This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Last year's anguish couldn't be further behind Jordan Allen. On Thursday, the 20-year-old Real Salt Lake Homegrown Player was named to the 21-man roster for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. One of seven Major League Soccer players, Allen has appeared in eight of RSL's nine games this season.
Allen scored his first career MLS goal in RSL's 2-1 win over Toronto FC on March 29. On Thursday, Rochester, N.Y., native spoke to the Tribune about the call-up and the moments leading up to being included for his first major international tournament. Allen becomes the fifth RSL player (Nick Rimando, Tony Beltran, Aaron Maund, Luis Gil) to be part of a U.S. U-20 World Cup roster. RSL coach Jeff Cassar was part of the 1993 U.S. U-20 squad.
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Q&A with RSL's Jordan Allen:
What do you know about New Zealand?
Allen: "Not much, to be honest. Just that I'll be heading there in a couple weeks."
When did you find out?
Allen: "I found out Monday. They told us we'd be finding out around that time, so all of Monday, I was just sitting on my phone, refreshing my inbox. They finally sent it around 7 in the evening, so it was a long day."
What was the initial reaction like?
Allen: "Just excitement and a lot of relief. The first thing I thought was just to call my parents to let them know because they were just as anxious as I was to find out. It was just excitement, really."
Can you put the moment into perspective considering just a few months ago you were coming back from a serious injury?
Allen: "I never really understood the term, 'Tears of Joy,' but I think that was probably the closest I've ever come to crying just from being so happy. That's where the relief comes in, just because a year ago at this time, I would've for sure thought I was going to go to the World Cup and after the knee injury I kind of didn't count myself out, but I realized it was going to be a steep task."
When did you have an idea that you might be back on the radar?
Allen: "Tab texted me actually in February telling me that he was going to call me into the Austria camp. He was hoping that by the time April came around, I'd be healthy and in good form, so that just gave me motivation the last couple months to really work and get myself sharp."
In terms of your own game, what's excelled or stood out to you?
Allen: "I think when I went to camp, I really took hold and tried to be one of the main guys. I was getting on the ball a lot and I was dangerous. I left camp feeling really good because I felt like I was one of the better players there and that it would've been a hard decision for [Ramos] to not take me."
Did Tab say that your versatility was key to you being called in?
Allen: "I wouldn't say it's the main reason, but it's obviously helps me that I can play a few positions. I think when you go to a tournament, I think it's important to have players that are versatile because … you never know who's going to go down with an injury. Obviously the versatility helps me."
Expectations are always to win and get out of the group and go from there. Have you been able to talk to any of the other guys in terms of what you're hoping to accomplish?
Allen: "I haven't spoken to anybody yet, but based on camp, we all seem to be on the same consensus that we want to do well, we need to get out of the group, for sure, and if you look at the roster, there's actually pros who didn't make it, so this is a really strong group and we want to go far."
Have you had any advice from some of the other guys on this club who have gone to U-20 World Cups?
Allen: "Not specifically about World Cups, but I think Tony Beltran has always, before games, telling me to be fearless and just to show what I can do and I think he gives a lot of confidence to me."
How do you manage the pressure of a young guy who has a lot of hype around him?
Allen: "I don't really even think about it. I think the only pressure I really feel is the pressure that I put on myself. I want to be somebody that makes an impact with RSL and the national-team level, so the only pressure that I feel is the pressure I put on myself."
Is it particularly rewarding to go from being a Homegrown kid, starting in Arizona, does all that come into focus that it was all worth it?
Allen: "Yeah, for sure. I think whenever you sacrifice that much, you're always looking for justification, especially after last year I think I'm finally starting to see that justification, so it's a really great feeling and I hope I can keep on carrying it out."
Is it tough to leave your club considering you're in such good form?
Allen: "It is actually bittersweet. The last couple of games, I've really started to find my rhythm and really started to be a big player here, an important player, and I think the U-20 World Cup will just help me continue to develop, so when I do come back I'm just as sharp — or even sharper."
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-Chris Kamrani
Twitter: @chriskamrani