Even when you know it is coming, it is still a shock to hear the American midfielder Jermaine Jones speak with a thick German accent.
Born in Frankfurt to a German mother and an American serviceman father, Jones smiles when it is put to him he should be playing against the United States rather than for them today in Recife.
Having grown up in Germany and spent almost his entire professional career in the country, Jones was a member of Joachim Low’s training squad for Euro 2008, making three appearances in the warm-up games – including against England.
Despite assuring Jones he would be in his 23, Low cut him from the squad at the last minute.
But, because the games he had played in were not competitive, Jones was able to switch allegiance, declaring in 2009 that he would represent the US.
Now a key member of Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad, he faces Germany for the first time in a competitive game today, with both sides needing a point to be sure of a place in the last 16.
For both Jones and Klinsmann – a German legend who won 80 caps for his national side before managing them in the 2006 World Cup – hearing today’s national anthems will evoke mixed feelings.
“I am proud of being from both countries,” says Jones. “I grew up in Germany and that country gave me a lot. It was my first steps in football, and I played my first games there, in the league and for Germany, so I won’t say bad stuff about them.
“Jogi Low gave me the chance to play for Germany, and Germany is one of the biggest football countries in the world. It is tough to get selected for this country but I had my games for them. But I am still proud too when I hear the national anthem of USA. I will take each anthem as it comes – close my eyes and let it go through me.”
You would forgive Jones if there were some bitterness towards Low, but he appears genuine when he says that revenge is a long way down his list of motivating factors in Recife today.
“It is hard to miss out when you are so close to going to a big tournament and you feel you are in the team,” he says of 2008.
“At this point the coach told me I would be in the team but then he skipped back and changed it. I was upset. But I have a nice family who brought me back up and I was OK in two or three days.
“Now I play for the United States, have a lot of caps [46] and I am really happy to be in this World Cup.
“I have a lot of friends there but everything happens for a reason. The point for me is not to beat my friends but to go to the next round. “We will try everything to win the game, we don’t say that a draw will help us.”
LIKELY LINE-UPS
USA (4-3-3)
Howard; Johnson, Cameron, Besler, Beasley; Bradley, Beckerman, Jones; Bedoya, Dempsey, Zusi
Germany (4-3-3)
Neuer; Mustafi, Mertesacker, Hummels, Howedes; Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Kroos; Ozil, Mueller, Gotze
PREDICTION
The US have been a joy to watch but put a lot into the first two games and could run out of steam. 3-1 Germany.
