I'd played some very good games, at Manchester United, at Tottenham Hotspur, but they'd lacked a goal. There've been times when I could have scored myself, but I've played a pass to a team-mate instead.
I first remember Wayne Rooney from a game at Old Trafford in 2002 when he came on as a late substitute for Everton and, in a brilliant 15-minute performance, skipped past me on a couple of occasions.
Soccer presented no challenge to me. Playing felt like breathing: I always had a magical connection to the ball. But it didn't feel like an adventure. Music was more of a challenge and, in the end, felt more interesting.
I think it will be good to be in Columbus and get pushed there and then go overseas. If there is a loan, it will be good to get comfortable and get games and get used to the pace of European soccer.
I was about five or six when I went to the little foundation camps. I got into the academy when I was nine, and I've gone through every age group since and into the first team.
Growing up I've been playing as an attacking midfielder, more central in the midfield. I wouldn't say if I'm most comfortable there but that's where I grew up playing.
I've scored many goals that I've liked, but I think the best memory I have is the one against Korea in the 2010 World Cup.
I think the first time I had to play at left-back was at Manchester United in the Europa League.
I once saw professional soccer up there in Seattle, the Sounders. I went and saw that. I'm not a big soccer fan, but watching a live game is unbelievable. And then I went to Italy and saw a soccer match; it's something everyone should do once. It'll blow your mind.
After high school, I earned a scholarship to play Division I soccer at a small school in North Carolina, but I didn't get much playing time, which forced me to determine who I was beyond the field, something I had previously never had to do.
The 2017 European Championship was my first major tournament for England, but everyone tells me the World Cup is a different level.
Germany is where I had to become a true professional. They play in big games when they are young. We could model some of our soccer system after what they do.
From a pretty early age, my mother realized that I was a little bit more gifted and talented than my own age group. So, she moved me over to play with the boys' travel soccer team when I was about 11 years old.
I started playing soccer when I was 6 years old and started lifting weights when I was 16, so it's not like I never exercised.
My childhood in Adelaide was filled with sport. I played soccer from morning until night.
When I was 6 years old, I played on a coed indoor team. We were called the Cosmos. And then, after that, when I was 7, I played on an all-girls club team.
Clearly, if you go abroad to a top club, it means one more step in your development.
Swansea invested in me. They took a chance on me because I was a second-choice goalkeeper with not much experience when it comes to Premier League games.
As an early teen, soccer is the number one thing that you do - and I wasn't very good at that.
It took me a little bit of time in the Premier League. I came back from an ACL and got one goal in I think six months at Crystal Palace. It wasn't great but I got to grips with the Premier League, started to understand what it's about because it's very different to the lower leagues.
Mostly as a No 10. When I was really young, I played as a striker, but I grew a lot when I was 15 or 16.
A World Cup is always a bit of a watershed for teams, so there will be new faces and players given the chance to perform at a higher level.
I've been through everything in soccer.
My background playing soccer gave me a natural advantage over many of the American-born players.
I played three seasons when I was in MLS before I went to Europe, and every year, I was able to be selected for the All-Star, which was an honor.
