GOAL U.S. writers discuss and debate the drama around the USMNT roster, and Ballon d'Or picks
And just like that, club soccer pauses for the first time this season.
It seemed as if the European campaign was just kicking into stride, but attention now turns to the international game. And for the USMNT there's plenty of intrigue. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to become the next manager of the USMNT, though nothing has been officially announced. We do know that he will not oversee the side a pair of upcoming friendlies.
That job will go to experienced youth coach Mikey Varas, who, with input from Poch's camp, has picked an interesting roster. Some regulars have been omitted, while he could also hand out a couple of debuts to promising prospects. It's difficult to know what to make of friendlies overseen by an interim coach, but there will certainly be a sense of intrigue.
Meanwhile, the Ballon d'Or nominations have been revealed, with Rodri, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr set to battle it out for the top award in men's global soccer. So, even with the club game on hold, there's plenty to keep this mad world ticking over. GOAL US writers break it all down in this week's edition of… The Rondo.
Getty ImagesWhat's the biggest takeaway from the USMNT squad?
Tom Hindle: That Weston McKennie misses out. Yes, there's is talk about a player needing rest, and the fact that interim USMNT head coach Mikey Varas wants to rotate the squad. But McKennie hasn't really seen the pitch yet this season at Juventus, and could really do with getting some minutes under his belt. You'd figure, at the very least, that he would end up on the training squad. But apparently it's time for someone else to get a look. And with McKennie potentially facing a bench role for Juve, that might not be the right move.
Ryan Tolmich: For the first time in a long time, the midfield picture is wide open. McKennie and Tyler Adams have been ever-present essentially since making their debuts, a few injuries aside. Neither are in this camp. Yunus Musah, the third piece of MMA, is on the squad, but there's room for other players to step up and really push for a role. Can Johnny Cardoso, Aidan Morris or Luca de la Torre make a case to be a No. 6/8? Can Brenden Aaronson bring good form to the USMNT? Can Gio Reyna or Malik Tillman be the answer at the No. 10? There's a lot to figure out in the upcoming friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.
Jacob Schneider: There are still so many unknowns. We still do not know who the starting striker will be in a competitive match. And on that note, we still have not seen a healthy Josh Sargent play with what is the senior team since the 2022 World Cup. We don't know how Malik Tillman fits, or where Reyna plays either, to be frank. There is a lot of talent, it just feels as though there are far more questions than answers. 2026 isn't that far away.
AdvertisementGettyDoes it matter if Pochettino is not yet officially in charge?
TH: Not really, at least, not according to this roster. The USMNT have played around with the squad here, with only about half of these guys likely to feature in Poch's presumptive first choice starting XI. If the assumption was that they were always likely to rotate, then pushing back the Argentine's arrival isn't the end of the world. There is a LONG way to go until 2026.
RT: It definitely matters. Time is not on the USMNT's side at this point as there are less than two years until the World Cup. Pochettino will only get so many camps with this group and, given where we are in the cycle, every one counts. One fewer camp is one fewer chance to sculpt this team in his image and, with the clock ticking, everything just becomes a bit more urgent.
JS: Absolutely. You only get so many matches, so many opportunities to plant your ideology, your philosophy, your personality. Poch is not going to see these players every day, so it's rather crucial he gets the chance to hop in from the start. If officially hired, his first full camp could potentially be in October.
GettyShould Reyna be in this USMNT squad?
TH: Yes? No? Maybe? It's honestly hard to judge what, exactly, Reyna's role should be for the USMNT at the moment. It seems, once again, that his opportunities at Dortmund are going to be incredibly limited. By that logic, all minutes are good minutes. But if he isn't playing at club level, then there's an argument to be made that showings for country might not necessarily help him. On talent, he deserves it – for now. But if he isn't playing, it's fair to wonder if he should be a surefire starter.
RT: Yes, but obviously not due to his club form. Reyna has largely been good with the national team, which is enough reason to keep him involved. Regardless of what has happened behind the scenes on the club level, his potential is still sky-high and he still tends to show up when actually on the field. Much like when Christian Pulisic was struggling at Chelsea, Reyna is worth keeping around, even if it's just to build him back up for when he returns to Dortmund.
JS: Probably not? More than anything, it's crucial to get him minutes with BVB and learn the path under Nuri Sahin. Understandably, minutes will come with the USMNT, but a spell with his manager while a lot of the senior stars are away with their countries may have been more to the benefit of him than playing in these friendlies.
Getty ImagesWho's your favorite to win the Ballon d'Or?
TH: Vini, Vini, and more Vini. Jude Bellingham probably has a decent shout here, but Vinicius provided a more impressive body of work over the course of the season, and showed up when it really mattered. Yes, Bellingham had more goal contributions, but Vinicius scored or assisted at every stage of the Champions League knockouts, and bagged a hat-trick in the Super Cup against Barcelona. Throw in the usual gamut of tricks, flicks, and stepovers, and there wasn't a better player in the game this year.
RT: To be honest, this really isn't the best year for this, is it? No one has made a truly definitive case as Champions League, Copa America and Euro glory was spread across a bunch of different players. We'll use this year to recognize a player that would normally go under the radar, though, by giving it to Rodri, who shined at the Euros and was a huge part of yet another dominant Manchester City campaign. He's the best No. 6 in the world and, for once, the Ballon d'Or is in a spot where it can recognize a player in that position.
JS: There are two ways to look at it. Who will be selected, and who rightfully deserves it? The gut says that Vini will walk away with the trophy, but the heart says it belongs to Rodri. He is nothing short of sensational every time he sets foot on the pitch, and is arguably the best midfielder in the world. Also, Cole Palmer. He is the way.