This past year Jose Francisco Torres earned more playing time with his Mexican club Pachuca. Although he has struggled to do the same with the U.S. national team, he still maintains hope that he can secure a starting position. "I hope to win a spot on the national team and from there go to the World Cup and play," Torres told Mexican daily Record.
In training with the U.S., Torres is still adjusting to a different soccer environment than the one he was used to in Mexico. "In the United States, the work is very serious and you have to do it with a lot of respect," he said. "The national team has progressed a lot and they've grown a lot on the soccer end of it. There is a lot of heart with the national team, you don't stop running or fighting, that's the characteristic. Here, in locker rooms in Mexico, there is more joy. It's always upbeat and there is always players who are happy. El Chaco (Christian Gimenez) sets that tone. In the national team, it's more serious. There's music there too – most of them like rap so that's what we listen to – but we get along great."
While he has not yet become a starter for Bob Bradley's team and didn't get off the bench at the Confederations Cup, Torres said everyone on the U.S. national team, whether they are playing, coaching or on the bench, is set on one thing. "The mentality there is to always aspire for victory," Torres said. "The United States always tries to come out ahead."