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Who's in and who's out of Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT?
The United States Men's National Team returns to action this week with a crucial doubleheader against Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League.
It's the team's second run of games under new coach Mauricio Pochettino and wins here are important. If the USMNT can't overcome Jamaica over this two-legged tie, it will be eliminated from the Nations League altogether.
Pochettino announced his 25-man camp for these Jamaica fixtures this weekend. While many faces, like AC Milan's Christian Pulisic and FC Cincinnati's Miles Robinson, are familiar, Pochettino made some significant changes to the camp he selected for his first USMNT games in October.
Here's who is in — and who is out — of Pochettino's USMNT as it gears up for the Nations League:
Our full @CNationsLeague quarterfinals squad pic.twitter.com/908ZUt2UOQ
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) November 10, 2024
In: Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) - The USMNT's defense has been a sticking point for fans in recent seasons; many make jokes that U.S. Soccer's motto of "Only Forwards" simply underlines that the team doesn't have a reliable backline to speak of. But Richards, a 24-year-old defender who came up through the FC Dallas youth system, might be the missing piece to change that. He was instrumental in Crystal Palace's surprise run of form at the end of the 2023-24 season, and his hamstring injury this year has left both Palace and the USMNT adrift. It's great to see him back in the lineup; let's hope he's ready to compete.
Out: Kristoffer Lund (Palermo) - Kristoffer Lund Hansen, a young left-back who shares citizenship with Denmark, hasn't had much consistency with the USMNT. Three separate coaches — Gregg Berhalter, B. J. Callaghan and Mikey Varas — left him outside of their starting lineups, and it looks like Pochettino is taking the same approach. Lund had a rough time against Mexico in his last USMNT performance and hasn't impressed his club team in Italy. With other left-backs like Celtic's Auston Trusty stepping up in his absence, it may be a while before we see Lund in a USMNT shirt again.
IT'S AUSTON!!!
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 30, 2024
Auston Trusty has arrived #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/eCQLkCUfyG
In: Alex Zendejas (Club America) - Pochettino's first USMNT stint in October featured a match against Mexico. It was puzzling, then, to see him leave Zendejas out of his initial USMNT camp. No one in the USMNT sphere is better suited to face Mexico than Zendejas. He was born there, plays his club soccer there and knows the members of El Tri nearly as well as he knows his teammates.
Zendejas was added to Pochettino's squad at the last minute to backfill an injured player; he seized his opportunity with abandon and caused glorious chaos every time he took the field. Pochettino took notice. He's called up Zendejas with the regular squad this time around, and the USMNT is better for it.
ALEX ZENDEJAS IS ON FIRE RIGHT NOW With this goal last night, he now with 7 goals and 3 assists in the last 8 matches
— USMNT Nation (@USMNTvsHaters) April 10, 2024
pic.twitter.com/QonzcVqHFg
Out: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Josh Sargent (Norwich City) and Haji Wright (Coventry City) - There's no drama or intrigue behind these absentees; all three of these USMNT strikers are unavailable due to long-term injuries. But their absence opens up a real opportunity for some of the USMNT's unheralded strikers. With Balogun, Sargent and Wright — three players who received most of the starting striker opportunities under Berhalter — unavailable, could someone like Monterrey's Brandon Vazquez or PSV's Ricardo Pepi step up and make the position their own?
Most goals per 90 in Europe's top seven leagues this season (minimum 5 goals):
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 9, 2024
◎ 1.63 - Viktor Gyökeres
◎ 1.39 - Mateo Retegui
◎ 1.32 - Samu Omorodion
◉ 1.29 - Ricardo Pepi
The American is PSV's joint top goalscorer (6 goals) in the Eredivisie in 24/25 despite starting… pic.twitter.com/8Y3kRTIRuL
The USMNT will kick off its November camp with a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Jamaica on Thursday, Nov. 14, in Kingston.
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