Football
ESPN staff 8y

Alejandro Bedoya eyeing U.S. return for Guatemala qualifiers, Copa America

Alejandro Bedoya says he is hoping to rejoin the United States national team for its World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala next month, and also for the Copa America tournament later this summer.

Bedoya missed the United States' opening two qualifiers last year against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago due to illness, but remains a key figure in Jurgen Klinsmann's midfield.

Bedoya has helped his club team Nantes climb the Ligue 1 table with a 10-match unbeaten streak to start the new year, and is counting on his current form to catapult him back into the forefront for the national team.

"I was obviously pissed, annoyed, frustrated that I missed the first two qualifiers due to sickness," Bedoya said in an interview with Fox Sports.

"I was out for a month and a half. Now I'm looking forward -- hopefully if I get selected -- to being a part of it. We all know 2015 wasn't the best year. We want to put that behind us.

"Now we want 2016 to be a totally different type of year for us. With Copa America, it's going to be a huge tournament, a fantastic tournament with big teams and big players.

"It's something we want to look forward to, but we want to take care of business in March against Guatemala to set the tone for the summer."

Bedoya credited his hot start to 2016 to a much-needed Christmas break.

"Mentally and physically, I just needed a break where I could just think things through," Bedoya said. "My body needed it. I just reset my focus and my mind and everything."

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