Filed under: English Premier League, U.S. Men's National Team, FC Dallas
CHESTER, PA -- Eric Lichaj's postgame appearance in the mixed zone outside the U.S. national team's locker room at PPL Park was kind of a letdown.
The 21-year-old Illinois native had just made his national team debut, and it was a good one. He played the second half of Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Colombia, a dour match in which there was never any danger that someone might do something to overshadow his coming-out party. The Aston Villa defender looked confident and composed on the right, and hit a brilliant cross toward Jozy Altidore in the waning moments that could have produced the game-winner.
When Lichaj stopped to talk with reporters afterward, we expected excitement, maybe even a little awe, with some "dream come true" stuff thrown in. What we got was almost blasé. He described his first cap like the rest of us would describe a trip to the grocery store.
"No nerves. There wasn't barely any people in the crowd compared to what I'm used to (fewer than 9,000 fans showed up). So I had no nervousness. I just enjoyed it," he said in monotone when asked if he was anxious about playing.
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