Tim Ream Pimpin Timnas AS Melaju di Piala Dunia 2026

Bek veteran Tim Ream kini memimpin tim nasional putra Amerika Serikat (USMNT) sebagai kapten dalam turnamen Piala Dunia, setelah sempat merasa peluangnya untuk tampil di kompetisi tertinggi tersebut telah tertutup.

Dilansir dari Herald Courier dan Star Herald pada Rabu, 1 Juli 2026, pemain berusia 38 tahun tersebut kini memegang peran sentral di bawah arahan pelatih Mauricio Pochettino menjelang laga babak 32 besar melawan Bosnia dan Herzegovina.

Ream sempat absen dari skuad nasional selama 14 bulan sebelum secara mengejutkan dipanggil ke Piala Dunia 2022 di Qatar, tempat ia kemudian bermain penuh di seluruh pertandingan.

"Being out of the picture for 14 months leading into 2022, I pretty much accepted that my opportunities to play in a World Cup were not going to be there," ujar Tim Ream, Kapten Timnas AS.

Mantan pemain Fulham tersebut bersyukur bisa kembali dipercaya untuk merumput di ajang bergengsi ini, terlebih karena turnamen kali ini digelar di rumah sendiri.

"So yeah, to be sitting here now and being able to play in a second World Cup, a home World Cup, is pretty special for me, for my family," kata Tim Ream, Kapten Timnas AS.

Ream juga menegaskan bahwa ia sangat menghargai setiap kesempatan yang ada karena dinamika dalam sepak bola dapat berubah dengan sangat cepat.

"I don't take (it) for granted because I know how quickly things can change. I know how quickly you can be in and how quickly you can be out," tutur Tim Ream, Kapten Timnas AS.

Performa apik Ream di Liga Inggris bahkan sempat memikat manajer Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, yang menyatakan ketertarikannya jika sang bek berusia lebih muda.

"He put himself in a position where we couldn't leave him off the team because he's starting for a good team in the Premier League and he's one of the best passing center backs in all the Premier League," kata Gregg Berhalter, Mantan Pelatih Timnas AS.

Berhalter menambahkan bahwa pencapaian tersebut merupakan bukti nyata dari seorang pemain yang berhasil membuktikan kapasitasnya melalui performa di lapangan.

"That's an example of a guy self-selecting based on his performance," ucap Gregg Berhalter, Mantan Pelatih Timnas AS.

Di dalam skuad AS saat ini, Ream dipandang sebagai sosok senior yang mengayomi rekan-rekan setimnya yang mayoritas berusia jauh lebih muda.

"I think everybody knows what he means to this team. It's weird to call him like a father figure to this group, but he really is," ujar Gio Reyna, Pemain Timnas AS.

Selain memberikan ketenangan taktis di lapangan, Ream juga sering menjadi sasaran candaan rekan setimnya karena faktor usia.

"He will score in training and they'll say he's the oldest scorer in World Cup history. Stuff like that," kata Folarin Balogun, Pemain Timnas AS.

Kendati demikian, penyerang muda tersebut mengaku memetik banyak pelajaran berharga dari pengalaman panjang sang kapten.

"My personal relationship with Tim is great," tutur Folarin Balogun, Pemain Timnas AS.

Balogun menyatakan rasa senangnya bisa menimba ilmu dari figur yang kaya pengalaman seperti Ream.

"He gives me lots of advice and he's somebody who has tons of experience. I'm a younger player, so I love to learn from him," ucap Folarin Balogun, Pemain Timnas AS.

Sejak Mauricio Pochettino mengambil alih kursi kepelatihan pada September 2024, Ream telah dipercaya menjadi kapten dalam 21 dari 29 pertandingan yang dijalani AS.

"I am so grateful that he is with us because he's a great captain not only on the field, he's maybe more important off the field," kata Mauricio Pochettino, Pelatih Timnas AS.

Pochettino menilai Ream memiliki kapasitas kepemimpinan positif yang sangat dibutuhkan oleh tim nasional.

"He has the experience, he has the capacity to be the leader that we want and to be a positive leader," ujar Mauricio Pochettino, Pelatih Timnas AS.

Setelah membawa Amerika Serikat memastikan tempat di babak gugur lewat kemenangan atas Australia, Ream menegaskan komitmennya untuk terus memberikan kontribusi maksimal.

"I've done everything I possibly can to be a part of this group. I've done everything I possibly can to push myself and push the guys," kata Tim Ream, Kapten Timnas AS.

Ia memilih fokus pada kontribusi nyata di lapangan daripada memikirkan usia atau pencapaian masa lalunya.

"I don't really think about my age or everything that I've done. I just know that everything I've done has been for a reason and it's all been worth it to be here and stand here and have this conversation," tutur Tim Ream, Kapten Timnas AS.