USA vs. Panama: Jermaine Jones Must Prove He's a Worthy Captain

Jermaine Jones has a lot to prove.

After being suspended from German club Schalke for eight weeks for stomping on the foot of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Marco Reus in a German Cup game, Jones found himself with a good deal of free time.

And Jurgen Klinsmann saw fit to name him the US national team's captain heading into its friendly with Venezuela.

From Brent Latham of MLSSoccer.com:

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“The fact that Jermaine is captain of this group is only because he has outstanding quality, and he raised the level of this group by coming in,” Klinsmann said Tuesday at the team hotel. “Jermaine is a player that is always on the edge, and he plays that way, and he has to deal with that. If you play that kind of game, and you step over it, like he did – step over and step on it – then you have to deal with that.”

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For Klinsmann, Jones' past doesn't take away that he can provide leadership for this current roster of players, especially while team leader such as Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard remain in Europe.

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“Everyone has his own opinion, that is cool with me,” the coach said. “I’m not putting too much into this. For me, it’s important what role does a player play within the national team picture, and how does he fit himself into this picture, and he’s doing that very well. Jermaine came in and raised the bar, within one session. If you see him interact, you know he’s a leader."

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Against Venezuela, Jones provided the grit and leadership on the field the young US squad needed, helping to lead them to a 1-0 victory. The leadership and tempo he has already brought to the team's practices have impressed Klinsmann.

It would seem a nice little redemption story of a player owning up to his mistake, working his butt off at another opportunity offered and offering younger teammates an example to follow on the pitch.

But the most important lesson he can teach is providing an example of how to play on edge without stepping over the line. The most important thing he can show the younger players is the ability to be tenacious without becoming vicious.

For the young players on the team, the chance to increase their level of play and gain experience at the international level is more important than the result.

For Jones, the chance to lead them in a responsible yet aggressive manner and continue to mend his reputation is more important than the result as well.

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