USMNT player update

For now, I am back on the east coast, but was able to attend the final two USMNT group stage matches in person. From the practice fields of Irvine, to the post-match interview maze (i.e. the mixed zone), I wanted to share a few snippets from the team ahead of tomorrow’s match against Bosnia & Herzegovina:

Freese did go to Harvard, but I am concerned Pochettino is overdoing the mind games with our starting keeper. Freese only started one of two friendlies in March (Portugal; Turner took Belgium), one of two pre-tournament tests (Germany; Freese/Brady took Senegal), and was rested against Türkiye. Ahead of Wednesday’s game, he’s faced the second-fewest shots on target of any keeper in the World Cup, based on minutes played. Only Argentina’s Emi Martinez has faced fewer SOTA per 90. Bosnia will be his 18th cap, and his big test is waiting.

One of the good things about Matt Turner is that he’s very well spoken, takes the time to really contemplate and respond to questions and projects his voice in a crowded mixed zone. One of the drawbacks is that if he’s speaking nearby Mailk Tillman, you’re going to have a hard time, because Tillman’s a thoughtful guy but also a whisperer.

Still has great hair.

Set up Balogun on the play forcing an own goal to start off a 2-0 win against Australia. On that play: “I just kind of played it behind the channel for him, and then he’s done a lot of work to get toward the goal and create a chance from it, he got an own goal from it … We’re all trying to create options for each other but it feels fluid, everyone feels like we’re linking up really well.”

On finding space against Australia: “We obviously did a lot of work through the week trying to figure out, if certain players move a different way, then that’s going to leave space in different pockets, it felt like it did. They were quite orientated in trying to be aggressive and press like one at a time, they were still trying to be compact, but if we moved them the right way it was leaving spaces for us to play in. A large part of the time we found that space and got a lot of joy from it.”

One of two outfield players yet to see the field. Last week he told reporters in Irvine that when he’s not working hard in training he’s watching Lincoln Lawyer or listening to Drake: “I’m a big Drake guy. But if I’m like trying to really chill, maybe I’ll listen to like some chill Drake.”

Trusty made two appearances at left back (subbing in and then starting for Jedi, somewhat surprisingly instead of Arfsten) and scored against Türkiye. On playing out of position:

“I’m a center back usually, playing a left back spot. And I can advance up, I can show up different parts of my game going forward… Corners, I live and breathe for corners, and then had the opportunity and took advantage.”

Injured his ankle at the end of the match but was back in training today.

Was rested against Türkiye, but noted afterward:

“We started the game exactly the way we wanted to. And then obviously games ebb, they ebb and flow… In the moments that they ebb against you, you have to be solid enough to prevent things from getting too far and getting too much away from you. And if they do, then you have to wrestle it back, you have to wrestle that momentum back.”

Can’t hit a ball wrong at the moment: 175/179 passes completed in two games played, the second highest passing accuracy for a player in their first two World Cup games since 1966.

On the USMNT “rage-baiting” other teams, per Tim Ream:

“It’s Concacaf, man, it teaches you that. I’m surprised Tim knew that word. All right, cool. No, it’s been again, you know. I think one of the things that we’ve really embraced is who we are, which is obviously Americans, but also the region that we come from, and I think a lot of, especially Europeans, speak about, oh, Concacaf is an easy region, all right. Well, we’ll show you exactly why it’s the opposite. So, for us, to just kind of dialing into what makes us us, and if it’s baiting, so be it.”

Leads the USMNT in post-game prayer. Started against Türkiye, his first minutes of the tournament. Has had an “irritated foot” this week in training, but is expected to be ready tomorrow per Henry Bushnell.

Made his World Cup debut with a start against Türkiye, probably the last center back off the bench as we get into the knockouts. With his start, alongside Vancouver Whitecaps’ midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, 21 different MLS teams have had an active player start a World Cup match.

Freeman had two impressive starts to commence Group D, then came off the bench against Türkiye. Afterward, he noted the difference: “When I start the game, you have time to feel it out, right? You have time to get into the game, you can make a mistake or two, and still be able to play 90 minutes and feel the game, right? And me coming on as a substitute is, how can I make an impact as fast as I can?”

His Dad, decorated NFL player Antonio Freeman, was at their practice in Irvine the final week of the group and (while endearingly called the World Cup the FIFA Cup) told reporters, “It’s a credit to all the work that Alex has put in, the commitment that he’s made, and this is his ride, and I’m just happy to be his biggest supporter.”

Scally was one of four out-field players to clock zero minutes in Qatar, and made his tournament debut with a substitute appearance in Seattle. He got the start against Türkiye and remains a solid option off the bench that can arguably play anywhere on the backline— something that could come in handy as other depth players falter.

Dest is having an incredible tournament; my press tribune view for USA vs. Australia gave me a perfect spectation spot to marvel at his and McKennie’s deft work along the right side of the pitch for the first forty-five minutes, a get-your-popcorn-out type of performance.

Makes up for flaws with set-piece prowess and ability to contribute to goals. Has six goal contributions in 16 USMNT appearances, including a clinical strike and assist against Türkiye.

Afterward, he reflected: “Maybe we could have controlled the game a little bit better, and then maybe just got the ball better in their half, especially our positioning, too. First half, felt like we were a little bit all over the place, maybe two guys, too many guys behind the ball, and not enough in front of the ball.”

Stymied by a “muscle strain” since picking up an injury during training.

Got a yellow card in the opening game that sidelined him against Türkiye. On whether playing with a yellow card affected him against Australia:

“When I want to do something stupid, I try and tame myself a little bit, so when things get physical today— I was kind of the peacemaker today, to be honest with you. I didn’t get in any scraps or do anything, so you think about it. But at the same time I’m not taking away my aggressiveness. That’s what makes me who I am as a player.”

Captained the team against Türkiye, is somehow still one of the more-under celebrated stars of the team. Was at his best in the first two games of the group.

Second-most shots and second-most shots on target on the team behind Balogun, most fouls drawn (seven) just ahead of Balo. A key member of the so-called pentagon midfield, his national team performances have ridden a few waves over the years but he’s peaking at the right time, despite a tough end to his club season.

Came off the bench and scored a beautiful goal against Paraguay, the chef’s kiss of a blistering beginning for the USMNT. Got the start against Türkiye. The roar of the crowd when his stats went up on the jumbotron before the game were the first big cheer (from USMNT supporters) I clocked of the evening. Never quite 90-minutes fit; he looked winded in a solid 76-minute showing.

Clocked his first minutes with a start against Türkiye. On managing the pressure of a home World Cup and the team’s mentality ahead of the knockouts:

“There’s a lot of media and you know you’re in your country, and you know it’s a big deal, and stuff like that. But we just go out there, we want to play football. That’s what we were born to do. We were born to play in these moments.”

Weah’s historic contributions and abilities were not properly reflected by his game against Türkiye, in part because he was out of position on the left. He might not come off the bench as quickly now, but I’m rooting for a moment that buries that performance.

Does the little things, like run to and from the locker room at halftime when nobody else is. Got his World Cup debut against Türkiye, unfortunately this happened.

Played 45 electric minutes against Paraguay and then disappeared with a muscle strain he picked up in training— refused to reveal who did it. Was back training at the start of practice post-Australia. The biggest success of the 3-2 loss to Türkiye was that he got back on the field and made an immediate impact (he did also get nutmegged by Arda Güler).

Has two starts including one alongside Balogun against Australia. Took five shots but none on target, said this after Australia: “I felt like we gave them a hard time, you know, it was a difficult game to be able to get a lot of shots, a lot of space in between. They really close down the middle. But at the end of the day, I know we got the win, we got the goals, and we did our jobs.”

Has played one minute, but I feel like he has a game-changing moment off the bench in him.

Somebody asked Freese what it’s like to stop Balogun’s shots in practice. Freese said, “Its strong” and held up his taped up wrist and hand, adding, “You see this? I need this ‘cause he shoots on me.”