SAVORING THE MOMENT
Chad Marshall had a dream debut for the national team against Colombia on Wednesday night in Fullerton, California. The young defender grew up in nearby Riverside, and family and friends were on hand to watch him work with others on the backline to keep a clean sheet in the match, as well as notch the second of three U.S. goals with a pitch-perfect diving header.
The entire experience leading up to his debut was in sharp contrast to his first national team training.
Marshall explained, "I got an injury the last game of the season, so I was just coming back from that the first camp and wasn't very fit. This camp's been a lot better. I've had more time to get my fitness back."
He actually left that first camp early.
"I wouldn't have been ready to play in the Trinidad game," Marshall admitted, before quickly adding, "But that's not to say I would've played anyway if I was fit. (Bruce Arena) was playing the European guys that game, which is understandable. Those guys have proved that they can play, so he was playing them."
This time around, the agile 6'3" player found himself adjusting well to the rigors of national team.
"The pace of the game is so much faster at this level, but I've been playing with some of these guys for a long time. Eddie Johnson – I grew up playing with in youth teams and there's like three guys from Columbus that are here, so it's not too much of a jump, but it's definitely a lot faster."
Though Marshall had an impressive array of youth national team experience, he had been longing to debut with the national team for a good while.
"Oh, it's a lot different – your first full team cap." Marshall points out. "There's a lot of pressure. There's a lot of guys that wish they were out on the field for every game that these guys are playing. It's definitely an honor to put on the shirt for the full team."
Marshall represented the shirt well, anchoring a backline that was a little depleted because of injuries to veterans Frankie Hejduk and Eddie Pope.
Hejduk's history with Marshall actually goes back further than many realize.
"I grew up with a Frankie Hejduk poster over my bed, which is kind of weird, because now he's on my same team (Columbus Crew)."
The poster connection is mostly incidental.
"I just had him up because he was a Southern California kid. It actually said that on the poster. I got it at a soccer camp or something like that."
Despite slumbering under the watchful eyes of Hejduk, Marshall has remained independent in his own development.
"We're two different players. Frankie's more attacking."
"I didn't have someone that I looked up to and said ‘I want to play like them' when I was growing up."
Striking out on his own path seems to have been a crucial choice that Marshall made. Any development plan has some drawbacks, but if his Crew teammate Robin Fraser is to be believed, Marshall has made all the right calls so far.
"(He) will be regarded at some point in the future as the best defender the U.S. has ever had," Fraser stated emphatically. "I have no doubt in my mind about it. He is such a great player for his age right now and he'll only continue to get better."
Overseas clubs have noticed his talents as well. Marshall even once had an offer from the German club Hamburg. He opted to sign with MLS instead, citing the better chance of national team play as one of his reasons.
"Over there in Europe – you don't get the looks. Bruce doesn't get to see you play as much so that's definitely an advantage of playing in MLS."
He mentions that family was also a factor, as was the chance to play in his home country.
Playing abroad is still an option, however, and one that Marshall is looking forward to.
"Oh, definitely," he said. "Eventually, I'd like to end up there, as any player I think would. It's definitely a goal of mine."
The normally reserved Marshall was clearly pleased after his showing against Columbia, posing for pictures and patiently enduring the spotlight glow of interviews and attention that always accompanies those who accomplish something noteworthy.
He recalled his goal to a group of reporters.
"It was a corner kick that got played in, and got played back out, and Steve Ralston did the same thing he did on the first goal. He makes a great move and puts in a great ball. I don't think I could have missed it from that far out."
If Marshall's potential is as can't-miss as the goal he buried against Columbia, there's a good chance that he will play in Germany in 2006 – perhaps not with a Bundesliga club like Hamburg, but instead with the U.S. National Team of which he is finally a full-fledged (and goal scoring) member.
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