Jack McInerney netted five goals in three games during the 2009 U-17 CONCACAF Championship to lead all scorers. As the United States' latest U-17 squad prepares for the regional championship, MLSsoccer.com caught up with the Philadelphia Union forward for a brief chat about the tournament.
MLSsoccer.com: What was your experience in 2009?
McInerney: We went to Mexico a couple days before and trained. We got used to the environment. We had a couple games against Canada, Guatemala, and maybe one more. It was a good experience because they were the first international games that really meant something. It was good to see how we compared to all of them.
MLSsoccer.com: You personally had a lot of success in the tournament. What did that do for your confidence?
McInerney: It definitely did, especially since those games meant something. To go and get a couple goals and show my skills. It carried on to the World Cup.
MLSsoccer.com: Can you talk a little bit about Wilmer Cabrera as a coach?
McInerney: He's a good guy. He played for the Colombian national team in a couple World Cups, so he knows what it takes to get there. You can only trust he knows what he's talking about. You have to listen and take in what he has to say.
Noah Davis covers the United States national team for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on Twitter at @noahedavis.
