So, why no Gio Reyna?
Mauricio Pochettino has said in the lead-up to this tournament that he would use the opportunity to evaluate and build a relationship with the players who had yet to appear in camp with him – including Reyna and Tyler Adams.
He reiterated that point to the media yesterday, while referencing Reyna’s lack of playing time with Dortmund and seemingly referencing some disappointing training performances.
“The most important thing is how he’s showing in every single training session and spending time with us, because I think maybe he’s not at his best,” POchettino said. “But he’s here for us to try to get to know him and, from there, to help him arrive at his best. That is the reality.”
Pochettino then delivered a line that is already being dissected every which way: “I am so honest and what I think I see is this important player, who was also an important player in the past. I think it’s a player we need to recover and put to the same level as the rest of the players to have the possibility to compete in the World Cup.”
And here’s the starting XI from Jesse Marsch’s Canada.
Like Pochettino, Marsch has made a bunch of changes from Thursday. Three of them, to be exact.
In are Mathieu Choinière, Tajon Buchanan, and Tani Oluwaseyi.
Out are Jonathan Osorio, Stephen Eustáquio, and Cyle Larin.
The US lineup is in!
In all, Mauricio Pochettino makes five changes from the XI that lost to Panama. In particular, this is a big spot for Diego Luna, who starts presumably as the No 10 in midfield, with Charlotte FC’s Patrick Agyemang taking Josh Sargent’s place up top.
At first glance this figures to be a four-man backline to start, with Max Arfsten on the left and Joe Scally on the right. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Mark McKenzie are the center backs.
Notably, Gio Reyna remains on the bench, while Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah all start.
Hello, folks! Alex Abnos here, updating you thoughout this big time, heavyweight Concacaf matchup … in the Nations League third place game. The US’s limp display v Panama, Canada’s 2-0 loss to Mexico, and President Trump’s repeated trade war and “51st state” threats have set up the most politically-charged match for “bronze” that you’re ever likely to see.
Alex will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Leander Schaerlaeckens on what went wrong for the US in Thursday’s semi-final:
On the eve of what turned out to be his first loss in a competitive match in charge of the United States men’s national team and the end of his honeymoon with his newish employers, Mauricio Pochettino said something accidentally prescient.
“Football is about timing and it’s about form and the situation of the player,” he said to a room of reporters ahead of the US’s 1-0 loss to Panama.
At the time, form appeared to be on the affable Argentinian’s side. Christian Pulisic is playing some of the best soccer of his career at Milan. Weston McKennie has, improbably, become a stalwart once again at Juventus, the very club that tries to dump him every summer. Tyler Adams is finally healthy and ticking over sweetly at the base of the Bournemouth midfield. Josh Sargent is having yet another productive season with Norwich in the Championship. Chris Richards has grown into his immense potential at the heart of the Crystal Palace defense. You could go on like that for a little while longer.
You can read the full article below:
