SAN ANTONIO -- It's a homecoming of sorts for US national team defender Omar Gonzalez this week.
A native of Dallas, some 200 miles north of San Antonio, Gonzalez has been called into Jurgen Klinsmann's squad for the USMNT's friendly at the Alamodome on Wednesday against Mexico (8:30 pm ET, FS1), and the LA Galaxy star considers it close enough to home for now.
“It just feels good to be back in Texas,” Gonzalez said during a practice at San Antonio’s Trinity University on Monday afternoon. “San Antonio is a great city. I am looking forward to a fun time here and hopefully getting a win.”
The return to Texas also gave Gonzalez a chance to reunite with a number of US teammates he hasn’t seen in a while. Between his absence from the US's training camp in January and the friendlies in Europe last month, and the fact that other USMNT players are spread out around the world when not with the team, Gonzalez is enjoying the opportunity to catch up.
“Just saying hi to everyone, it feels like we are getting back to normal,” Gonzalez said on his arrival to the team’s practice at San Antonio’s Trinity University on Monday. “I am just happy to be back with the guys.”
Gonzalez is one of several members of the US team who have ties to Mexico, including Ventura Alvarado and Greg Garza. He was born in Dallas to Mexican parents and holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Mexico. The capacity crowd on Wednesday was definitely on his mind before the practice on Monday, as well as the proportion of fans supporting each country.
“We know that being so close to Mexico we are going to have a lot of Mexican fans, which is good,” Gonzalez said. “Hopefully it will end up being half and half.”
Gonzalez is no stranger to big games. He was a member of the US team that earned a point in a 0-0 draw at Estadio Azteca during the 2014 World Cup qualifying stage and was a member of the 23-man roster who helped the Americans escape the "Group of Death" last summer at the World Cup. He looks forward to the challenge of Wednesday night.
“It is going to be an intense game and hopefully it is a really good game,” Gonzalez said. “It is going to be fun no matter what.”
