The United States Men's National Team's 26-man roster for the World Cup is beginning to leak ahead of the formal announcement Tuesday.
MISSED THE ROSTER:
• Diego Luna, midfielder, Real Salt Lake (MLS) — had four goals and four assists for Pochettino in 12 caps • Tanner Tessman, midfielder, Lyon (Ligue 1) • Aidan Morris, midfielder, Middlesbrough (EFL Championship) • Yunus Musah, midfielder, Atalanta (Serie A) • Josh Sargent, forward, Toronto FC (MLS)\
OUT INJURED
• Johnny Cardoso, midfield, Atletico Madrid (La Liga) • Cameron Carter-Vickers, center back, Celtic (Scottish Premiership) • Patrick Agyemang, forward, Derby County (EFL Championship)
BUBBLE PLAYERS, MADE THE ROSTER
• Gio Reyna, attacking mid/wing, Mönchengladbach (Bundesliga) • Max Arfsten, defender, Columbus (MLS) • Alex Freeman, right back/wing, Villareal (La Liga) • Cristian Roldan, midfield, Seattle (MLS) • Chris Richards, center-back, Crystal Palace (EPL) — ankle injury should be healed • Sebastian Berhalter, midfield, Vancouver (MLS) • Alejandro Zendejas, forward, Club America (Liga MX)
EXPECTED SELECTIONS
Goalkeepers: Matt Turner; Matt Freese, Chris Brady. Defenders/Wing: Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Joe Scally. Midfield: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson. Forward/Striker: Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, Tim Weah.
My take: If this is the roster, it's an interesting approach. There are a lot of back-line guys, but many of them are flex guys who can play wing, which suggests Pochettino wants to build the attack out of the back, through the midfield, instead of using defensive mids to start the attack. Glad to see Berhalter make it — he has the best set-piece service on the team. Reyna? He never plays for his German club, so no way he's fit to play extended minutes, but there are plenty of mids to press the attack. Looks like a 4-3-3, Could move to a 4-2-3-1 if Poch wants Adams and McKennie in a more defensive posture, and counter that way.
THE ASYLUM
Report: USMNT roster leaks
The United States Men's National Team's 26-man roster for the World Cup is beginning to leak ahead of the formal announcement Tuesday.
MISSED THE ROSTER:
• Diego Luna, midfielder, Real Salt Lake (MLS) — had four goals and four assists for Pochettino in 12 caps
• Tanner Tessman, midfielder, Lyon (Ligue 1)
• Aidan Morris, midfielder, Middlesbrough (EFL Championship)
• Yunus Musah, midfielder, Atalanta (Serie A)
• Josh Sargent, forward, Toronto FC (MLS)\
OUT INJURED
• Johnny Cardoso, midfield, Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
• Cameron Carter-Vickers, center back, Celtic (Scottish Premiership)
• Patrick Agyemang, forward, Derby County (EFL Championship)
BUBBLE PLAYERS, MADE THE ROSTER
• Gio Reyna, attacking mid/wing, Mönchengladbach (Bundesliga)
• Max Arfsten, defender, Columbus (MLS)
• Alex Freeman, right back/wing, Villareal (La Liga)
• Cristian Roldan, midfield, Seattle (MLS)
• Chris Richards, center-back, Crystal Palace (EPL) — ankle injury should be healed
• Sebastian Berhalter, midfield, Vancouver (MLS)
• Alejandro Zendejas, forward, Club America (Liga MX)
EXPECTED SELECTIONS
Goalkeepers: Matt Turner; Matt Freese, Chris Brady.
Defenders/Wing: Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Joe Scally.
Midfield: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson.
Forward/Striker: Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, Tim Weah.
My take: If this is the roster, it's an interesting approach. There are a lot of back-line guys, but many of them are flex guys who can play wing, which suggests Pochettino wants to build the attack out of the back, through the midfield, instead of using defensive mids to start the attack. Glad to see Berhalter make it — he has the best set-piece service on the team. Reyna? He never plays for his German club, so no way he's fit to play extended minutes, but there are plenty of mids to press the attack. Looks like a 4-3-3, Could move to a 4-2-3-1 if Poch wants Adams and McKennie in a more defensive posture, and counter that way.
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