DOHA: Tim Weah is relishing the chance to play on the one stage his famous footballing father never graced when he takes to the field for the United States at the World Cup.
The 22-year-old Lille winger is a key part of a talented United States squad in Qatar which is plotting to spring a surprise in Group B where the Americans face England, Wales and Iran.
Weah鈥檚 father George long dreamed of playing in the World Cup, but was never able to guide Liberia to the tournament during a club career that saw him acclaimed as one of the greatest players in history.
鈥淢y dad wanted the opportunity to play in a World Cup with his country but never got the opportunity to do it,鈥� Tim Weah told reporters on Tuesday. 鈥淣ow he鈥檚 kind of reliving that through me.鈥�
Twelve years ago, Weah was a wide-eyed 10-year-old football fan accompanying his father as a guest at the 2010 World Cup final, watching in awe as Andres Iniesta鈥檚 extra-time winner sealed the title for Spain.
鈥淛ust watching that, and watching all my favorite players on the field was a dream come true,鈥� Weah told AFP at the team鈥檚 training base on Tuesday.
鈥淭o be in that same position now is crazy, kind of surreal. I guess when you鈥檙e in the position that I鈥檓 in now you don鈥檛 really realize how blessed you are.
鈥淭his is something that we鈥檝e been working on for such a long time. To be here is an amazing feeling...It hasn鈥檛 really hit me yet if I鈥檓 being honest.鈥�
Comfortable operating as a conventional winger or as wing-back, Weah says he hopes to crown his World Cup debut with a goal 鈥� preferably against Group B opponents England on November 25.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to lie. The whole world admires England. I admire England. The players they have, the talent they have, the history that they have,鈥� Weah said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely something big when you score against a team like that. But it鈥檚 a World Cup 鈥� I鈥檒l take a goal against anyone.鈥�
With an average age of just under 25, the United States has the youngest squad at the World Cup.
Weah however brushes off suggestions that inexperience may hamper US chances of performing well, citing the experience of elite European club football gleaned by many of his team-mates.
鈥淚 feel like right now, the way football is, age is just a number,鈥� Weah said. 鈥淪ome of the best players in the world are not even 24 yet.
鈥淚ndividually we all have our own experiences, and we鈥檙e all bringing our own maturity to the team...I feel like when we all come together we bring our own level of maturity,鈥� Weah said.
鈥淎nd even though we鈥檙e young, we鈥檙e not young-minded. It鈥檚 not an immature group at all. It鈥檚 a group of guys who know what they want. We鈥檙e all just hungry and want to get started.鈥�