PHILADELPHIA — When Walker Zimmerman looked around the University of Pennsylvania’s Rhodes Field on Tuesday, he probably didn’t see too many familiar sights.
Not only was the LAFC defender on the other side of the country in Philadelphia, he was one of just two MLS players called up to this week’s US national team camp ahead of Monday’s friendly vs. Bolivia at Talen Energy Stadium (6:30 pm ET | FS1, UniMás).
Interestingly enough, he’s also one of the veterans on a youthful roster with an average age of 22.
“Being a little bit older at 25 is kind of weird,” Zimmerman admitted before the USMNT’s second training session of the week. “But I’m looking forward to trying to embrace that challenge, embracing that role of competing and showing leadership, and trying to bring all the intangibles I think I can bring to the team. And I’m looking forward to working alongside these guys and ultimately getting a win for the country.”
While some of the players in the group come from top leagues in Europe, Zimmerman feels like he has a good pedigree too, growing up in an FC Dallas system known for its youth development before moving to a high-flying LAFC team that’s charged out of the MLS expansion gate.
“It’s been a good combination,” said Zimmerman, who has made two career appearances for the United States. “I’ve played for two great managers who, even though they have some different philosophies, they still have a great ability to create a gameplan for each and every game. I’ve learned a lot from Oscar [Pareja] and now Bob [Bradley]. I think it’s been a really good step for me to play under these coaches and then continue to improve my game and learn different things from both of them.”
Zimmerman said Bradley, a former coach of the US national team, hasn’t necessarily given him extra tips about playing at the international level, but has been “instilling confidence” in the defender and letting him play more “free.” The result of that, Zimmerman believes, has been vital to his personal growth in LA after five seasons in Dallas.
“I’m definitely enjoying being there,” he said. “The club’s doing everything the right way. They’re very professional from top to bottom, and I think that kind of rubs off on you and lets you focus on just the soccer part.”
Zimmerman was hopeful a good run of games with LAFC would lead to a call-up — as it did — but it’s hard for him to predict where he stands in the USMNT’s defensive pecking order. For now, he’s just hoping to make the most of the opportunity and develop a rapport with the team’s European-based prospects.
“It gives us a chance to get to know these guys a little bit more because it’s not too often we’re all in at the same time,” Zimmerman said. “Right now, I’m looking forward to building some relationships and making some friends, so we can get some chemistry on the field. It’s been good so far getting to know these guys.”
