By FRANCO PANIZO
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Prior to Saturday, Jay DeMerit had not played at the international level since the World Cup Round of 16 loss to Ghana nine months ago. That could've been easy to forget judging by the solid performance the veteran put forth against Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Having recently played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in what was his first competitive match since the U.S. men's national team's 2-1 loss to Ghana, DeMerit was entrusted by head coach Bob Bradley to help the U.S. back line stop the mazy runs of Messi, Angel Di Maria and co. DeMerit repaid Bradley's faith with a composed 90 minutes that saw the centerback snuff out several Argentine attacks with his usual physicality, aggressiveness and determination.
"It was great. It's nice to be back out there. It's nice to first off be back in camp," said DeMerit on Sunday. "I had been out a while, but I never expected to be in camp until now so to get back with the guys and to hit the ground running was a major positive."
While he and Carlos Bocanegra were partially at fault for Esteban Cambiasso's first-half goal in the 1-1 draw with Argentina, and his distribution was shaky at times, DeMerit showed the grit that earned him a starting spot with the U.S. team back in 2009 on Saturday.
When he wasn't busy tracking Messi's lightning-quick runs, DeMerit was using his physicality to try and help the Americans regain possession. DeMerit even did what appears to be impossible these days: he stopped Messi on the dribble. More than once, too.
"As hard as that is, yeah," said DeMerit with a chuckle. "You get used to him and the way that he moves. In the beginning of the game, sometimes it's hard to collar, but as the game went on I thought we came together well, conceded his space pretty well and did the right things."
Like the team, DeMerit's focus has now quickly shifted towards Tuesday's friendly at LP Field against Paraguay in the second-to-last match before the United States begins its quest for the Gold Cup this summer.
DeMerit is no stranger to Paraguay, having played against the South Americans in the 2007 Copa America match that the United States dropped, 3-1. DeMerit started and played 65 minutes in that match, and the 31-year-old defender still remembers it. So much so that he has a sense of what to expect should he receive his 25th cap on Tuesday.
"They're big, they're physical, they're hardworking," said DeMerit. "If they bring that to Nashville on Tuesday then we'll have our hands full."
Bradley is likely to look at more of the inexperienced players, such as Tim Ream, against Paraguay, but that doesn't necessarily mean DeMerit won't be in the starting eleven.
With Paraguay being the second-to-last friendly the Americans have before the Gold Cup, Bradley is likely to trot out a lineup that consists of veterans and youngsters, and DeMerit could be the experienced player he calls upon to lead the back line.
"Jay is a battler. You know what you're going to get out of him every game," said Bocanegra. "If he's fit and he's in camp, he's good to go."
