Lots of questions surrounding the USMNT after their September Friendlies against South Korea and Japan. Following a 2-0 defeat against South Korea last Saturday, the US followed it up with a lot of doubts and criticism going into the match against Japan, as they prevailed with a 2-0 victory.
In the win against Japan, Florian Balogun hammered home a goal, his first in almost a year for the US. Christian Pulisic seemed to be his usual self, and the backline was terrific following the performance against Korea. Matt Freese made 6 saves as he seems to be settling in as the US number 1 option. Alex Zendajas scored his first career USMNT goal, and it was a beauty. Lots of promising signs from him.
Against Korea everything was almost completely backwards. No body had a good game, sloppy play from the US led to goals and chance for Korea. Everything looked out of sorts. And that raised a lot of questions about how this team will lineup and play during the world cup.
My Thoughts
If you ask me, I would say I have been saying for a year that the US will get knocked out in the Group Stage. My opinion has not changed. Even going back to the summer friendlies against Switzerland and Turkey and the Gold Cup, you can’t convince me that this team looked remotely close to ready for big stage. My two main reasons have nothing to do with Pochettino, Poch is an excellent coach and he is doing his best with the players he is getting in these friendlies. The players on the team that have been playing with each other, Luna, Ageybang, Mglynn, those guys are MLS players and MLS players have no room in a World Cup squad. The guys that have been not been playing Pulisic, in exception to the Japan and Korea games. Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest has been injured, Yunus Musah, and Weston Mckennie. Balogun was also injured and he missed the summer matches. Those are guys that made a huge impact on the 2022 team. A team that was just lacking the creativity in the midfield. (Gio Reyna was benched) After the Netherlands beat the US 3-1 in the Round of 16 expectations for a run in 2026 were high, semi final, quarter final in that area. We haven’t seen the main players from that team all play in the same team together, which worries me significantly. It truly might not be a problem but it is something to look out for but it does genuinely concern me. If the World Cup Started tomorrow I would roll out a lineup of Matt Freese in goal, Scally, Miles Robinson, Richards, Antonee Robinson through the back. In the midfield Musah Adams and Tillman in the ten. With an attack of Pulisic, Weah, and Balogun.
The lack of playing time and chemistry does concern me but I think the US could have a very successful World Cup on home soil if all goes right.
