Clint Dempsey went from doubting if he'd ever play again to USMNT hat trick hero
In almost any other situation, Clint Dempsey scoring a hat trick to lead the United States to a crucial World Cup qualifying win would be impressive, but not unusual. For years now, when the Americans have needed a win, a goal, or a spark, Dempsey was often the man to provide it. He was the man the U.S. leaned on, in qualifiers and even in World Cups. But this was different.
It was only seven months ago that Dempsey was diagnosed with a heart condition that eventually ruled him out for the remainder of the MLS season. He also missed four World Cup qualifiers with the U.S., including a pair of losses to open the final round that cost Jurgen Klinsmann his job and raised some doubts if the Americans would even make it to Russia. But the team's struggles paled in comparison to what Dempsey was dealing with.
This was his heart, after all. And there were times Dempsey questioned if he would ever play again.
"There's moments you don't know if things are going to get right," Dempsey said when asked if he doubted that he would return. "You're having a brain battle."
But there was Dempsey, back after a six-month absence and starting for the Seattle Sounders in their first match of the season. Then, three weeks later when the U.S. took on Honduras in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Friday night, there he was in the starting lineup.
That he was even playing was notable, but he did much more than simply play. The 34-year-old scored three goals to lead the Americans to a 6-0 win that has revived their World Cup qualifying campaign. Dempsey was the star.
He chested the ball down and held off defenders before finishing expertly. He ran in behind the defense and rounded the goalkeeper. He caught the goalkeeper cheating and scored an exquisite free kick. He did it all when the Americans needed their best.
Dempsey's return to the spotlight couldn't have been predicted, not even after he got back on the field for the Sounders. After all, U.S. manager Bruce Arena indicated that he wanted to bring Dempsey off the bench when the boss announced his roster for this match. But injuries to Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris left a hole up top that someone had to fill, and that task fell to Dempsey.
It was clear to his teammates early in the week that Dempsey, even at 34 and still working his way back to full strength, was up to the task.
"He was as sharp as the last time I saw him," Tim Howard said of Dempsey in training all week.
"Clint's Clint," Alejandro Bedoya added. "He's a great player. He's always in there to get the job done, He was just doing his thing all week in training."
Arena said that he knew that he wanted to play with two strikers against Honduras. One was always going to be Jozy Altidore, but with Wood and Morris out, the second was in question, and he was running out of options.
So how did Arena land on Dempsey to get the start despite preferring him off the bench just a week earlier?
"We didn't have anyone else," Arena said with a smirk, but it was entirely untrue.
The question was still Dempsey's health. Even Dempsey said a week ago that he wasn't sure if he could play 90 minutes at this level. This is still a player who missed six months with a heart problem and has played in only three matches since. His limits were untested.
Arena had to ask Dempsey, "How many minutes do you think you can give me?"
"I'll give you all the minutes I can," Dempsey responded.
What he gave was 90 minutes, three goals, three points and a resuscitated World Cup qualifying campaign.
Now Dempsey is just two goals shy of Landon Donovan's United States men's national team record for career goals. And while it's not a focus for Dempsey, with picking up points, qualifying for the World Cup and simply being able to play taking up most of his thoughts, even he can't deny the allure of making history.
"Yeah it's in your mind," he admitted.
And so now the story is Dempsey's three goals. And the Americans' win. And whether he'll become the national team's greatest ever goal scorer.
These are all normal storylines that we have come to expect from this team and Dempsey, who has been as synonymous with Americans as anyone else for the better part of a decade now. And when you can put aside what the previous seven months brought Dempsey, everything is so familiar. But you can't put aside the previous seven months. At least Dempsey can't.
"You're grateful for every day, for every game, because you never know when it's going to be taken from you."
