Pochettino anuncia la selección de Estados Unidos para amistosos de junio
The head coach of the United States men’s national soccer team, Mauricio Pochettino, revealed this Thursday the list of 27 players called up for the June friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland.
However, the call-up draws attention to the notable absences, rather than the names present.
Key figures such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Giovanni Reyna, Antonee Robinson, and Yunus Musah were not included in the list.
Pulisic will take a break after a grueling season in Europe, where he accumulated more than 3,500 minutes of play and dealt with several injuries, including a chronic hip flexor injury.
Robinson finds himself in a similar situation, after participating in 37 matches with Fulham this season and missing the Concacaf Nations League in March. He will be given rest this summer.
McKennie, Weah and Reyna will participate in the Club World Cup, with McKennie and Weah playing for Juventus and Reyna for Borussia Dortmund.
Another midfielder, Johnny Cardoso, was included in the list, but could be busy with the Club World Cup if his transfer to Atlético de Madrid materializes. Josh Sargent, Norwich City striker, is also a surprising absence.
Although the final roster for the Gold Cup will not be announced until June 4, the absences will likely affect the team’s preparation for next year’s FIFA World Cup. Pochettino, who took over in September, considers the Gold Cup, the last set of competitive matches before the World Cup, crucial for establishing team chemistry.
The large number of absences will prevent Pochettino from having crucial training days with some of his key players.
“As we continue preparations for the World Cup, this is a fantastic opportunity to work with this group of players over an extended period and it’s important that we make the most of every moment we have together,” Pochettino said. “Of course, we want to win and perform in a very good way. These players have earned the opportunity to compete for our fans and demonstrate their quality and mentality.”
Mauricio Pochettino
The United States will gather in Chicago starting June 1 to prepare for the friendlies. They will face Turkey in Hartford, Connecticut, on June 7, and Switzerland in Nashville three days later.
The USMNT will begin the Gold Cup group stage against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15, followed by matches against Saudi Arabia on June 19 and the last group stage match against Haiti three days later.
PSV Eindhoven right-back Sergiño Dest missed 11 months of this season due to an injury.
Despite the absences, the team has experienced players like Tim Ream, defender for Charlotte FC, Tyler Adams, midfielder for AFC Bournemouth, and Matt Turner, goalkeeper for Crystal Palace.
Pochettino will also welcome Sergiño Dest, right-back for PSV Eindhoven, considered a key figure in helping the USMNT recover after their disappointing performances in last year’s Copa América and in the Concacaf Nations League in March. Dest missed both competitions due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The mentioned absences have opened opportunities for 12 players with fewer than five international matches, including five players with no international experience. The players to watch from this group include Patrick Agyemang, forward for Charlotte FC, Diego Luna, midfielder for Real Salt Lake, and Brian White, forward for Vancouver Whitecaps.
Detailed list of players by position
GOALKEEPERS (4): Matt Freese (New York City FC; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 30/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 51/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 33/2), Alex Freeman (Orlando City; 0/0), DeJuan Jones (San Jose Earthquakes; 10/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 19/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 68/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 24/1), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 32/3)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 47/8), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 44/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 18/0), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; 24/1), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 4/0), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 4/1), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 17/0), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew; 1/0)
FORWARDS (5): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 4/3), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 17/5), Damion Downs (FC Köln/GER; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 4/1), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 15/4)
