PHILADELPHIA—There was very little that stood in Paraguay’s way as midfielder Miguel Almiron led a 3-on-1 break in the 11th minute of Saturday’s do-or-die Copa America Centenario game against the US national team.
Or so it seemed.
With most of the 50,000-plus fans at Lincoln Financial Field bracing for Paraguay to put a good shot on net, US goalkeeper Brad Guzan noticed center back John Brooks chasing Almiron down at a surprisingly fast pace.
“I see him coming,” Guzan would later say. “I see the entire picture. You’re just hoping he can get there and you’re hoping the guy takes long enough to give John time to make a tackle and make a play.”
Brooks made a play all right – perhaps even the play of the game.
In an incredible display of athleticism and timing, which caused the entire USMNT bench to get on their feet and applaud, Brooks didn’t allow Almiron to get a shot – or a pass – off with a big-time slide tackle that proved critical in the Americans’ pivotal 1-0 victory.
“That moment by John,” US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said, “was definitely something special.”
Brooks, who was named the Man of the Match, enjoyed other special moments to help the US backline stay organized and earn a shutout despite going down a man early in the second half.
Afterwards, Klinsmann praised the growth of the 23-year-old Bundesliga defender, who famously scored a game-winning goal at the 2014 World Cup, but struggled during last summer’s Gold Cup.
“You’re impressed by the learning curve a young player goes through and you’re just happy about that process,” Klinsmann said. “A year ago, a lot of people were very critical of him. And, as I said, ‘He has to have those experiences.’ He needs to make mistakes to grow. There’s no growth without failure – for anybody.”
While Brooks’ huge game, preceded by two other standout performances at Copa America, might be a pleasant surprise for some fans, there’s nothing surprising about it to his teammates.
Guzan has seen the German-American steadily improve throughout the past year in US camp, while also watching him shine from afar as a regular with Hertha BSC.
“I don’t think it’s just his growth in the tournament,” Guzan said. “I think it’s his growth over the last 12 months in terms of playing week in and week out in Germany. That’s what playing consistent football does for a young player. I think he’s been great for us in this tournament. I think you guys are starting to see what we see in training.”
Brooks did not stop to talk to the media after the game. But his teammates did more than enough talking on his behalf, praising his performance as one of the biggest reasons why they’re moving on to the Copa quarterfinals.
“John Brooks had an amazing game,” Gyasi Zardes gushed. “He saved us numerous times. Obviously he got man of the match – he deserved it.”
