The second-highest honor is playing for your country, and the highest honor is wearing the armband for your country. It shows that the players have confidence in me, and that feels good.

I didn't have to step up into a leadership role, ... I just had to be there and help out where I could. But this year I had to be more of the man.

New England has two factors to get them ready to play. They've consistently been, if not the best, the second best team all year and they're playing confidently. And a lot of those guys were on field when they lost to LA. They'll take motivation in that.

Most of us are in this more than just for playing soccer. We're in it for the bigger goal - to move it along for the next generation.

In my heart of hearts, I thought, if we get a 1-0 win and the team doesn't perform well, that would feel good.

Fortunately for me, its my most favorite drill, and that is finishing. However, from a young age, soccer players in this country are not taught how to properly finish, and I think you see that through the professional ranks, that we dont have that killer instinct of the forwards from other countries.

I genuinely want to do my best every day, and I genuinely want to enjoy life every day.