Daniel Cuevas
It's not often that a professional, especially a young one, credits a peer with helping them develop the most as a player. But that's just how important Benji Joya has been to Daniel Cuevas.
- Juan Agudelo
- Eric Alexander
- Jozy Altidore
- Kyle Beckerman
- Tony Beltran
- Austin Berry
- Matt Besler
- Nat Borchers
- Terrence Boyd
- Will Bruin
- Edson Buddle
- Teal Bunbury
- Geoff Cameron
- Edgar Castillo
- Ricardo Clark
- Steve Clark
- Bobby Convey
- Kenny Cooper
- Joe Corona
- Sam Cronin
- Cody Cropper
- Danny Cruz
- Daniel Cuevas
- Charlie Davies
- Brad Davis
- Nick DeLeon
- Jay DeMerit
- Maurice Edu
- Michael Farfan
- Andrew Farrell
- Benny Feilhaber
- Greg Garza
- Eddie Gaven
- Luis Gil
- Alan Gordon
- Andy Gruenebaum
- Bill Hamid
- Matt Hedges
- Clint Irwin
- George John
- Sean Johnson
- Jermaine Jones
- Benji Joya
- Dan Kennedy
- Perry Kitchen
- Jeff Larentowicz
- Steven Lenhart
- Chad Marshall
- Jack McBean
- Dax McCarty
- Jack McInerney
- Matt Miazga
- Justin Morrow
- Patrick Mullins
- Lee Nguyen
- Conor O'Brien
- Amobi Okugo
- Michael Parkhurst
- Heath Pearce
- Chris Pontius
- Dillon Powers
- Christian Ramirez
- Nick Rimando
- Chris Rolfe
- Kelyn Rowe
- Omar Salgado
- C.J. Sapong
- Brek Shea
- Harry Shipp
- Tommy Thompson
- Wil Trapp
- Andrew Wenger
- Danny Williams
- Sheanon Williams
- Chris Wondolowski
- Graham Zusi
August 13, 2013
1:04 PM
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David Leah/isiphotos.com
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF SOCCER?
I used to go to the park with my Dad and watch him play [growing up in Sacramento]. I think I was around 5, 6 years old. I just remember listening to how the cleats sounded as we walked through the pavement on the way to the field. That’s a clear thing I have in my head.
WHO WAS YOUR SOCCER HERO GROWING UP?
My family in general, because my uncles and my Dad, they were all great players. So, I liked how each one of them had their different style and put it on the field. My Dad was a defender, and I had two, three uncles who were forwards. I liked how they played, their ways of scoring goals.
DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE SUITING UP FOR THE U.S.
I was nervous. Just the fact that I couldn’t believe it that I was out there, and that I had gotten picked out of the nation for my age. It’s pretty amazing to be up there and actually getting to suit up and be able to play. So I was pretty nervous and excited and ready to get on the field and play with the team. With the level of players that you have [on the national team], it’s always fun to play.
WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST ADMIRE IN A SOCCER PLAYER?
A player’s ability to get unmarked and get a shot off quick. Just seeing players, how they move around the defender to get that space to get open enough to get that shot off.
WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST DISLIKE IN AN OPPONENT?
When they’re lazy. Usually if you see it in a teammate, you’re tired or you’re maybe a goal down or two. They stop running, they don’t want to try, and just give up. I just don’t like seeing that, you know? It’s frustrating.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR SOCCER SUCCESS?
My personality. I just always want to get better and improve. I know what my skills are and what I’m not good at. Getting better at what I’m not good at is just the mentality I have to get better on the field.
WHAT IS ONE SOCCER SKILL YOU WANT TO IMPROVE?
My right foot. Being more precise, and maybe shooting a bit stronger. It’s my weak side.
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DEVELOPMENT?
My teammate, Benji [Joya]. His motivation, his attitude on the field, is just contagious, and it helps me a lot to keep moving forward to not be stressed and frustrated.
WHO IS YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND IN THE GAME?
Benji Joya
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SOCCER ACHIEVEMENT?
Playing in the U-20 World Cup. That was pretty great. That was something I didn’t think I’d achieve so early.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SOCCER DISAPPOINTMENT?
Getting injured in the [semifinal] game versus Cuba and not being able to play in the final of the [World Cup] qualifiers. I felt like I was at a good point soccer-wise. The tournament was going good for me. It kept me out of the final and kept me from playing for my club team for two months. And that was basically the end of the season, so it put me to a side and slowed my whole process down, affected me a lot. I had a sprained ankle and a partially torn meniscus. It was the last minutes of that game: a bad tackle from behind. We had two days and then we would play the final. There’s no way I could recover for that.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU LEARNED FROM THE GAME?
Just to never give up. The game, at some points, is not going good for you at all. But then it always turns around. There’s always a good side to it.
WHO ARE THE MOST TALENTED TEAMMATES YOU HAVE PLAYED ALONGSIDE?
That team that went to the World Cup. Coach Tab [Ramos] put a pretty good team out there. And I think that was the best team I’ve played with.
WHO ARE THE TOUGHEST OPPONENTS YOU HAVE LINED UP AGAINST?
Those three teams in the World Cup: Spain, France, and Ghana. [Paul] Pogba from France, he was pretty good on the ball. I was just amazed at his touch, his control, and his vision on the field. It was impressive to see a player with that much quality at our age.
IF YOU WEREN'T A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
I don’t know. Something with technology. I’m really into technology and computers. I knew I wanted to play professional soccer. I had opportunities to go to school, but I told my manager ‘I want to play soccer’ and he got me the opportunity in Mexico. We tried out, and luckily it went well for us. And that’s when we signed. I was barely coming out of high school then.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS IN THE GAME?
Leaving it on the field, getting the result you want. Everybody feels that when they win a final. It’s all the hard work paying off.
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