New USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino selected his first squad ahead of the team’s upcoming friendlies against Panama (October 12 in Austin) and Mexico (October 15 in Guadalajara).
The Argentine will have arguably the finest crop of forward talent in the nation’s history, led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic. The 26-year-old has blossomed as one of the top attackers in Serie A with four goals and two assists in his first six league games.
Pulisic will be joined in the squad by PSV’s Ricardo Pepi (scored twice last weekend), Monaco’s Florian Balogun (scored in his last two games), Norwich’s Josh Sargent, Coventry City’s Haji Wright, and Juventus’s Timothy Weah.
Pochettino announced his USMNT will be playing in two systems — a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 — and the competition for the lone striker next to Pulisic is still in its infancy.
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Pochettino will be delighted by the strong play from some of his midfielders. Weston McKennie is off to a fine start to life under new Juventus manager Thiago Motta at Juventus. Malik Tillman is arguably the best attacking midfielder in the Dutch league for PSV and former MLS alumni Aidan Morris has taken well to life in the Championship at Middlesbrough.
Pochettino also revealed the only USMNT player he’s spoken to since taking the job is Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson after they ran into each other in a London restaurant.
The new manager will have to juggle the absences of a few projected starters. Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams is still out with a long-term back injury while dependable fullback Sergino Dest is recovering from an ACL tear.
AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring a goal against Lecce with teammate Rafael Leao (
Getty Images)
They’re joined by Crystal Palace center-back Chris Richards (who surely would have started alongside Tim Ream if fit), Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Dortmund’s Gio Reyna as other key absences through injury.
Turner, a backup at Palace, is likely the USMNT’s long-term starter between net but look for Pochettino to give one of the other three goalkeepers selected a run-out.
Here is the squad (ordered in terms of caps for each position):
Goalkeepers: (4): Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 45/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids/USA 29/0, Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/WAL; 9/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew/USA 2/0)
Defenders: (8):Tim Ream (Charlotte FC/USA 62/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 46/4), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati/USA 29/3), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 14/0), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach/GER; 12/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 5/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 2/0). Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege/BEL; 1/0)
Midfielders: (7): Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 56/11), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 44/8), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 41/0), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 17/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 14/0), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 13/1), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG; 7/0)
Forwards: (6): Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 73/31), Timothy Weah (Juventus/ITA; 41/6), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; 30/10), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 25/5), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 17/5), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 13/4)
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