HOUSTON — Since debuting for the U.S. national team in January 2013, Matt Besler has been a staple of the starting lineup or out of the squad entirely. Depth player? Not in his wheelhouse.
The Sporting Kansas City defender earned his second cap in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico at Estadio Azteca and rode that performance to a starting slot through the 2014 tournament in Brazil. After being snubbed from the 2015 Gold Cup squad, Besler returned last fall to play every minute of the CONCACAF Cup and the two opening matches of 2018 World Cup qualifying.
But Besler has found himself filling the role of spot starter during the Americans' run to the Copa America Centenario semifinals. Having sat behind John Brooks and Geoff Cameron in central defense, Besler made his tournament debut in an unfamiliar left back role during Thursday's quarterfinal win over Ecuador.
"It's a position that I haven’t really experienced yet, being a role player, but I tried to embrace it, tried to be the best teammate that I can be," Besler told Goal USA. "I've actually learned a lot. I've truly enjoyed being a part of this team, and I've tried to prepare myself mentally and physically for whenever I am called upon."
Although watching from the sidelines is unusual for Besler, who has started at least 25 matches every MLS season since 2011, the view at left back has been even more jarring. The 29-year-old had not played a game there since his rookie season in 2009 before logging 45 minutes in a Copa America tune-up against Bolivia last month.
"Absolutely it's an adjustment," Besler said. "There’s different movements, you receive the ball in different areas of the field, the angles of the passing lanes are different. But it’s just the game of soccer, so you just do things to try and help your team win and that's what I was focusing on."
Filling in for suspended right back DeAndre Yedlin against Ecuador, with typical left back Fabian Johnson swapping flanks, Besler helped keep Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia under wraps while delivering a sturdy performance. Though he kept overlapping runs to a minimum, Besler did get forward to whip in the cross that ultimately led to Gyasi Zardes' second-half winner.
"He stepped in and didn't miss a beat," Cameron said. "He's a very good player and we know he's a typical center back, but he can play other positions as well. ... We kept the same kind of cohesiveness and understanding that we've had since the beginning of the tournament."
Besler's omission from the Gold Cup last summer came as coach Jurgen Klinsmann opted to bring Brooks and Tim Ream as his options at left center back. Ream has since fallen to the fringes of the picture amid Besler's resurgence, but Brooks staked a claim to the starting job with a strong 2015-16 campaign for Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin.
As a 21-year-old prospect, Brooks backed up Besler at the 2014 World Cup and famously came off the bench to score a late winner against Ghana. Now 23, Brooks has surpassed his veteran mentor on the depth chart and justified the decision with a breakout tournament anchoring the back line.
"I've enjoyed that relationship this tournament," Besler said. "He’s been one of our best players, so that's been fun to watch. Me on the sideline, I try to give him as much advice as possible. Sometimes it's easier for me to see things because when he's on the field he's focused on what he needs to do.
"For me, I can see everything else happening around. So there's times in training or maybe after the game where I can try to give him what I see, but for the most part I haven’t had to tell him much because he's been doing awesome."
It's a supportive approach that hasn't gone unnoticed within the U.S. locker room, with Besler's experience and attitude proving to be a useful asset — whether or not he's on the field.
"He's a true professional," Cameron said. "He's a great guy in the locker room, he's a great guy off the field, and on the pitch he's positive. He's a good teammate, so you can't say anything more than positive things."
While Yedlin is set to return to the lineup Tuesday, suspensions to Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya and Bobby Wood have opened the door for Besler to keep his place at left back, with Johnson potentially shifting to midfield.
It's a scenario that likely would see Besler as the player primarily assigned to Argentina star Lionel Messi — the most imposing task yet in a summer that has seen the U.S. defender field a variety of fresh challenges.
"I'm prepared to step in wherever I’m needed," Besler said. "I know the guys along the back line in this tournament have played excellent, especially in the middle of the park, so it’s been a joy to watch them and we'll see what happens."
..... - Goal