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Almost a year later, Gregg Berhalter has put together a roster that should excite fans for the future of American football.
By the time the United States men’s national team takes the field against Wales on November 12, it will be nearly a year since fans have seen Gregg Berhalter’s side at their best.
Despite everything that has happened away from the game, from the perspective of American football, 2020 was one of the most promising years in recent memory, even though all international friendlies except one in early February have been postponed.
Over the past 12 months, Christian Pulisic has truly emerged as a focal point at Chelsea, while Sergino Dest and Weston McKennie have joined the same megaclubs of Barcelona and Juventus, respectively.
Gio Reyna made it to Borussia Dortmund, Zack Steffen started for Manchester City and the list could go on and on.
Tyler Adams’ goal of sending RB Leipzig to the Champions League semi-finals is in some ways the fifth biggest USMNT storyline of the past 12 months.
And with all of that comes optimism.
Despite a nearly a year hiatus, the USMNT will reunite again in November, and although talented MLS stars like Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie, Jozy Altidore and Jordan Morris are not involved, this will give supporters the closer look. to what this new-look USMNT can be.
Berhalter used this opportunity to call in some new faces and cause some big surprises in his latest team, with the likes of Valencia star Yunus Musah being named despite his uncertain international future.
This is a list with a balance between youth and experience, although some of the more experienced faces in the group are just past drinking age.
For the first time in what seems like a lifetime, there is a match on the schedule, giving Berhalter a chance to start piecing the puzzle together before next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
Said this, Objective took a closer look at the main talking points in Berhalter’s team …
Reyna’s introduction
It’s been several months since Gio Reyna broke into Dortmund’s first team, making him the last American star to truly shine in a European superpower.
And now, as he remains in incredible shape for the Bundesliga squad, Berhalter can finally get him involved.
Reyna was supposed to make her debut with USMNT in March, but the coronavirus blew those plans.
In the following months, the teenager took an even bigger role for Lucien Favre, playing both on the wing and as number 10 on a team led by young stars Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho.
While he can play as number 10 with Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams taking care of defensive duties behind him, Berhalter says Reyna is much more likely to start on the opposite wing to Chrsitian Pulisic, at least initially.
“For us it’s more or less the same thing. It’s about putting him in a position to influence the game, “he said.” We usually play a 4-3-3.
“We talked about wanting to defend now with three midfielders. I guess you’d say he would probably play on the wing with us because you wouldn’t see him defending with three midfielders. But again, we want to put Christian in position to influence the game and get results.”
Regardless of where it plays, the US seems to have a star in Reyna; one who will finally have the chance to make the big leap into the senior team.
Musah and Soto provide both questions and answers
There have been some great surprises on this USMNT squad, but none have been greater than the inclusion of Yunus Musah.
The New York-born England youth international had not previously indicated that he would represent USMNT but, having made it through in Valencia, here he is.
For the uninitiated, the 17-year-old former Arsenal midfielder has emerged for Valencia this season, scoring his first goal for the club on Sunday.
Part of Musah’s breakthrough is out of necessity, with the Spanish team having all the sell-offs sold out this summer, which is causing a cultural crisis for the club.
But part of Musah’s breakthrough is also the fact that he’s a promising player, even if he’s not yet one who looks set to change the game internationally.
The good thing is that it doesn’t have to be, and there is no guarantee it will stay with the USMNT in the future.
Musah will remain eligible to represent England, Italy or Ghana even if he appears against Wales or Panama, and the cynic may see this call-up as a way to force England’s hand.
The optimist, however, sees it as another potentially talented piece; one that has a realistic path for the World Cup in 2022.
“What we see from (Musah) is a player who is hungry, he is hungry to make his impact,” Berhalter said. “It has a connection with the United States. He loves the direction the team is going, he loves the young talent he can be alongside and we see him as having a lot of potential.
“And for us it’s about taking him on the pitch with us, letting him experience how we work as a team, how we work as staff, letting him experience the teammates and the team environment we are able to create, and then everything we can to do is hope that, in the end, he will choose us for the long term.
“Obviously he has chosen us now, but there is still a long-term implication that has yet to be decided.”
Musah isn’t the only addition who has options elsewhere, as Sebastian Soto has been called up despite recent flirtations with Chile.
His status with the South American nation remains unclear, as he may or may not have a Chilean passport, but it’s a good sign for the United States that he’s here and ready to contribute.
Injured Pulisic could open attack points
In the days leading up to the announcement of the USMNT team, much of the discussion was about Christian Pulisic.
The Chelsea star recently injured his hamstring in the warm-up ahead of the Blues’ clash with Burnley, questioning his status for the upcoming international break.
And while his presence in the squad is undoubtedly good news, it remains to be seen whether he is capable of really playing.
“I think this week will determine that,” Berhalter said. “They have a Champions League match and a league match and I think his participation with Chelsea will largely determine (his availability).”
He added: “He is one of the leaders of our team and we will rely on him to lead this team. At such a young age he has already played a lot of Champions League matches, World Cup qualifiers. You name it, it did. He is certainly a leader in this team. “
The thought of Pulisic leading a team involving Reyna, Adams and McKennie is tantalizing, especially considering the fact that fans haven’t seen this full squad in nearly a year.
However, if the former Dortmund player is unable to play, it could open the opportunity for a player on the sidelines to claim their claim for a regular starting spot.
Maybe that player could be Konrad de la Fuente, Barcelona’s teenage star who shone playing an age group with the youth national teams.
It could be Timothy Weah, who has seen his development derailed by injuries since moving to Lille from Paris Saint-Germain.
Maybe it could be Uly Llanez, one of the protagonists of the January camp, or it could be a newcomer like Nicolas Gioacchini.
But, while the spots on the wings are interesting, all eyes are on the numbers 9.
The USMNT is still asking a striker to really claim that spot, snatching it from Jozy Altidore’s hands in the process.
Josh Sargent, in general, is the favorite to do so, despite some struggles with humble Werder Bremen. Soto also remains an option, especially given his recent form with Telstar.
As for MLS options, Altidore and Gyasi Zardes remain in the picture, while youngsters like Toronto FC’s Ayo Akinola and Orlando City rookie Daryl Dike may be called up sooner or later.
The point is, with the World Cup just two years away, spot number 9 is there to be taken, and a strong performance from Sargent, in particular, would go a long way to make it his.
Is this the most talented USMNT team ever?
There have been many good US teams, with the 2002 World Cup and 2009 Confederations Cup teams in mind. But the national team has never had so much raw, high-level talent on a roster.
Nine of this team’s players play for Champions League clubs, the most in USMNT history.
Many others, like Musah, Sargent, Antonee Robinson and John Brooks, are playing for established clubs in Europe’s top five leagues, while up-and-coming players like De la Fuente and Richie Ledezma appear to be close to their own breakthroughs.
Even without MLS stars like Altidore, Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie and Jordan Morris, this team is loaded with talent.
“It is a big step for American football,” Berhalter said. “I firmly believe that the measure of talent in a given country is based on the number of players playing in the Champions League. So I think it’s really important to increase those numbers.
“And I think the two things that lead to success are having a strong national championship and then having players playing the Champions League, and it’s good to see we have that.”
Despite all this, this team, both now and in the coming years, is built on promise, on hope.
At the start of the camp, the roster will have an average age of 21, 300 days, with the average number of caps set at nine. This team is young, to put it bluntly.
With the likes of Pulisic, Reyna, McKennie, Dest and Adams finally on the same team, could it be a time similar to assembling the Avengers? Probably.
Could this finally be the beginning of a golden generation, one that begins at the perfect time with 2022 and 2026 looming? Could be.
But fans will have to wait and see. There is reason for optimism, but optimism guarantees nothing.
There will be increasing difficulties, especially in the months to come, and some of these players, however good they may be, may not reach their potential.
For now, though, there is reason to be excited, perhaps hyperbolic, for a team that has more players playing at a higher level than ever.
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