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Former U.S. national team player-turned pundit Cobi Jones credits the younger players for helping the U.S. team emerge as international contenders. With Jurgen Klinsmann giving more playing time in big games to younger players like Christian Pulisic, Julian Green and Jordan Morris, fans have been given hope that a young player can break into the starting lineup and become a star on the national team. Jones said that he believes giving youth a chance is a key part in building a winning team. "Of course I get excited," Jones told Omnisport. "It's important to build players up from an early age. Pulisic just turned 18, so getting young players in the squad sets up a great foundation." The midfielder scored 15 international goals in 164 caps during his time for the U.S. team from 1992 to 2004. He said that young players learn from the veterans. "It's extremely important to give the young players experience," Jones said. "The best teams I've been on have had a great mix [of youth and veterans]. Any great team needs that mix, because the veterans can teach the younger players the tricks of the trade." The U.S. faces Mexico in 2018 World Cup qualifying in November. Klinsmann's side beat El Tri in a friendly earlier this year. This edition of Mexico will feature the return of LA Galaxy's Giovanni dos Santos. "There are no secrets at this point," Jones said. "They have been CONCACAF rivals for years, and I think it's going to be chippy. Everyone on the U.S. squad is hoping for another 2-0 win." U.S. will compete against Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago in the CONCACAF hexagonal for a berth in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The top three teams automatically qualify. The fourth-place team heads to an international playoff for the final slot. The U.S. has not missed a World Cup since 1986.
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