American Midfielder Jermaine Jones Won't Celebrate If He Scores Against Germany
SAO PAULO (CBSNewYork/AP) — American midfielder Jermaine Jones says he won't celebrate if he scores against Germany on June 26.
Why, you ask?
The 32-year-old was born in Frankfurt and played three exhibitions for the Germans in 2008. But he was among the final cuts by coach Joachim Loew from the European Championship roster, and Jones switched allegiance to the United States, where his father was born.
Jones made his U.S. national team debut in October 2010 and has gone on to score twice in 42 appearances.
He said Wednesday: "I think it's in respect. I grew up in this country. They gave me a lot. I have my first cap for the national team in Germany. I'm happy, too, that Joachim Loew gave me this chance."
This is the latest controversial statement to come out of the U.S. camp.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann doubled down on Wednesday, saying that a World Cup title is "not realistic."
"I think for us now, talking about winning a World Cup is just not realistic," Klinsmann said. "First we've got to make it through the group. So let's stay with our feet on the ground and say let's get that group first done, and then the sky is the limit. But a half-a-year before and even today before the World Cup starts, to say that we should win the World Cup is just not realistic."
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