Like many American soccer fans, Tally Hall will be watching the US men’s national team’s friendly against Italy on Wednesday (2:30 pm ET, ESPN2) with interest.
First and foremost, he is hoping to see his friend and teammate Geoff Cameron see some playing time against the Azzurri. But there is also the allure of what could be for the 26-year-old goalkeeper.
After seamlessly replacing Pat Onstad for the Houston Dynamo in 2011, Hall’s stock is on the rise. Now, he’s looking to build on that success in 2012 in the hope that it will lead to a US cap one day.
“It’s obviously a goal of mine to be called up,” Hall told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday. “I can’t really focus on that now, but even to be answering questions about it is pretty cool. Saying that, there’s a process to it all.”
Whatever that process is, Hall sees taking care of business on the club level as the first – and most important – step in jump-starting his international career. That means putting in the work necessary to make sure the Dynamo can continue being successful.
“There are things like being confident with my feet and it’s a goal of mine to have more control and pass out of pressure and feel the game,” Hall said. “It’s a whole bunch of little things; it’s not about stats for me as much as fine tuning things and being the best goalkeeper I can be for the Dynamo and helping the team win.”
While Hall is working on putting together a good resume, younger players such as Bill Hamid and Sean Johnson are getting called in to camps to gain experience.
“It’s definitely a different position and they always have to be looking at the young talents,” Hall said. “The national team has a great pool of goalkeepers to choose from so it’s not something that I’m upset about, and I look at those goalkeepers and think they’re great. I need to continue to work hard and hopefully I get my shot.”
Hall feels several Dynamo players are on the verge of getting that shot. Cameron is in the national team picture and, according to Hall, players like Brad Davis and Corey Ashe are not far behind.
Hall fits comfortably on that list and a strong 2012 will only reaffirm that.
“I focus on being the best I can be for the Dynamo,” he said. “When I do that, I give myself a fair chance, but the first priority is Houston and it works its way up from there. I need to continue to work hard and hopefully I get my shot.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at Darrell.A.Lovell@gmail.com.
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