It,'s the left-back's first selection by the US national team
Big news out of the Impact today: Daniel Lovitz was called up by the American national team.
The Bleu-blanc-noir full-back has cemented his place in the left-back position over the past two seasons with the Montreal squad, playing 56 games with the club, 48 of those as a starter. His play obviously caught the attention of Gregg Berhalter, former coach of the Columbus Crew SC, and new coach of the USMNT.
“He’s been familiar with me and likes what’s been going on with me here in Montreal, especially since I’ve transitioned to a left-back,” said Daniel Lovitz. “I fit with the style that they want to play under his watch. He wanted to use this as an opportunity to see if I could bring my game to the next level and see if I could help the team win.”
Lovitz, 27, will join the USMNT camp for the first time in his career. If the American defender knows that this call-up is a result of the hard work he’s put in, he also sees it as a new beginning and a motivator to work even harder.
“It means a lot, but more than anything it’s just an opportunity,” explained Lovitz. “It feels similar to when I was being drafted: it’s an honour and an amazing achievement, but it’s just the beginning of the work that I really want to put in. To be able to do it at this level is a dream of mine, and I’m ready to throw myself into it in any way that I can.”
The highest honour
Most professional soccer players will tell you the same thing: there’s no bigger honour, no bigger accomplishment, than representing your country. Much of that is true for Lovitz as well, who envisioned this opportunity when his pro career had first taken off, but he only started believing in it more when he earned regular playing time with the Bleu-blanc-noir.
“As a result of playing regularly, I surprised myself in transforming and elevating my game,” added Lovitz. “If this is the next step, which apparently it is, I’m thrilled, but I’m focused on making sure this isn’t just a one-time thing. I really want to make a career out of this.”
The Impact defender will join the national team as soon as January 7, where the team will train for two weeks before taking on Panama and Costa Rica in a pair of friendlies. It marks the beginning of a new era for The Stars and Stripes, who kick off their first camp under new head coach Gregg Berhalter.
“I’m excited to be a part of a new team. Just like any other team, you want to play for the guy next to you, be part of a good culture, and you want it to mean something. Right now, it’s about trying to make sure that the new direction the team is going in is a positive one, and I want to play the biggest role I can in it.”
