal and took in the experience with his family in attendance.
Against Guatemala, Bornstein's family was also present. However, they were among the few who were supporting the United States. A crowd of 21,334 was there but during the game, most of the cheers were for Guatemala.
"The only thing I can compare it to was the Mexico game in Arizona where it was like 95 percent for the visiting team. It made us seem as though we were the visitors on our home turf," Bornstein said. "It kind of gives you a lift when you are playing against people who are against you."
The turnout for Guatemala and lack of support for the U.S. caught him off guard.
"Honestly, I thought we were going to have the majority of fans, it being at The Home Depot Center. I thought it was going to be if not 50-50 more so for the U.S.," Bornstein said. "I think it turned out to be 80-20."
An observer interjected that it seemed more like 95-5.
"Exactly! 95-5!" Bornstein said. "It was pretty crazy. It was a good crowd with a lot of energy and made the game interesting."
Though many Guatemalan supporters cheered for the U.S. two days later in a 2-0 win against Trinidad - a game that Bornstein did not dress for - after his first Gold Cup appearance, Bornstein was greeted rudely by some unruly fans. He walked over to his family after the match ended but left soon after as some fans hurled drinks and debris in his direction.
But like everything else, Bornstein took it all in stride.
"My parents were like 'You should get out of here. People are throwing stuff at you,'" Bornstein said. "I looked over and some stuff was being thrown. It didn't dampen the mood at all. It made it pretty funny."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
