Besler in Sporting KC's 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake | Photo by Kory Brinton
For Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler, the month of August has been extra busy. In addition to playing every minute in Sporting Kansas City’s three-straight MLS victories and going the full 120 minutes in the Lamar Hunt U. S. Open Cup Final, the Overland Park, Kan. native also traveled to Mexico for his first trip with the United States’ Men’s National Team.
“We have another huge game on Sunday for first place against New York,” Besler said. “So all of the energy right now is going towards that. It’s back to business on preparing for the game on Sunday.”
While Sunday’s upcoming game at LIVE
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Sporting Park against the New York Red Bulls is his focus right now, Besler’s experience being a part of the U.S. Men’s National Team and being part of the first American team to ever win at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca is something he won’t soon forget.
“It was a great experience,” Besler said. “I enjoyed every second of it being down there, and I obviously would have liked to have gotten on the field and gotten my first cap. But still being a part of the team that got the first win at Azteca Stadium, that was pretty special.”
Over the span of a week, Besler traveled across North America from Kansas City to Mexico City to Toronto and then back to Kansas City. That much traveling can take a toll on anyone, professional athletes included, but Besler said he managed the effects by staying hydrated and getting enough sleep so that he’s ready to take on the rigors ahead.
“If you do those things, then I don’t think the traveling is an issue,” Besler said. “But if you’re not getting enough rest or you’re not eating right, I think the travel can take a toll on you. Personally, it hasn’t really affected me.”
Even though Besler didn’t see any playing time in Mexico, getting called to head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s 23-player roster and wearing the United States jersey is something the Kansas City native is immensely proud to have accomplished.
“I think the National Team is just something that, for everyone who plays soccer, it’s a goal of theirs,” Besler said. “It’s the highest level you can achieve playing soccer, so ever since I was a kid, it was a dream to play for the National Team and play for your country. To have the first time that happened come the way it did, it means a lot.”
Look for this story and more in the upcoming edition of Sporting Match Day.
