AARHUS, Denmark – As far as World Cup hangovers go, US striker Aron Johannsson is just past the point of walking off a particularly crushing one.
After a crippling injury during the 2014 FIFA World Cup that limited his effectiveness in Brazil and stalled his 2014-15 debut with club side AZ, the Alabama-born, Icelandic-raised striker is ready for another go on the international pitch with the USMNT for friendly matches on Wednesday against Denmark (3 pm ET, ESPN) and next Tuesday at Switzerland (12 pm ET, Fox Sports 1).
“There’s 20 players fighting for 11 spots to begin the game, so it’s nice to be back in the competitive arena,” the 24-year-old told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s been very tough. In January I was getting back and playing 90 minute games, scored a couple of games in a row then I got an ankle injury, so it’s been that kind of year for me.”
Coming off an impressive season in the Netherlands with AZ in which he scored 26 goals in 51 appearances, Johannsson was called up for the USMNT in 2013 after switching his international allegiance from Iceland to the country of his birth. But after his World Cup debut against Ghana, where he filled in for an injured Jozy Altidore in the 23rd minute, Johannsson spent nearly the next six months off the field in recovery.
He finally made his season debut for AZ on Nov. 2 and has since gone on to play in 15 league contests (12 starts) while putting up five goals to date. His run in the team was interrupted, however, by another ankle setback that kept out for most of February.
“It’s been a very tough season so far – I’m getting ready, I’m getting fit," he said. "I’ve played a couple of games in a row now, so my match fitness is really getting better. “
Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann remarked that despite Johannsson’s and a few other previous injuries to US players, the team was shaping up and coming together quickly for the European friendlies, two of four scheduled for the USMNT prior to their Gold Cup opener against either Honduras or French Guiana on July 7.
Return to the international stage aside, Johannsson says he’s also particularly excited to face off against AZ teammate and Danish midfielder Simon Poulsen in tomorrow’s match, taking place in Aarhus.
“Obviously I want to win, but now that he’s on the other team I want to win even more,” Johannsson said through a grin. “There’s some bragging rights here for a long time since I don’t think we’ll be playing Denmark again anytime soon, so obviously it’s huge and I hope we get the win.”
Johannsson is certainly no stranger to winning here; he played for local side AGF from 2010 to 2013 and still holds the record for fastest hattrick ever in the Danish Superliga in a span of 3 minutes and 50 seconds during the first half of a game against AC Horsens in August 2012. He managed to sneak in a fourth goal that game just 12 minutes later, another league record.
“I’ve scored a couple of times in this stadium before,” he recalled, “and hopefully tomorrow will bring my next one.”
