Fulham have two international champions in the ranks after Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream combined to help the United States win the CONCACAF Nations League.
Fulham have so many players away on international duty right now and the focus will soon be on the Premier League clash with Sheffield United.
For now, Marco Silva is probably just hoping that his key players return to West London unscathed.
Seeing his players shine for their countries will still be a source of real pride for Silva though and two players claimed some silverware.
Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream both started for the United Stated as they beat Mexico 2-0 in the early hours of Monday morning.
Tyler Adams and Giovanni Reyna fired the USA victory, handing them the CONCACAF Nations League title.
Robinson earned mixed reviews for his performance but Fulham teammate Tim Ream has received enormous praise…
American media on Fulham defender Tim Ream
Veteran defender Ream is Mr Dependable, whether it’s for Fulham in the Premier League or whilst away on international duty.
Ream helped USA keep a clean sheet as they ran out 2-0 winners and the American media were impressed with the Fulham ace.
MLS Soccer handed Ream an 8 out of 10 rating, branding him ‘spectacular’ whilst suggesting that boss Gregg Berhalter pulled off a ‘masterstroke’ by starting him.
“Putting Fulham’s Tim Ream back into the lineup was a masterstroke from Gregg Berhalter. The former New York Red Bulls defender was spectacular against Mexico, stepping up to every challenge defensively and playing a crucial role in possession. His distribution was on point throughout the night and gave the US a strong platform.”
Goal went with a 7 out of 10, hailing his positioning in the heart of the USA back line.
“A typical performance where his positioning is always so, so good. No matter his age, he’s still key to this team.”
Pro Soccer Wire also handed Ream a 7 out of 10, highlighting his aerial ability and his calm approach to defending.
“Ream won all seven headers he went up for, and was the yin to Richards’ more aggressive yang. That helped the U.S. stay organized, restricting El Tri to mere scraps all night. The Fulham veteran’s normally reliable service on long diagonals failed him on numerous occasions, but that’s the only real complaint on a night where Ream wasn’t given a particularly hard test.”
NBC Sports rated Ream at 8.5 out of 10, the highest of the lot, stating that his ‘class appears permanent’ in a USA shirt.
“Won all eight of his duels, as the Fulham man’s class appears permanent in a USMNT shirt. Was worth saving the veteran for the final and Berhalter’s decision to use Miles Robinson in the first game was also a winner.”
Ream is now 36 and he would accept himself that he is closer to the end of his career than the start.
The experienced centre back is still such a popular figure at Fulham though and seeing him reach a decade at the club by making it to the summer of 2025 would be en emotional moment.
We are just so happy to see Ream lifting some silverware; he certainly deserves it.