March 17, 2026 • 46 mins
As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup heats up, the USMNT March friendlies roster might be our clearest signal yet of what’s to come.
On this episode of Inside American Soccer, Matt Doyle and Tab Ramos react to the latest squad under Mauricio Pochettino. They break down what this roster tells us about the U.S. squad for the World Cup, including notable omissions like Yunus Musah, Diego Luna, Alex Zendejas, and Haji Wright—and the surprises that made the cut, including Gio Reyna, Sebastian Berhalter, and Johnny Cardoso.
Plus, who needs a massive performance this window to stay in the World Cup picture—and which players are already locked in no matter what?
They also build their projected Starting XI for the upcoming match against Belgium, just days away, and Tab shares a personal story about the pressure of fighting for a spot on the 1998 FIFA World Cup roster.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I have to tell you, I think if Giorna starts
against Belgium, I don't.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Think European teams are his cup of tea.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
I don't think gi Arena will do well if he
plays in these games. I'd be surprised if he does
not have him played there for his club.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Greetings, folks, and welcome back to Inside American Soccer. I'm
Matt Doyle, the armchair analyst, filling in for new dad
Tom Poker for a couple more weeks. We have a
special Saint Patrick's Day edition of the show because the
March Roster is finally here for the US men's national team,
and I'm honored to be joined by my good friend
(00:39):
who knows a thing or two about playing for the
US men's national team, one of the greatest players in
US soccer history. I'm talking, of course, about tab Ramos,
newly returned from one of my favorite places in the world, Madrid.
We're gonna be breaking down all things for the March
Camp Roster. Tab Tell me about your trip, man, How
(01:00):
was it being on the other side of the ponds.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah? Well, first of all, you know, I really like
that intro.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
You know, every time, you know saying about my World
Cups and all that stuff. But anyway, Uh, secondly, i'd
say I try to wear a little green today if
you notice. You know, obviously for you know, our listeners,
they can't see that. But I'm I'm I'm trying to.
I'm trying to go along with a little bit of
Saint Patrick's day and join the spirit and uh, which
(01:26):
was difficult today because today was a good day for red,
white and blue.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
To be honest, I decided to.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Go with the green. But uh, but yeah, my I mean,
my trip to Madrid was uh, it was, it was
truly great.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
You know.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I got to be at the at the Madrid Man
City game on Wednesday, you know, the Champions League game,
and then I stayed for a couple of days did it.
My son had a couple a little bit of work
with Marcelo uh to do for a company inside the
real Madrid city so in the in the in the grounds,
in the.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Real Madrid ground.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So we spent a lot of time there for a
couple of days, and then we stayed to watch their
league game against LJA on Saturday, which we got to
see Artagoula's goal from seventy yards away, which was incredible, Right,
So it was a great week besides the fact that
you know, when you go to Madrid, the most important thing,
regardless of what you do, is the food.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
How great the food is.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
So we did what I just mentioned and the rest
of the time, basically we were eating the whole time.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
And how often were you checking your phone to see
if somebody had leaked the US roster ahead of time?
Was there a little bit of focus on that as well,
a little bit of anticipation.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
It was minute to minute really all the way up
until we're starting the podcast. You know, we're waiting, We're
waiting for the news to come out and excited about
it because of the importance of this call up. Right,
this is a really important one in which a lot
of players are playing.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
You know.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
It reminds me of the excitement of going to a
World Cup, and I think a lot of players know
that this is it, this is their chance to go
to the Walk Cup.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
So very important call up and happy to see it out.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, and Muricio Pochettino said repeatedly that the time for
experimentation was over. Now it's the time to lock in
the roster to win jobs for the last few guys
on the roster to treat this like the World Cup itself.
Now they are only friendlies, so we'll predict our starting
elevens for the match against Belgium, and plus we'll go
(03:24):
into the locker room with tab back a few decades
ago ahead of the nineteen ninety eight World Cup. Pretty
famous friendly win leading up to that one against Austria,
I believe, I if memory serves, and that launched the
three six one, which soon became the infamous three to
six one for the US men's national team. But let's
(03:46):
get into it. Muricio Pochettino was good to his word
and that this is not an experimental roster. There's nobody
on this thing who's completely out of the blue. It's
all guys that we've seen before. But then there's also
a few guys who we expect to see but didn't.
I have listed as snubs Patrick Schulti. There are four
(04:06):
goalkeepers on this roster. He is not one of them.
I don't really care. We all know Matt Freeze is
the number one, Matt Turners the number two. Uh, but
I am surprised that there's no Alexan Dejas and no
Diego Luna, I think you had Zendejas as close to
a lock. Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
You know, Uh, I always respect the fact that Zinde
has plays for a big club under a lot of
pressure every week, and I know he's.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Had and there's the ten, which is huge, right, that's responsibility.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
No question.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
The significance of wearing the ten in the Latin American
country is always huge. Uh. He plays for the biggest
club in Mexico. You know, I'm I'm sorry a little
bit to the Chieves fans, but that's really the reality.
Uh and uh and to the g Greates fans, by
the way, which you know, obviously a club I love.
But uh, but yeah, Zinde has has had a great season.
(04:58):
You could potentially say that he's their best player. And
although he's had some injuries on don't off this year,
he is a consistent, let's say, player who delivers in
the final third, time after time and important moments for America.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I'm really surprised not to see him in this roster.
So if I had to pick one that surprised me
the most in terms of not seeing them here, uh,
it would he would certainly be the one. Obviously the goalkeepers.
I always make fun of myself in terms of like,
I don't know what's going out with the goalkeepers.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
No I, nor do I really care that much.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
But I agree with you with the fact that Chelte
not being one of the four surprises me a little bit,
right because we I didn't think he'd be one of
the three potentially, you know, but him not being one
of four surprises me.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah. The four goalkeepers are Matt Freeze, Matt Turner, and
then Chris Brady and Roman Celentano, who you know, It's
been an up and down year for s C Cincinnati,
but that's not Sellentino's fault. I'm happy with any of
those two guys, Brady or selling Tino or Shalty being
the third guy on the roster. I don't think really
(06:14):
it matters who the third goalkeeper is other than for
vibes and keeping the locker room loose. Back to the
other stubs, Diego Luna surprises me.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Matt, Matt, Matt if I could add to that, right
because you mentioned a little bit, but just just for
the fans, a little bit in terms of that third
goalkeeper role which you briefly mentioned there so normally as
a as a third world goalkeeper on a big roster
like this. It's exactly right what you're saying. The coach
is thinking, I want to bring a veteran older guy
(06:48):
mid thirties who's been there, done that in every way,
who can put his arm around players in the locker room, right,
that's important.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Or he can go the young route, right and select
like a.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Under twenty, under nineteen player who is going to come
along and just have eyes wide open right looking into
the future and here we're Nazi and either one of
those things.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah, the closest would be Brady, who is still I
think just twenty two years old. He's been very good
for the Chicago Fire for a couple of years now.
But none of these guys is super super young. Again,
I don't think it matters as long as the vibes
are high, and the vibes have been high over the
past few camps, past three camps. Really A big part
(07:31):
of that was Diego Luna. He has been ever present
for Mauricio Pochettino ever since he made his debut. Cars
famously broke his nose and played through it, and the
coach loved that. Now he missed the start of the
MLS season, only made his debut this past weekend. I
thought that would be enough to get him into this roster.
(07:52):
Clearly it was not. I don't know if this is
something that Pochettino has talked to Luna and maybe RSL
about and said, hey, get one hundred percent that fit.
You have a clear path even if you're not on
this roster, or if this is a message given the
way Pocheccino's worked, It wouldn't surprise me if it was
the second. But those are two guys in Zantejas and
(08:13):
Luna who play in those pockets underneath the forward, who
add a little bit of creative final third flare. And
it ends up being an opportunity for say a Brendan Aronson,
who hasn't been super productive under Potchettino but has had
a pretty good year for for Leeds in the Premier League.
(08:35):
It ends up being an opportunity maybe to see Weston
McKenny in one of the spots because he's been playing
a lot as a number ten for Juventus, and ends
up being an opportunity for Gio Raina, who is on
this roster even though he barely plays at the club level.
But tab we saw it against Paraguay, and he started
against Paraguay, had a goal. He came off the bench
(08:57):
against Uruguay, had an assist, looked like he hadn't missed
a beat, even though he's essentially not a club player
at this point in his career.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Yeah, so first on the on the Luna situation, right,
I would think that Luna help Pushattino likely more and
hear me out on this, I think Diego Luna helped
Pushchatino more likely than any other player to instill that
mentality into the team. Of these are the type of
(09:29):
players that Puschettino is happy with. You have to, above
everything else, be a fighter who wants to win all
the time. And and because of that, I don't think
that Pushatino is sending a message to to Luna.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
He knows what Luna is all about.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
I think, if any if I'm reading this correctly, and
of course I may be wrong, but if I'm reading
this correctly, I'm thinking that Luna's just getting his legs
under him.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
It's probably better for him to continue training.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
And this is a player that Pushettino has in his
back pocket who will go to the World Cup anyway.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
This is how I'm reading it.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Now on the gior Rena. You know, Jireina really surprises me.
I agree with you that you know that he played
a great game against Paraguay. In that window, he scored aheader.
I mean, I think he closed his eyes as he
as he hit that ball.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
But you know, heading is not his thing. But he
scored aheader and he played well.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And we know we sort of have been expecting Geo
to do more and more, and in that game he
did deliver. You know, I'm I'm I'd have to say
that Poschettino likely is looking more into the World Cup
and seeing what he looks like physically with the team.
I have to tell you, I think if if gior
(10:47):
Reina starts against Belgium, I don't think European teams are
his cup of tea. I I don't think Giorrena will
do well if he plays in these games. I'd be
surprised if he does not have him played there for
his club. But we will see. Obviously, Pachettino is knows better.
(11:07):
He's the head coach, but I'm surprised to see that.
At the same time, what I'm not surprised about is
that he brings them into the fold because he knows
in the World Cup, at the end of the day,
we're playing against Paraguay again and Australia again, and he
knows that Gio Raina can do well in those games.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, because those are teams that are probably going to
sit back. The US will have more of the ball
in the final third, and when it comes to picking
locks in the final third, there's a lot of good
options on the US team, includings in Dejas and Luna
if they were there. Geo's a level above. He's the
creative spark that he has. I don't think anybody else
in this roster can match it other absences Sadly no
(11:48):
Noahkai Banks. He's dual national. He had been in the
US program since the U seventeens. Germany turned his head.
All the reporting is that he has decided to turn
down calls from the US because he sees a path
to play for the German national team. I don't know
(12:08):
if that closes the door on him for the US
for good, but it certainly does seem to close the
door on him representing the US at this World Cup.
I mean it's a it's a home World Cup, and
he would get to play for the host country, and
there's a pretty clear path to a starting line into
the starting lineup for him, So like we weren't going
to get him now then, like it as it was
(12:31):
very clear that like this was the best chance. It
feels like that.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Yeah, And I think we we read that correctly last time,
you know, when we analyzed his his words about potentially
the World Cup now being the most important moment to
choose and that he was concerned more with his full career.
And I think I mentioned on this show last week
when when we heard that that if I'm reading correctly,
(13:00):
he was saying, if I have any chance at all
to play for Germany, that's what I'm gonna hold off for.
And I think we read that right. That's what's happening here.
Are we completely off the table for Noahkai Banks to
come to the US and the answer would be no,
but Germany will have the chance, and likely there has
been some type of conversation at some level that Germany
(13:23):
is looking at him and this is why he's holding back.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Yeah. Other absences all injury related, Haji Wright, I had
actually missed this. Had to just scramble a little bit
and do some research just before we went started recording this.
But Haji Wright picked up a groin injury midweek, which
is a bummer because he had been playing really well
in the Championship and played really well for the US
the last couple of camps. Tyler Adams missed this past
(13:51):
week's game was just precautionary, but obviously precautionary enough for
him to be ruled out of this camp. And Virginia
pulled his hamstring a couple of weeks ago. I think
they're expecting a six to eight week injury, so he
would hopefully be back by the start of May, get
a couple of camp or a cap, get a couple
(14:12):
of appearances in for PSV, and then hopefully be in
that World Cup camp. That has opened the door between Noah,
Guy Banks, and Desk, in particular for Austin Trusty, who
of course started against Uruguay and that that famous five
to one that the US had back in November. And
Joe Scalley, who has been in and out of rosters
(14:35):
for Pochettino over the past year and a half.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yeah, uh, you know, it's it's really unfortunate for Sogenio
Desk to get this injury at this time, but he.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Does have he does have time, you know.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
I the difficult part is, you know, like I'm going
to go into this a little bit later when we
discussed the uh, the players approach going into the World Cup.
But the difficult situation for Sugenio is will he be
fit enough to be in the World Cup and will
he have the game rhythm to be in the World.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Cup, because that's that truly is important. So so we
will see.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Having said that, this is part of what this is about, right,
you have to play hard every day and and when
you and you, when.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
You play hard, these sort of things happen.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Yeah. Uh, let's talk a little bit about the guys
who need to play their way into the camp. Now.
I mentioned Scally and Trustee, it feels like they have
a real opportunity here. The other ones are Ricardo Peppi,
who the you know, I've had him fourth on my
depth chart at center forward behind flow Balligan who's unquestioned
(15:46):
starting number nine, but also Pat Ogimont and Hanji Wright,
then Johnny Cardoso and Aiden Morris and door is open
for one of them. It feels like given Tyler Adams
picked up an injury, Obviously, Johnny Cardoso plays for a
much bigger team, very used to playing in very big games,
has not showed it for the US national team at all.
I think Morris has shown a little bit better for
(16:08):
the US national team play for a much smaller team,
but also plays in big games. He's in a promotion
fight in the championship, and we know that that is
all blood and thunder, So it's you know, the opportunity
is there for those two guys. I'm taking it as
a given that Christian Roldan has earned his way into
the team because just like the Diego Luna point you made,
(16:28):
tab I think rolled on what he did in terms
of galvanizing that team, especially in central midfield as they
changed their shape against Japan, ended up being the catalyst
for this now five game, six game run that the
US is on of good performances. But it feels like
there's an opportunity here at defensive midfield and at forward
(16:52):
with the injury and forced absences to Tyler Adams and
Hadgi Raight.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
And it opened it opens up doors, you know, and
that's what you're waiting for. I uh, you know, when
I look at I think there's really three players that
are that are playing for this one position now, and
certainly Johnny Cardozo has been playing big games and doing
well in him I'm hoping that if he does get
the opportunity, that he will deliver the way he delivers
(17:20):
in for his club in Europe a little bit more,
because truly we haven't seen it for the national team.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Now, if this happened to be me, I think I
think eight Morris is likely the better fit to play
next to Testament and behind potentially you know, if we're
saying now we're moving McKinnie a little bit higher. Uh
you know, McKinney could potentially go into that spot too.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
But and Sebastian Burholter has.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Done well, right, I mean he you know, with with
the last couple of games that he's played, he's played
himself back into the roster and into an important position
in the roster. So I think it'll be really interesting
to see what Marisio Pachattino decides. But but yeah, I mean,
you know, Aiden Morris isn't now although he's well, you know,
we obviously have to say as a second division in
(18:06):
England in the championship, he plays an.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Important role and he does play a little.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Bit higher though, Yeah, but I think he would be
for me likely the best fit there.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Yeah, it'll be. I think it'll be a big tell
seeing who gets that that start against Belgium. Obviously we
both have Tyler Adams at number one on the depth
chart among defensive midfielders, and it isn't it's a race
to see who will be his backup. I just personally
think you have to take two guys behind Tyler who
(18:41):
can play that position because defensive midfielders pick up a
lot of yellow cards over the course of the tournament.
We of course saw it back in two thousand and
six Pablo Manstron he got a red card, so without
him in that spot ended up being Claudio Arena, who
was not a defensive midfielder, starting at de mid in
a must win game that didn't go well. So you
need depth there on top of it, not just because
(19:03):
of suspension possibilities, but because Tyler is a frequently injured player.
The other absence the other snub that I guess we
should have mentioned, it didn't. Unus Mussa, he got a
cup of coffee for Atalanta over the past couple of
weeks had a couple of good games and then sort
of dropped back, you know, out of the rotation again.
(19:25):
It's it's disappointing because four years ago we all thought
the kid had the world at his feet, and now
it seems like he basically doesn't have a path onto
this roster.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Yeah, that is disappointing.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
And I and I have to say, I'm a big
fan of Unice Musa and what he can do on
the field. You know, the couple of times that I
that we saw him over the last year and a
half with the national team. We're mostly on that wide position,
which I thought were never a good fit for him,
although it had Talanta. When he comes in, he's kind
of playing on that right side too, the few minutes
(19:58):
that he gets. I do think that there's a lot
more in the tank there with Musa.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
I think potentially, and I know that this is not
going to happen now, but I.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Think that potentially Musa could play that role of that
defensive midfielder where Adams is not. Unfortunately, I think that
it seems like, you know, it's it's getting too late
for that for for Unice Musa, and it's and it's
unlikely that he'll he'll come back in.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yeah, it's another story of when you move. Look, man,
it's it's a short career. And I don't blame any
player for taking the most money that they can get,
but for national team consideration, for the overall arc of
your career consideration, you got to think about how you
fit into the club that you're moving to. And I
(20:49):
don't know if Unice Mussa had a really great grasp
on that when he made this out Alanto move, because
he really is surplus goods for them for how they play.
It hasn't helped him at all. And this was maybe
my favorite player in the pool back in the twenty
twenty two cycle. I just loved what he could do
in terms of getting on the ball and breaking lines
(21:10):
with the ball on his foot and compromising opposing defensive shapes.
And we don't really have that in the group without him.
The other guys who play the number eight are different profiles.
Tander testament is really good and he's going to be
in my starting eleven, which you'll hear here in a second.
And as Tab said, Sebastian Berhalter has been excellent the
past few games for the white Caps, but also past
(21:31):
few games for the US national team, so there are options,
but Unos Mussa was a little bit different and it's
disappointing that he won't be on this roster and almost
certainly won't be at the World Cup. But for us
it is time for a break. We'll be right back
with our projected starting elevens for the Belgium match. Please rate, review,
and subscribe to Inside American Soccer at Tom Bogert and
(21:54):
tab Ramos wherever you got your podcasts. Welcome back to
Inside American Soccer. Let's get right to a table. Let's
predict our starting elevens for the Belgium match. I guess
(22:17):
I'll go first, and I'm going to ask to see
from the Putchetino. Mostly what I think is the chalk
starting eleven, our best eleven, accounting for a couple absences,
obviously Tyler Adams being the big one, and to me
that means Matt Freese in goal. He has earned that one.
(22:38):
And then left to right along the back line, I
want to see Anthony Robinson, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson and
then Alex Freeman at right back. And we all know
that it's a back four that shifts in two or three. Right,
That's what we've seen, and what I want to see
from that is Alex Freeman all that attacking wingback role
(23:01):
that he played so well against the Uruguay. But then
the real experiment here is Jedi Robinson. Instead of being
an over an overlapping full back, which is what we've
gotten used to him as over the years, I want
to see him slide in to that back three because
I think he has the physicality to handle center forwards,
(23:22):
but also the speed very obviously to protect in behind
as the US plays a high line. But then the
wild card in that is when he gets the ball
on his foot, he has the ability to carry it
forward through the first line of any opposing pressure, which
would then compromise their shape and hopefully create chances create
(23:42):
openings for the likes of Polistic and McKenny and flow Balligan.
In front of them, I have a double pivot of
Tanner Testman and Johnny Cartoso, and I don't rate Johnny
Cartos so he has not played well for the US.
This is last Chancealoon. Let's see how he does a
big game with something close to the first eleven around him.
(24:03):
In front of them left to right, would be Christian polistic,
it would be Weston McKenny as the ten, and then
I want to see Tim Weya as the right winger,
and then flow Balligan up top.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Okay, so I'll read mine note first, which is not
much different. Different reasons for mine, but I think and
then we can I think we can debate a little
bit on why. So obviously I made mine not according
to what I want to see, but according to the opponent,
which will be Belgium, right. I think one of the
things to take into consideration is that Doku plays that
(24:40):
left side for Belgium, and Doku is one of the
most informed players in the world today. If I had
to name three or four players in the world were
in their best form, I would name Doku as one
of those players. And because of that, if I'll explain
it this, If if I had to select a team
(25:03):
from scratch, just who the best players available that we
have at this moment, with the roster that we have,
I would choose Tim Waya on this roster to play
that wide position. Because we're playing Belgium.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I would not do that.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
I would choose someone who's a little bit better defensively
than Tim Waya. And because of that, my lineup looks
like this. So I'm gonna go with Freezing Goal, which
we know he's going to be in goal. I'm gonna
choose three center backs and those will be uh Robinson,
Richards and Reim. I just think that Mauricio Postino will
(25:36):
continue to play Reem, although that I would I would
rather see McKenzie there.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
I think Reim will play.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
And Jedi Robinson on on the left side and Alex
Freeman on the right side instead of Weea.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Like which one of those got because we know that
Putch doesn't have both fullbacks overlapping, So who's going to overlap?
Is it going to be Alex Freeman on the right
or Jedi Robinson on the I.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Think it could be either one, but I think because
Doku will be on that left side, I think you
just have to be a lot more careful with sending
people forward from our right side. So I would I
would put Alex Freeman there and not give them the
full freedom to constantly attack from that side, but to
be a little bit more careful because it literally will
(26:21):
take five seconds on a counter for Doku to be
in our box. And and certainly something to consider it.
But by the way, not just because it's US. Every
team in the world would consider this right. Doku is
a dangerous player, so but but but this lineup still
gives you the freedom for both outside backs to attacks.
So if if if you know, Alex Freeman were to
(26:44):
go forward, Jedi could could drop in.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
If Jedi were to go forward, then I would have
Alex Freeman drop in.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
I would never on this lineup have both outside backs
attacking at the same time.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
So that would be my answer, uh to your question.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
In the center of the field, just the replacement for
me would be Johnny Cardoso replacing Taler Adams, keeping Tenor
Tessaman next to him and pushing McKinney up into the
double role with Polisic behind Ballogan up top.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
So very similar lineups from the two of us. I
think we want to see the same things, right. We
want to see how Johnny does with that close to
first eleven around him. We want to see how Weston
does as a pure attacking player, and we want to
see what the balance will be along that back line.
(27:43):
And it against a team like Belgium. You get answers
to two of those three things. Even if the answers
aren't what you want, then you have used the friendlies
pretty well. What else should we be looking for from
the lineup? Stat Do we care about possession? Do we
care about how comfortable they are stringing the ball together
(28:06):
in the final third? Or is it how we'll do
on the counter attack? Do you have an eye on
anything tactical like that.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Well, I think there's no question that what's going to
be difficult for us is to play against teams that
number one can hold the ball better than we can.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
So that's a challenge.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
How we defend on a low block, how organized we
can be on a low block, And then also how
we manage when we have the ball on the opposing
side of the field, how we manage the transitional moments
into defending. That has always been a problem for us,
let's say, for the last thirty years, which is really
(28:46):
the problem for most confederate national teams outside of Europe.
It has always been how to manage the European team's
transition forward.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
So those are the two things.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
So my focus is a little bit more defensive because
I think ultimately the better you defend, the more organized
you are, the best chance you give your team to
win the game. So I think those are the two
things I would, you know, if I had to simplify
how we defend in low block and how we defend
when we're high and we lose the bowl in transition
moments coming back.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Let's say we go down one nil sixty minutes in,
playing pretty well, but no not the cutting edge we want.
Who is your first sub? Who do you bring in?
Speaker 1 (29:36):
So we're down one zero and this is in the
second half.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
At some point, yep, do we get to see Ricardo
PEPPI Do we bring Geo in?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Or well? I think there's a combination of things.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
There's first of all, you don't bring Geo if you
don't think he can come into a game and win it, right,
because that's really what he has to offer here. What
he has to offer is that he's good in that
final third. So I think couple a couple of things
to consider, and it depends on the game, right, because
Pepe has been almost the ultimate.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Poacher right over the last few years.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
He comes in and he scores a goal off the bench,
and it's it's good to see.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Not every player has the.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Proper mentality to come off the bench and score. I
think I think pepy can do that right, and you can,
you could potentially go into two forward lineup, but I
think those those are the two players for me. You're
looking at Geo and you're looking at Peppi.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Do you think Peppi's in this in this World Cup
roster already or do you think he's in a fight
for one of those spots at this camp.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
I think he's already on the roster.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
I don't see I don't see any scenario in which
Poschettino doesn't bring four forwards to this, to the World Cup.
And because of that, I think I think he'll be
one of those for sure.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Yeah, I have him on the fringes. I actually think
because Balligan is such a clear number one, and then
what Aziman offers that's different than anybody else in the
pool because with the way teams press now everybody in
the world presses man and that means there's been more
long balls, specifically out of the back, and it turns
(31:22):
into a game of duels where you need to win
first ball, second ball, and Azimon's ability to win that
first ball in the air is so superior to anybody
else in the so I think he's in and then
obviously Haji Wright is missing this camp. We talked about
it in the first segment via injury, but his goal
(31:43):
scoring form in a very physical league, and then his
experience having scored a goal in the World Cup and
done it before. So I do think that PEPPI look
man like you said, he's the ultimate poacher. He's got
to show the ability to do more than poach. I
would really like to see him get at least a
(32:03):
half hour against Belgium and then hopefully get the start
against Portugal to see what he can offer to this team.
That's more than just getting onto the end of pretty
passing sequences, which he does exceptionally well. But there has
to be more to his game than that in tournaments
(32:24):
like this.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Yeah, I mean, you know, it's hard to disagree with
what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
I'm looking at it a little bit different.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
I'm looking at it as a coach likes to have
players for different roles. So if Balligan were to go
down as a starting number nine, I don't see us
an area on which Peppy would be the starter for
us at the World Cup. But however, I do see
Peppy as a last ten minute or last fifteen minute
player coming in, and that's regardless of who's starting. So
(32:53):
let's say, you know, don't forget in twenty fourteen we
had Josie and Clint Dempsey up front. You know, like
two minutes into the World Cup, Josie goes down and
gets hurt. He's out for the rest of the tournament.
Now you have to be able to adjust to that.
And I think Pochetino is thinking that. And you're not
wrong with what you're saying, because I think you're saying
(33:14):
exactly that.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
So you're your next starter is not Peppy.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Your next starter would be It could be Agimund because
of the reasons you gave, or it could be potentially
Haji Wright because he can do all of those things
that you mentioned as well. However, Peppy remains the off
the bench ten to fifty minute guy, and because of that,
if I'm thinking as a coach, I would want to
have that in my sort of in my two box.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Two guys we haven't mentioned hardly at all talking through
this whole roster, we should touch on them a bit.
Brendan Aronson, like I said, he's been always energetic and
usually pretty good this year for Leeds and hasn't been
super productive, but you know what he offers against the ball,
full effort all the time. And then Malik Tillman. He's
(33:58):
a kind of an up and down year for buyer Levercusan,
but a guy the Pochactcino seems to trust. Where do
they play in this camp and how much time you
think they get in this camp?
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Well, I'd have to go into a specific scenario.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
So let's start with Aaronson first of all, I mean,
very few players in this camp are as deserving as
Aaronson up getting a callback. I mean he's doing it
weekend and week out, and I know he doesn't play
every minute for Leeds, but he's been an important part
of that team. I don't think I can think of
another player that works harder than he does to win
the ball back, to get behind the ball when he
(34:40):
needs to. And because of that, I'm thinking of a
specific scenario. So let's say we're playing Australia second game
of the World Cup. You obviously want to try to
win the ball deep in their end because you want
to pressure them as much as possible because you can
win the ball back.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
And I do think of a scenario in.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Which you would pull uhm McKenny back into that sect,
that double six role, and have Aaronson play next to
Polisic to just try to win the ball back as
much as possible, and then release McKenny.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
From that sixth spot.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
Right that he would potentially be next to Adams, let's say, right,
and now you're playing with only one six, and now
you're adding numbers forward. So I do think that there's
a role for Aaronson, And that's sort of how I
see it. In terms of uh Elie Tilman. I think
that's you know, that's a player that could start any time.
I mean, Pochettino could decide that, you know, let's not
(35:36):
forget that other than goalkeeper McKenny can play any role, right,
So we could you could put him next to Testament
if if Adams was hurt, or you could put him
next to Adams and take Testament off and and have
them play that double six and still have Tilman next
to Polisic, and and and and go.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
Forward with that.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
So I think I think there's a role for all
these players. I and I and I like that Pochettino
has a lot options.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Yeah, I like that too. Good problems for the coach
to have for us. It is time for one more break.
And on the other side of that, we'll hear from
Tab on the stress of trying to make the nineteen
ninety eight World Cup roster. Thank you for listening to
Inside American Soccer. Please rate, review and subscribe. Welcome back
(36:28):
to Inside American Soccer. We've been talking about the twenty
twenty six World Cup for most of this show, but
let's get in the time machine, Tab and let's go
back inside the locker room to the nineteen ninety eight
World Cup. You were part of that roster, your final
World Cup as a player, and unlike ninety and ninety four,
(36:50):
it wasn't necessarily given that you were going to make
the final team because you're coming off a couple devastating injuries,
and it was it was touch and go at times.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Yeah, no question, And we can call these moments the
black and white moments, maybe before color, the moments before
color with Matt Doyle and Tabramos, but anyway, Yeah, you're
absolutely right. So I was fortunate enough that, you know,
in the nineteen ninety World Cup, in nineteen ninety four
World Cup, I knew that I was going to start
(37:23):
basically every game for the team. So the name naming
of the roster was not really ever a concern for me.
Not that I played any less hard because I wanted
to be the best player every day, but they were
sort of given, and so I didn't live what many
players have to live through. Now going into nineteen ninety eight,
(37:43):
completely different story because now as an older player was
I was living a little bit off rent right, and
I had my skull fracture which took me out of
the game for about five or six months. I had
two ACLS cheats took me out of the game between
anywhere between five and seven months. So I had spent
(38:06):
a lot And I'm sorry Metro Stars fans, this this
happened at this time, but it did happen at that time,
and and unfortunately I went into ninety nineteen ninety eight
without really playing for the national team, uh the six
months leading into it. So I had to worry about
things that that I had that I wanted to mention
(38:26):
here because these are the things that old players worry about.
So number one, you always worry about your own fitness
and how well you're doing. Are you fit enough? The
next thing is are you are you game ready? Because
one thing is to be fit you can run all day.
And the next thing is.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Is your is your mind?
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Is your brain thinking fast enough to be in the
middle of the field when two guys are coming and
can you see that pass as you're getting pressured and
the bulls coming to you? And that's something that for
all the players who are out there at any level,
by the way, who are coming back from an injury
and get thrown into a game, that is the most
difficult thing. That is more difficult than your actual fitness.
(39:06):
So you have to think about that. And then I
think there's another factor that's really important is you.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Start to see yourself.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
You start to project the roster right, how many players
are gonna get picked, how many players are gonna get picked,
and a position similar to mine if it's not exactly so, Like,
for example, if you're a right back, that's easy enough, right,
there's probably gonna be two right backs, it's you against someone.
But in my position as sort of an attacking midfielder,
which where I could fit into a central role, I'm
(39:35):
more of a wide right role, but I could fill
into a central role. A coach could potentially play me
on the left side, So you know, you start thinking
about all the items, and because of that, you have
to start looking at players, and so I started looking
like I had to look at guys like Wegerly or
Joe Max Moore or Ernie Stewart, even as with drawn striker,
(39:55):
I had to look into Claudio Arena as an attacking
midfielder had so I had to look at a bunch
of players and see how each one of them is
doing and what my legitimate chance of making the team.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
Was going to be. So I think this is a
worry that all the players have.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Ultimately, the most important part is that players do well
in their own club as they're playing, because that's what
shows your consistency. But there's no question that all of
these most of the players that are getting called in
are taken into consideration all of these factors.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Yeah, there's no real perfect analogy for the situation you
are in a ninety eight. In this group in twenty
twenty six, there's no sort of veteran centerpiece who's holding
on for one last World Cup, who's coming off of injury.
But there are guys. I mean, Jedi Robinson would be
the best example, because he has missed most of the
last year via injury. He has not looked quite the
(40:52):
same since coming back for Fulham, though he has put
in a couple of good shifts lately. He was a centerpiece,
but he's in the prime of his career. But he
also saw Max Arsten over the past fifteen games say hey,
it's not just Jedi and then nobody at the left
back role. We actually have a depth chart. Now I
(41:14):
have to imagine that that is probably a good thing
for the entire group to say, all right, we have competition.
This is what a healthy roster is supposed to look like.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
I mean, this is a good example you're making because
John Tolkien didn't do poorly when he came in.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
He actually did well.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
I mean, and I would not be if you were
to tell me Jedi Robinson get by the way, Jedi
Robinson was our best player for the last five years.
So no questions there that he should play all the time.
But if he's injured and he's not able to play,
it's truly not scary to say Max Arsten could be
our starter and John Tolkien could be a backup.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
I mean, these are guys that have done.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
Well when they've come in, and the few opportunities that
Tolkien has come in. If there's anything we know about Tolkien,
and in particular us from the Northeast who have watched
him play for the Red Bulls, I mean, this kid
is not afraid of anything, so he'll be ready to
go regardless of who we're playing.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
What's the challenge for the coach to reintegrate guys who
play such a big role and miss a lot of
time with injury. Because I have to imagine if you know,
Anthony Robinson is back in camp and he just automatically
starts and plays ninety both games, and Max Arston was
a ninety minute player all last year and suddenly he's
(42:31):
not seeing the field like there could be. These are
professional athletes, they're competitive dudes. Managing that cannot be an
easy part of being a head coach.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
It's not easy.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
But you know, the funny part is that when you
go into locker room, all the players know who the
best players are. So that's regardless of what the coach
is thinking, regardless of what the fans are thinking or
what the press is saying. Everybody knows who the best
left back on the team is.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
There's no question there.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
Right, everybody knows who they feel more comfortable with playing
on the right side, and that's the coach may select
someone else, but the players know.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
And I think that's the important thing.
Speaker 1 (43:08):
And this is why building a group that gets along
and building a group that just likes to play for
each other is really important, because at the end of
the day, the players know who the best players are
and who should be playing.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
All right, So take us back then to nineteen ninety eight.
You were still one of the best players in the
US roster at that or in the US pool at
that point. And then the moment you did finally see
your name on the roster for your third World Cup, No, well.
Speaker 2 (43:41):
It truly was a proud moment, and it took me.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
It took me back to all the recovery that I
had to do because I spent most of the time
in a training room, you know, for a period of
about you know, two and a half years, three years,
and that was really hard.
Speaker 2 (43:56):
I do think that I was not at my best
level at that World Cup.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
I do think that, you know, and I wish that
I could have helped the team a lot more. But
I can tell you that in the training room and
in recovery rooms. I don't think anyone would work harder
than I did to get back. And you know, I
did make it to the World Cup. And you have
to remember I tore my ACL in November. So you know,
(44:22):
you you mentioned off offline a little bit. You mentioned
a little bit about how the game that that gave
Steve Sampson the idea of playing that three six one
in the World Cup was the Austra game leading into
the World Cup, which was our last friendly. I didn't
even play that one. I wasn't even on the roster yet.
So I got called to the World Cup without playing
(44:42):
any games leading into it, which which really, you know,
I thank Steve Samson for that, and and then I
think all of the people who helped me get back
to get into MLS, I think I played. I started
MLS games barely five months from from my surgery, So
which for an ACL, that's that's that's really fast.
Speaker 3 (45:04):
Yeah, you and Reverso Basio had the record recovery time
from touring acls. I think he was around five months
for one of his as well. Maybe not recommended medically,
maybe it could have stretched out a little bit more
of it but probably worth it to get on that
last World Cup roster. It is last chance for the
World Cup roster for a lot of the guys that
(45:25):
we're going to see in these March friendlies coming up.
Thank you all for listening to Inside American Soccer. Please rate,
review as subscribe well. Of course, be back next week
to talk more about what we should expect to see
from these two games, and who knows, there might even
be a late addition or two to this roster. So
(45:46):
please continue to leave your questions and comments on all
our platforms, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and we will
see you next week
I have to tell you, I think if Giorna starts
against Belgium, I don't.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Think European teams are his cup of tea.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
I don't think gi Arena will do well if he
plays in these games. I'd be surprised if he does
not have him played there for his club.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Greetings, folks, and welcome back to Inside American Soccer. I'm
Matt Doyle, the armchair analyst, filling in for new dad
Tom Poker for a couple more weeks. We have a
special Saint Patrick's Day edition of the show because the
March Roster is finally here for the US men's national team,
and I'm honored to be joined by my good friend
(00:39):
who knows a thing or two about playing for the
US men's national team, one of the greatest players in
US soccer history. I'm talking, of course, about tab Ramos,
newly returned from one of my favorite places in the world, Madrid.
We're gonna be breaking down all things for the March
Camp Roster. Tab Tell me about your trip, man, How
(01:00):
was it being on the other side of the ponds.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah? Well, first of all, you know, I really like
that intro.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
You know, every time, you know saying about my World
Cups and all that stuff. But anyway, Uh, secondly, i'd
say I try to wear a little green today if
you notice. You know, obviously for you know, our listeners,
they can't see that. But I'm I'm I'm trying to.
I'm trying to go along with a little bit of
Saint Patrick's day and join the spirit and uh, which
(01:26):
was difficult today because today was a good day for red,
white and blue.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
To be honest, I decided to.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Go with the green. But uh, but yeah, my I mean,
my trip to Madrid was uh, it was, it was
truly great.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
You know.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I got to be at the at the Madrid Man
City game on Wednesday, you know, the Champions League game,
and then I stayed for a couple of days did it.
My son had a couple a little bit of work
with Marcelo uh to do for a company inside the
real Madrid city so in the in the in the grounds,
in the.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Real Madrid ground.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So we spent a lot of time there for a
couple of days, and then we stayed to watch their
league game against LJA on Saturday, which we got to
see Artagoula's goal from seventy yards away, which was incredible, Right,
So it was a great week besides the fact that
you know, when you go to Madrid, the most important thing,
regardless of what you do, is the food.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
How great the food is.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
So we did what I just mentioned and the rest
of the time, basically we were eating the whole time.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
And how often were you checking your phone to see
if somebody had leaked the US roster ahead of time?
Was there a little bit of focus on that as well,
a little bit of anticipation.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
It was minute to minute really all the way up
until we're starting the podcast. You know, we're waiting, We're
waiting for the news to come out and excited about
it because of the importance of this call up. Right,
this is a really important one in which a lot
of players are playing.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
You know.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
It reminds me of the excitement of going to a
World Cup, and I think a lot of players know
that this is it, this is their chance to go
to the Walk Cup.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
So very important call up and happy to see it out.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, and Muricio Pochettino said repeatedly that the time for
experimentation was over. Now it's the time to lock in
the roster to win jobs for the last few guys
on the roster to treat this like the World Cup itself.
Now they are only friendlies, so we'll predict our starting
elevens for the match against Belgium, and plus we'll go
(03:24):
into the locker room with tab back a few decades
ago ahead of the nineteen ninety eight World Cup. Pretty
famous friendly win leading up to that one against Austria,
I believe, I if memory serves, and that launched the
three six one, which soon became the infamous three to
six one for the US men's national team. But let's
(03:46):
get into it. Muricio Pochettino was good to his word
and that this is not an experimental roster. There's nobody
on this thing who's completely out of the blue. It's
all guys that we've seen before. But then there's also
a few guys who we expect to see but didn't.
I have listed as snubs Patrick Schulti. There are four
(04:06):
goalkeepers on this roster. He is not one of them.
I don't really care. We all know Matt Freeze is
the number one, Matt Turners the number two. Uh, but
I am surprised that there's no Alexan Dejas and no
Diego Luna, I think you had Zendejas as close to
a lock. Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
You know, Uh, I always respect the fact that Zinde
has plays for a big club under a lot of
pressure every week, and I know he's.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Had and there's the ten, which is huge, right, that's responsibility.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
No question.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
The significance of wearing the ten in the Latin American
country is always huge. Uh. He plays for the biggest
club in Mexico. You know, I'm I'm sorry a little
bit to the Chieves fans, but that's really the reality.
Uh and uh and to the g Greates fans, by
the way, which you know, obviously a club I love.
But uh, but yeah, Zinde has has had a great season.
(04:58):
You could potentially say that he's their best player. And
although he's had some injuries on don't off this year,
he is a consistent, let's say, player who delivers in
the final third, time after time and important moments for America.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I'm really surprised not to see him in this roster.
So if I had to pick one that surprised me
the most in terms of not seeing them here, uh,
it would he would certainly be the one. Obviously the goalkeepers.
I always make fun of myself in terms of like,
I don't know what's going out with the goalkeepers.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
No I, nor do I really care that much.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
But I agree with you with the fact that Chelte
not being one of the four surprises me a little bit,
right because we I didn't think he'd be one of
the three potentially, you know, but him not being one
of four surprises me.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah. The four goalkeepers are Matt Freeze, Matt Turner, and
then Chris Brady and Roman Celentano, who you know, It's
been an up and down year for s C Cincinnati,
but that's not Sellentino's fault. I'm happy with any of
those two guys, Brady or selling Tino or Shalty being
the third guy on the roster. I don't think really
(06:14):
it matters who the third goalkeeper is other than for
vibes and keeping the locker room loose. Back to the
other stubs, Diego Luna surprises me.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Matt, Matt, Matt if I could add to that, right
because you mentioned a little bit, but just just for
the fans, a little bit in terms of that third
goalkeeper role which you briefly mentioned there so normally as
a as a third world goalkeeper on a big roster
like this. It's exactly right what you're saying. The coach
is thinking, I want to bring a veteran older guy
(06:48):
mid thirties who's been there, done that in every way,
who can put his arm around players in the locker room, right,
that's important.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Or he can go the young route, right and select
like a.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Under twenty, under nineteen player who is going to come
along and just have eyes wide open right looking into
the future and here we're Nazi and either one of
those things.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah, the closest would be Brady, who is still I
think just twenty two years old. He's been very good
for the Chicago Fire for a couple of years now.
But none of these guys is super super young. Again,
I don't think it matters as long as the vibes
are high, and the vibes have been high over the
past few camps, past three camps. Really A big part
(07:31):
of that was Diego Luna. He has been ever present
for Mauricio Pochettino ever since he made his debut. Cars
famously broke his nose and played through it, and the
coach loved that. Now he missed the start of the
MLS season, only made his debut this past weekend. I
thought that would be enough to get him into this roster.
(07:52):
Clearly it was not. I don't know if this is
something that Pochettino has talked to Luna and maybe RSL
about and said, hey, get one hundred percent that fit.
You have a clear path even if you're not on
this roster, or if this is a message given the
way Pocheccino's worked, It wouldn't surprise me if it was
the second. But those are two guys in Zantejas and
(08:13):
Luna who play in those pockets underneath the forward, who
add a little bit of creative final third flare. And
it ends up being an opportunity for say a Brendan Aronson,
who hasn't been super productive under Potchettino but has had
a pretty good year for for Leeds in the Premier League.
(08:35):
It ends up being an opportunity maybe to see Weston
McKenny in one of the spots because he's been playing
a lot as a number ten for Juventus, and ends
up being an opportunity for Gio Raina, who is on
this roster even though he barely plays at the club level.
But tab we saw it against Paraguay, and he started
against Paraguay, had a goal. He came off the bench
(08:57):
against Uruguay, had an assist, looked like he hadn't missed
a beat, even though he's essentially not a club player
at this point in his career.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Yeah, so first on the on the Luna situation, right,
I would think that Luna help Pushattino likely more and
hear me out on this, I think Diego Luna helped
Pushchatino more likely than any other player to instill that
mentality into the team. Of these are the type of
(09:29):
players that Puschettino is happy with. You have to, above
everything else, be a fighter who wants to win all
the time. And and because of that, I don't think
that Pushatino is sending a message to to Luna.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
He knows what Luna is all about.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
I think, if any if I'm reading this correctly, and
of course I may be wrong, but if I'm reading
this correctly, I'm thinking that Luna's just getting his legs
under him.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
It's probably better for him to continue training.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
And this is a player that Pushettino has in his
back pocket who will go to the World Cup anyway.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
This is how I'm reading it.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Now on the gior Rena. You know, Jireina really surprises me.
I agree with you that you know that he played
a great game against Paraguay. In that window, he scored aheader.
I mean, I think he closed his eyes as he
as he hit that ball.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
But you know, heading is not his thing. But he
scored aheader and he played well.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And we know we sort of have been expecting Geo
to do more and more, and in that game he
did deliver. You know, I'm I'm I'd have to say
that Poschettino likely is looking more into the World Cup
and seeing what he looks like physically with the team.
I have to tell you, I think if if gior
(10:47):
Reina starts against Belgium, I don't think European teams are
his cup of tea. I I don't think Giorrena will
do well if he plays in these games. I'd be
surprised if he does not have him played there for
his club. But we will see. Obviously, Pachettino is knows better.
(11:07):
He's the head coach, but I'm surprised to see that.
At the same time, what I'm not surprised about is
that he brings them into the fold because he knows
in the World Cup, at the end of the day,
we're playing against Paraguay again and Australia again, and he
knows that Gio Raina can do well in those games.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, because those are teams that are probably going to
sit back. The US will have more of the ball
in the final third, and when it comes to picking
locks in the final third, there's a lot of good
options on the US team, includings in Dejas and Luna
if they were there. Geo's a level above. He's the
creative spark that he has. I don't think anybody else
in this roster can match it other absences Sadly no
(11:48):
Noahkai Banks. He's dual national. He had been in the
US program since the U seventeens. Germany turned his head.
All the reporting is that he has decided to turn
down calls from the US because he sees a path
to play for the German national team. I don't know
(12:08):
if that closes the door on him for the US
for good, but it certainly does seem to close the
door on him representing the US at this World Cup.
I mean it's a it's a home World Cup, and
he would get to play for the host country, and
there's a pretty clear path to a starting line into
the starting lineup for him, So like we weren't going
to get him now then, like it as it was
(12:31):
very clear that like this was the best chance. It
feels like that.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Yeah, And I think we we read that correctly last time,
you know, when we analyzed his his words about potentially
the World Cup now being the most important moment to
choose and that he was concerned more with his full career.
And I think I mentioned on this show last week
when when we heard that that if I'm reading correctly,
(13:00):
he was saying, if I have any chance at all
to play for Germany, that's what I'm gonna hold off for.
And I think we read that right. That's what's happening here.
Are we completely off the table for Noahkai Banks to
come to the US and the answer would be no,
but Germany will have the chance, and likely there has
been some type of conversation at some level that Germany
(13:23):
is looking at him and this is why he's holding back.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Yeah. Other absences all injury related, Haji Wright, I had
actually missed this. Had to just scramble a little bit
and do some research just before we went started recording this.
But Haji Wright picked up a groin injury midweek, which
is a bummer because he had been playing really well
in the Championship and played really well for the US
the last couple of camps. Tyler Adams missed this past
(13:51):
week's game was just precautionary, but obviously precautionary enough for
him to be ruled out of this camp. And Virginia
pulled his hamstring a couple of weeks ago. I think
they're expecting a six to eight week injury, so he
would hopefully be back by the start of May, get
a couple of camp or a cap, get a couple
(14:12):
of appearances in for PSV, and then hopefully be in
that World Cup camp. That has opened the door between Noah,
Guy Banks, and Desk, in particular for Austin Trusty, who
of course started against Uruguay and that that famous five
to one that the US had back in November. And
Joe Scalley, who has been in and out of rosters
(14:35):
for Pochettino over the past year and a half.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yeah, uh, you know, it's it's really unfortunate for Sogenio
Desk to get this injury at this time, but he.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Does have he does have time, you know.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
I the difficult part is, you know, like I'm going
to go into this a little bit later when we
discussed the uh, the players approach going into the World Cup.
But the difficult situation for Sugenio is will he be
fit enough to be in the World Cup and will
he have the game rhythm to be in the World.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Cup, because that's that truly is important. So so we
will see.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Having said that, this is part of what this is about, right,
you have to play hard every day and and when
you and you, when.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
You play hard, these sort of things happen.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Yeah. Uh, let's talk a little bit about the guys
who need to play their way into the camp. Now.
I mentioned Scally and Trustee, it feels like they have
a real opportunity here. The other ones are Ricardo Peppi,
who the you know, I've had him fourth on my
depth chart at center forward behind flow Balligan who's unquestioned
(15:46):
starting number nine, but also Pat Ogimont and Hanji Wright,
then Johnny Cardoso and Aiden Morris and door is open
for one of them. It feels like given Tyler Adams
picked up an injury, Obviously, Johnny Cardoso plays for a
much bigger team, very used to playing in very big games,
has not showed it for the US national team at all.
I think Morris has shown a little bit better for
(16:08):
the US national team play for a much smaller team,
but also plays in big games. He's in a promotion
fight in the championship, and we know that that is
all blood and thunder, So it's you know, the opportunity
is there for those two guys. I'm taking it as
a given that Christian Roldan has earned his way into
the team because just like the Diego Luna point you made,
(16:28):
tab I think rolled on what he did in terms
of galvanizing that team, especially in central midfield as they
changed their shape against Japan, ended up being the catalyst
for this now five game, six game run that the
US is on of good performances. But it feels like
there's an opportunity here at defensive midfield and at forward
(16:52):
with the injury and forced absences to Tyler Adams and
Hadgi Raight.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
And it opened it opens up doors, you know, and
that's what you're waiting for. I uh, you know, when
I look at I think there's really three players that
are that are playing for this one position now, and
certainly Johnny Cardozo has been playing big games and doing
well in him I'm hoping that if he does get
the opportunity, that he will deliver the way he delivers
(17:20):
in for his club in Europe a little bit more,
because truly we haven't seen it for the national team.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Now, if this happened to be me, I think I
think eight Morris is likely the better fit to play
next to Testament and behind potentially you know, if we're
saying now we're moving McKinnie a little bit higher. Uh
you know, McKinney could potentially go into that spot too.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
But and Sebastian Burholter has.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Done well, right, I mean he you know, with with
the last couple of games that he's played, he's played
himself back into the roster and into an important position
in the roster. So I think it'll be really interesting
to see what Marisio Pachattino decides. But but yeah, I mean,
you know, Aiden Morris isn't now although he's well, you know,
we obviously have to say as a second division in
(18:06):
England in the championship, he plays an.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Important role and he does play a little.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Bit higher though, Yeah, but I think he would be
for me likely the best fit there.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Yeah, it'll be. I think it'll be a big tell
seeing who gets that that start against Belgium. Obviously we
both have Tyler Adams at number one on the depth
chart among defensive midfielders, and it isn't it's a race
to see who will be his backup. I just personally
think you have to take two guys behind Tyler who
(18:41):
can play that position because defensive midfielders pick up a
lot of yellow cards over the course of the tournament.
We of course saw it back in two thousand and
six Pablo Manstron he got a red card, so without
him in that spot ended up being Claudio Arena, who
was not a defensive midfielder, starting at de mid in
a must win game that didn't go well. So you
need depth there on top of it, not just because
(19:03):
of suspension possibilities, but because Tyler is a frequently injured player.
The other absence the other snub that I guess we
should have mentioned, it didn't. Unus Mussa, he got a
cup of coffee for Atalanta over the past couple of
weeks had a couple of good games and then sort
of dropped back, you know, out of the rotation again.
(19:25):
It's it's disappointing because four years ago we all thought
the kid had the world at his feet, and now
it seems like he basically doesn't have a path onto
this roster.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Yeah, that is disappointing.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
And I and I have to say, I'm a big
fan of Unice Musa and what he can do on
the field. You know, the couple of times that I
that we saw him over the last year and a
half with the national team. We're mostly on that wide position,
which I thought were never a good fit for him,
although it had Talanta. When he comes in, he's kind
of playing on that right side too, the few minutes
(19:58):
that he gets. I do think that there's a lot
more in the tank there with Musa.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
I think potentially, and I know that this is not
going to happen now, but I.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Think that potentially Musa could play that role of that
defensive midfielder where Adams is not. Unfortunately, I think that
it seems like, you know, it's it's getting too late
for that for for Unice Musa, and it's and it's
unlikely that he'll he'll come back in.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yeah, it's another story of when you move. Look, man,
it's it's a short career. And I don't blame any
player for taking the most money that they can get,
but for national team consideration, for the overall arc of
your career consideration, you got to think about how you
fit into the club that you're moving to. And I
(20:49):
don't know if Unice Mussa had a really great grasp
on that when he made this out Alanto move, because
he really is surplus goods for them for how they play.
It hasn't helped him at all. And this was maybe
my favorite player in the pool back in the twenty
twenty two cycle. I just loved what he could do
in terms of getting on the ball and breaking lines
(21:10):
with the ball on his foot and compromising opposing defensive shapes.
And we don't really have that in the group without him.
The other guys who play the number eight are different profiles.
Tander testament is really good and he's going to be
in my starting eleven, which you'll hear here in a second.
And as Tab said, Sebastian Berhalter has been excellent the
past few games for the white Caps, but also past
(21:31):
few games for the US national team, so there are options,
but Unos Mussa was a little bit different and it's
disappointing that he won't be on this roster and almost
certainly won't be at the World Cup. But for us
it is time for a break. We'll be right back
with our projected starting elevens for the Belgium match. Please rate, review,
and subscribe to Inside American Soccer at Tom Bogert and
(21:54):
tab Ramos wherever you got your podcasts. Welcome back to
Inside American Soccer. Let's get right to a table. Let's
predict our starting elevens for the Belgium match. I guess
(22:17):
I'll go first, and I'm going to ask to see
from the Putchetino. Mostly what I think is the chalk
starting eleven, our best eleven, accounting for a couple absences,
obviously Tyler Adams being the big one, and to me
that means Matt Freese in goal. He has earned that one.
(22:38):
And then left to right along the back line, I
want to see Anthony Robinson, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson and
then Alex Freeman at right back. And we all know
that it's a back four that shifts in two or three. Right,
That's what we've seen, and what I want to see
from that is Alex Freeman all that attacking wingback role
(23:01):
that he played so well against the Uruguay. But then
the real experiment here is Jedi Robinson. Instead of being
an over an overlapping full back, which is what we've
gotten used to him as over the years, I want
to see him slide in to that back three because
I think he has the physicality to handle center forwards,
(23:22):
but also the speed very obviously to protect in behind
as the US plays a high line. But then the
wild card in that is when he gets the ball
on his foot, he has the ability to carry it
forward through the first line of any opposing pressure, which
would then compromise their shape and hopefully create chances create
(23:42):
openings for the likes of Polistic and McKenny and flow Balligan.
In front of them, I have a double pivot of
Tanner Testman and Johnny Cartoso, and I don't rate Johnny
Cartos so he has not played well for the US.
This is last Chancealoon. Let's see how he does a
big game with something close to the first eleven around him.
(24:03):
In front of them left to right, would be Christian polistic,
it would be Weston McKenny as the ten, and then
I want to see Tim Weya as the right winger,
and then flow Balligan up top.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Okay, so I'll read mine note first, which is not
much different. Different reasons for mine, but I think and
then we can I think we can debate a little
bit on why. So obviously I made mine not according
to what I want to see, but according to the opponent,
which will be Belgium, right. I think one of the
things to take into consideration is that Doku plays that
(24:40):
left side for Belgium, and Doku is one of the
most informed players in the world today. If I had
to name three or four players in the world were
in their best form, I would name Doku as one
of those players. And because of that, if I'll explain
it this, If if I had to select a team
(25:03):
from scratch, just who the best players available that we
have at this moment, with the roster that we have,
I would choose Tim Waya on this roster to play
that wide position. Because we're playing Belgium.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I would not do that.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
I would choose someone who's a little bit better defensively
than Tim Waya. And because of that, my lineup looks
like this. So I'm gonna go with Freezing Goal, which
we know he's going to be in goal. I'm gonna
choose three center backs and those will be uh Robinson,
Richards and Reim. I just think that Mauricio Postino will
(25:36):
continue to play Reem, although that I would I would
rather see McKenzie there.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
I think Reim will play.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
And Jedi Robinson on on the left side and Alex
Freeman on the right side instead of Weea.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Like which one of those got because we know that
Putch doesn't have both fullbacks overlapping, So who's going to overlap?
Is it going to be Alex Freeman on the right
or Jedi Robinson on the I.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Think it could be either one, but I think because
Doku will be on that left side, I think you
just have to be a lot more careful with sending
people forward from our right side. So I would I
would put Alex Freeman there and not give them the
full freedom to constantly attack from that side, but to
be a little bit more careful because it literally will
(26:21):
take five seconds on a counter for Doku to be
in our box. And and certainly something to consider it.
But by the way, not just because it's US. Every
team in the world would consider this right. Doku is
a dangerous player, so but but but this lineup still
gives you the freedom for both outside backs to attacks.
So if if if you know, Alex Freeman were to
(26:44):
go forward, Jedi could could drop in.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
If Jedi were to go forward, then I would have
Alex Freeman drop in.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
I would never on this lineup have both outside backs
attacking at the same time.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
So that would be my answer, uh to your question.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
In the center of the field, just the replacement for
me would be Johnny Cardoso replacing Taler Adams, keeping Tenor
Tessaman next to him and pushing McKinney up into the
double role with Polisic behind Ballogan up top.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
So very similar lineups from the two of us. I
think we want to see the same things, right. We
want to see how Johnny does with that close to
first eleven around him. We want to see how Weston
does as a pure attacking player, and we want to
see what the balance will be along that back line.
(27:43):
And it against a team like Belgium. You get answers
to two of those three things. Even if the answers
aren't what you want, then you have used the friendlies
pretty well. What else should we be looking for from
the lineup? Stat Do we care about possession? Do we
care about how comfortable they are stringing the ball together
(28:06):
in the final third? Or is it how we'll do
on the counter attack? Do you have an eye on
anything tactical like that.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Well, I think there's no question that what's going to
be difficult for us is to play against teams that
number one can hold the ball better than we can.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
So that's a challenge.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
How we defend on a low block, how organized we
can be on a low block, And then also how
we manage when we have the ball on the opposing
side of the field, how we manage the transitional moments
into defending. That has always been a problem for us,
let's say, for the last thirty years, which is really
(28:46):
the problem for most confederate national teams outside of Europe.
It has always been how to manage the European team's
transition forward.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
So those are the two things.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
So my focus is a little bit more defensive because
I think ultimately the better you defend, the more organized
you are, the best chance you give your team to
win the game. So I think those are the two
things I would, you know, if I had to simplify
how we defend in low block and how we defend
when we're high and we lose the bowl in transition
moments coming back.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Let's say we go down one nil sixty minutes in,
playing pretty well, but no not the cutting edge we want.
Who is your first sub? Who do you bring in?
Speaker 1 (29:36):
So we're down one zero and this is in the
second half.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
At some point, yep, do we get to see Ricardo
PEPPI Do we bring Geo in?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Or well? I think there's a combination of things.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
There's first of all, you don't bring Geo if you
don't think he can come into a game and win it, right,
because that's really what he has to offer here. What
he has to offer is that he's good in that
final third. So I think couple a couple of things
to consider, and it depends on the game, right, because
Pepe has been almost the ultimate.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Poacher right over the last few years.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
He comes in and he scores a goal off the bench,
and it's it's good to see.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Not every player has the.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Proper mentality to come off the bench and score. I
think I think pepy can do that right, and you can,
you could potentially go into two forward lineup, but I
think those those are the two players for me. You're
looking at Geo and you're looking at Peppi.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Do you think Peppi's in this in this World Cup
roster already or do you think he's in a fight
for one of those spots at this camp.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
I think he's already on the roster.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
I don't see I don't see any scenario in which
Poschettino doesn't bring four forwards to this, to the World Cup.
And because of that, I think I think he'll be
one of those for sure.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Yeah, I have him on the fringes. I actually think
because Balligan is such a clear number one, and then
what Aziman offers that's different than anybody else in the
pool because with the way teams press now everybody in
the world presses man and that means there's been more
long balls, specifically out of the back, and it turns
(31:22):
into a game of duels where you need to win
first ball, second ball, and Azimon's ability to win that
first ball in the air is so superior to anybody
else in the so I think he's in and then
obviously Haji Wright is missing this camp. We talked about
it in the first segment via injury, but his goal
(31:43):
scoring form in a very physical league, and then his
experience having scored a goal in the World Cup and
done it before. So I do think that PEPPI look
man like you said, he's the ultimate poacher. He's got
to show the ability to do more than poach. I
would really like to see him get at least a
(32:03):
half hour against Belgium and then hopefully get the start
against Portugal to see what he can offer to this team.
That's more than just getting onto the end of pretty
passing sequences, which he does exceptionally well. But there has
to be more to his game than that in tournaments
(32:24):
like this.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Yeah, I mean, you know, it's hard to disagree with
what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
I'm looking at it a little bit different.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
I'm looking at it as a coach likes to have
players for different roles. So if Balligan were to go
down as a starting number nine, I don't see us
an area on which Peppy would be the starter for
us at the World Cup. But however, I do see
Peppy as a last ten minute or last fifteen minute
player coming in, and that's regardless of who's starting. So
(32:53):
let's say, you know, don't forget in twenty fourteen we
had Josie and Clint Dempsey up front. You know, like
two minutes into the World Cup, Josie goes down and
gets hurt. He's out for the rest of the tournament.
Now you have to be able to adjust to that.
And I think Pochetino is thinking that. And you're not
wrong with what you're saying, because I think you're saying
(33:14):
exactly that.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
So you're your next starter is not Peppy.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Your next starter would be It could be Agimund because
of the reasons you gave, or it could be potentially
Haji Wright because he can do all of those things
that you mentioned as well. However, Peppy remains the off
the bench ten to fifty minute guy, and because of that,
if I'm thinking as a coach, I would want to
have that in my sort of in my two box.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Two guys we haven't mentioned hardly at all talking through
this whole roster, we should touch on them a bit.
Brendan Aronson, like I said, he's been always energetic and
usually pretty good this year for Leeds and hasn't been
super productive, but you know what he offers against the ball,
full effort all the time. And then Malik Tillman. He's
(33:58):
a kind of an up and down year for buyer Levercusan,
but a guy the Pochactcino seems to trust. Where do
they play in this camp and how much time you
think they get in this camp?
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Well, I'd have to go into a specific scenario.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
So let's start with Aaronson first of all, I mean,
very few players in this camp are as deserving as
Aaronson up getting a callback. I mean he's doing it
weekend and week out, and I know he doesn't play
every minute for Leeds, but he's been an important part
of that team. I don't think I can think of
another player that works harder than he does to win
the ball back, to get behind the ball when he
(34:40):
needs to. And because of that, I'm thinking of a
specific scenario. So let's say we're playing Australia second game
of the World Cup. You obviously want to try to
win the ball deep in their end because you want
to pressure them as much as possible because you can
win the ball back.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
And I do think of a scenario in.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Which you would pull uhm McKenny back into that sect,
that double six role, and have Aaronson play next to
Polisic to just try to win the ball back as
much as possible, and then release McKenny.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
From that sixth spot.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
Right that he would potentially be next to Adams, let's say, right,
and now you're playing with only one six, and now
you're adding numbers forward. So I do think that there's
a role for Aaronson, And that's sort of how I
see it. In terms of uh Elie Tilman. I think
that's you know, that's a player that could start any time.
I mean, Pochettino could decide that, you know, let's not
(35:36):
forget that other than goalkeeper McKenny can play any role, right,
So we could you could put him next to Testament
if if Adams was hurt, or you could put him
next to Adams and take Testament off and and have
them play that double six and still have Tilman next
to Polisic, and and and and go.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
Forward with that.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
So I think I think there's a role for all
these players. I and I and I like that Pochettino
has a lot options.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Yeah, I like that too. Good problems for the coach
to have for us. It is time for one more break.
And on the other side of that, we'll hear from
Tab on the stress of trying to make the nineteen
ninety eight World Cup roster. Thank you for listening to
Inside American Soccer. Please rate, review and subscribe. Welcome back
(36:28):
to Inside American Soccer. We've been talking about the twenty
twenty six World Cup for most of this show, but
let's get in the time machine, Tab and let's go
back inside the locker room to the nineteen ninety eight
World Cup. You were part of that roster, your final
World Cup as a player, and unlike ninety and ninety four,
(36:50):
it wasn't necessarily given that you were going to make
the final team because you're coming off a couple devastating injuries,
and it was it was touch and go at times.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Yeah, no question, And we can call these moments the
black and white moments, maybe before color, the moments before
color with Matt Doyle and Tabramos, but anyway, Yeah, you're
absolutely right. So I was fortunate enough that, you know,
in the nineteen ninety World Cup, in nineteen ninety four
World Cup, I knew that I was going to start
(37:23):
basically every game for the team. So the name naming
of the roster was not really ever a concern for me.
Not that I played any less hard because I wanted
to be the best player every day, but they were
sort of given, and so I didn't live what many
players have to live through. Now going into nineteen ninety eight,
(37:43):
completely different story because now as an older player was
I was living a little bit off rent right, and
I had my skull fracture which took me out of
the game for about five or six months. I had
two ACLS cheats took me out of the game between
anywhere between five and seven months. So I had spent
(38:06):
a lot And I'm sorry Metro Stars fans, this this
happened at this time, but it did happen at that time,
and and unfortunately I went into ninety nineteen ninety eight
without really playing for the national team, uh the six
months leading into it. So I had to worry about
things that that I had that I wanted to mention
(38:26):
here because these are the things that old players worry about.
So number one, you always worry about your own fitness
and how well you're doing. Are you fit enough? The
next thing is are you are you game ready? Because
one thing is to be fit you can run all day.
And the next thing is.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Is your is your mind?
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Is your brain thinking fast enough to be in the
middle of the field when two guys are coming and
can you see that pass as you're getting pressured and
the bulls coming to you? And that's something that for
all the players who are out there at any level,
by the way, who are coming back from an injury
and get thrown into a game, that is the most
difficult thing. That is more difficult than your actual fitness.
(39:06):
So you have to think about that. And then I
think there's another factor that's really important is you.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Start to see yourself.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
You start to project the roster right, how many players
are gonna get picked, how many players are gonna get picked,
and a position similar to mine if it's not exactly so, Like,
for example, if you're a right back, that's easy enough, right,
there's probably gonna be two right backs, it's you against someone.
But in my position as sort of an attacking midfielder,
which where I could fit into a central role, I'm
(39:35):
more of a wide right role, but I could fill
into a central role. A coach could potentially play me
on the left side, So you know, you start thinking
about all the items, and because of that, you have
to start looking at players, and so I started looking
like I had to look at guys like Wegerly or
Joe Max Moore or Ernie Stewart, even as with drawn striker,
(39:55):
I had to look into Claudio Arena as an attacking
midfielder had so I had to look at a bunch
of players and see how each one of them is
doing and what my legitimate chance of making the team.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
Was going to be. So I think this is a
worry that all the players have.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Ultimately, the most important part is that players do well
in their own club as they're playing, because that's what
shows your consistency. But there's no question that all of
these most of the players that are getting called in
are taken into consideration all of these factors.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Yeah, there's no real perfect analogy for the situation you
are in a ninety eight. In this group in twenty
twenty six, there's no sort of veteran centerpiece who's holding
on for one last World Cup, who's coming off of injury.
But there are guys. I mean, Jedi Robinson would be
the best example, because he has missed most of the
last year via injury. He has not looked quite the
(40:52):
same since coming back for Fulham, though he has put
in a couple of good shifts lately. He was a centerpiece,
but he's in the prime of his career. But he
also saw Max Arsten over the past fifteen games say hey,
it's not just Jedi and then nobody at the left
back role. We actually have a depth chart. Now I
(41:14):
have to imagine that that is probably a good thing
for the entire group to say, all right, we have competition.
This is what a healthy roster is supposed to look like.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
I mean, this is a good example you're making because
John Tolkien didn't do poorly when he came in.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
He actually did well.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
I mean, and I would not be if you were
to tell me Jedi Robinson get by the way, Jedi
Robinson was our best player for the last five years.
So no questions there that he should play all the time.
But if he's injured and he's not able to play,
it's truly not scary to say Max Arsten could be
our starter and John Tolkien could be a backup.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
I mean, these are guys that have done.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
Well when they've come in, and the few opportunities that
Tolkien has come in. If there's anything we know about Tolkien,
and in particular us from the Northeast who have watched
him play for the Red Bulls, I mean, this kid
is not afraid of anything, so he'll be ready to
go regardless of who we're playing.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
What's the challenge for the coach to reintegrate guys who
play such a big role and miss a lot of
time with injury. Because I have to imagine if you know,
Anthony Robinson is back in camp and he just automatically
starts and plays ninety both games, and Max Arston was
a ninety minute player all last year and suddenly he's
(42:31):
not seeing the field like there could be. These are
professional athletes, they're competitive dudes. Managing that cannot be an
easy part of being a head coach.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
It's not easy.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
But you know, the funny part is that when you
go into locker room, all the players know who the
best players are. So that's regardless of what the coach
is thinking, regardless of what the fans are thinking or
what the press is saying. Everybody knows who the best
left back on the team is.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
There's no question there.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
Right, everybody knows who they feel more comfortable with playing
on the right side, and that's the coach may select
someone else, but the players know.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
And I think that's the important thing.
Speaker 1 (43:08):
And this is why building a group that gets along
and building a group that just likes to play for
each other is really important, because at the end of
the day, the players know who the best players are
and who should be playing.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
All right, So take us back then to nineteen ninety eight.
You were still one of the best players in the
US roster at that or in the US pool at
that point. And then the moment you did finally see
your name on the roster for your third World Cup, No, well.
Speaker 2 (43:41):
It truly was a proud moment, and it took me.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
It took me back to all the recovery that I
had to do because I spent most of the time
in a training room, you know, for a period of
about you know, two and a half years, three years,
and that was really hard.
Speaker 2 (43:56):
I do think that I was not at my best
level at that World Cup.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
I do think that, you know, and I wish that
I could have helped the team a lot more. But
I can tell you that in the training room and
in recovery rooms. I don't think anyone would work harder
than I did to get back. And you know, I
did make it to the World Cup. And you have
to remember I tore my ACL in November. So you know,
(44:22):
you you mentioned off offline a little bit. You mentioned
a little bit about how the game that that gave
Steve Sampson the idea of playing that three six one
in the World Cup was the Austra game leading into
the World Cup, which was our last friendly. I didn't
even play that one. I wasn't even on the roster yet.
So I got called to the World Cup without playing
(44:42):
any games leading into it, which which really, you know,
I thank Steve Samson for that, and and then I
think all of the people who helped me get back
to get into MLS, I think I played. I started
MLS games barely five months from from my surgery, So
which for an ACL, that's that's that's really fast.
Speaker 3 (45:04):
Yeah, you and Reverso Basio had the record recovery time
from touring acls. I think he was around five months
for one of his as well. Maybe not recommended medically,
maybe it could have stretched out a little bit more
of it but probably worth it to get on that
last World Cup roster. It is last chance for the
World Cup roster for a lot of the guys that
(45:25):
we're going to see in these March friendlies coming up.
Thank you all for listening to Inside American Soccer. Please rate,
review as subscribe well. Of course, be back next week
to talk more about what we should expect to see
from these two games, and who knows, there might even
be a late addition or two to this roster. So
(45:46):
please continue to leave your questions and comments on all
our platforms, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and we will
see you next week
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