Two years ago, Benny Feilhaber was on the cusp of stardom with the U.S. national team. After starring in youth teams, he scored a game-winning volley against Mexico in the 2007 Gold Cup, heroics he followed with a bright performance in Copa America. But Feilhaber dropped suddenly off the radar in 2008, when injuries and a dip in form caused him to see only 34 minutes of action for the national team in all of 2008.
A sudden recall to the national team before the Costa Rica match might signal his return to prominence. "I was definitely surprised," Feilhaber told Luis Bueno. "I didn't think I would be called in yet. I was hoping that maybe I would get an opportunity for one of the two big tournaments this summer but I didn't know I was going to get called in just yet for the qualifiers but it was a big surprise and I'm happy about it."
Feilhaber has been working to overcome injury and surgery to his left knee. "I'm coming back slowly," he said. "The injury was tough on me. I was gone for six months without playing a game, playing at all. It's never easy coming back from an injury but I finally feel like I'm confident with my knee." Feilhaber says he still needs to improve his fitness and play more consistently on both sides of the ball. And although he probably won't see minutes against Costa Rica, Feilhaber wants to take advantage of the opportunity and prove his worth to coach Bob Bradley and the national team this summer.
"I don't want to give myself a deadline that's going to be in a couple of weeks, a couple of games or whatever but I feel like I am going in the right direction to be in the right spot come either Confederations Cup or Gold Cup or whenever Bob will need me," he said. "That's where I want to be, at that level where I was playing a couple of years ago."