World Cup 2014. USA vs Portugal. It's the 64th minute and Jermaine Jones picks up a loose ball following a corner. We all know what happened next.
Few players on the USMNT represented the American spirit better than Jermaine Jones. Sure, Tim Howard may have had the memes, but it was Jones whose indomitable presence and ferocious drive truly captured the feeling of that summer.
Yet, you can't escape the feeling that the World Cup was Jones' last hurrah. The German-born midfielder opted to return to the MLS after a disappointing spell for Besiktas in Turkey, and seeing as how he'll be 36 by the time Russia 2018 comes around, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say he is done.
When Jones signed for the Rapids in March, it seemed to be an affirmation of his fall. His arrival at a franchise that was stagnant and slowly dying meant that Jones could maybe squeeze a couple more seasons in before retiring and was certainly in no danger of losing his place. On paper, it was a suitable move for a player in the last throes of his career. However, Jermaine Jones is apparently not a huge fan of following the narrative.
Two games, two goals and one assist later, and we're forced to concede that Jones is far from done. The decision to play him in an attacking midfield role, which we originally scoffed at, has given him a new lease of life. He looks legitimately good. No. Scratch that. He looks better than he did at the World Cup.
Photo: @SoccerByIves | Twitter
Jermaine Jones has traditionally been a more defensive-minded midfielder, but it could be argued that maybe that isn't the best part of his game. Sure, he loves to dive in and tackle, but as his disciplinary record proves, he's not always the best at it. And let's also not forget how incredibly bad he was when Jurgen Klinsmann decided to play him at centerback.
Jermaine Jones is not a CB. Jurgen Klinsmann still thinks he is. That is bad for the #USMNT. https://t.co/exlIXCoJV4 via @br_uk
— Joe Tansey (@JTansey90) February 6, 2016
Where Jones excels is in transition. His ability to pick up the ball, turn and drive forward is unmatched by anybody else in the US ranks, and it is this skill that is bringing the best out of him at the moment for the Rapids. Being in an attacking role means that Jones can focus only on that part of his game. He has two defensive midfielders behind him and so Jermaine Jones is free to patrol the midfield like a shark. It is a role that his energy and tenacity lends kindly to.
The only question mark over Jones is whether he can stay fit. He has had his injury problems over the past few years, and he isn't exactly getting any younger. There is a real doubt over whether he can physically continue much longer. After all, he has treated his body like an old truck at times.
If he can keep his fitness up however, and if he continues this good patch of form, then it would be hard to argue that he is done. Age be damned. Come Russia 2018, he may still have much more to offer.
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