The list of the national male team of the United States of 23 men from Mauricio Pochettino has some significant developments before facing Panama on Thursday at 7 pm et in Paramount+ in the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League. The coach confirmed that Antonee Robinson, Johnny Cardoso and Auston Trusty are the players who will not be available due to injury problems. They will be replaced on the team by Jack McGlynn, Brian Gutiérrez and Max Arfsten.
“For different reasons, medical reasons, they are not here and that is difficult to explain why I’m not a doctor,” said Pochettino.
With these additions, Pochettino will bring more players involved in the January camp, where the USMNT defeated Venezuela and Costa Rica. There are currently nine players on the list that were in that camp where Pochettino could see what USMNT’s national talent could do, and now they will have the opportunity to demonstrate if they are ready for the next steps in their international races.
Taking into account the proximity and growing familiarity of Pochettino with the contingent of the MLS of the USMNT, it makes sense that many of these players are nationally added in the short term, but also shows the importance of the January camp to build the depth of the equipment.
While there are more players to choose in Europe than ever, with those players near the end of an exhausting season, it only makes sense that injuries can arise at times like this. There is also the time factor with only three days of training before the semifinals begin.
So how do they fix them without Robinson, easily the most impressive American abroad this season that is not called Christian Pulisic?
Face without Robinson
Robinson has 50 caps and has become one of the first names on the USMNT team sheet, in addition to becoming one of the best left in the Premier League with Fulham. His 10 assists have been important to push the cottagers through the field and their athletics has also allowed Pochettino to use it by entering the center of the field to boost the forward attack.
Without Sergino Dig already, how the USMNT will continue that in the Nations League game will now become a key story. Arfsten is a promising player for Columbus’s crew and is able to raise the field as an end, but balance the attack and defensive responsibilities is key.
The USMNT has only won one of the last five camp games that are not from January that have played without Robinson, a 4-0 victory over Ghana and the attack not only lacks a blow without Fulham’s man, but the defense also suffers a problem for Pochettino.
This is where depth enters because at this time, there is no replacement for Robinson in the list. At the end of the Nations League game, be it a major problem or the USMNT will find a way of dealing with it, since Pochettino improves the depth of the team. These are the types of things that you will need to overcome on the road to the 2026 World Cup, so it is good to start those challenges in a competitive match as soon as possible.
USMNT list
Goalkeepers (3): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 30/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 49/0)
Defensores (7): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/Sco; 18/0), Marlon Fossey (Liege/Bel standard; 1/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/Fra; 17/0), Tim Reas (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Ger; 19/0)
Midfielders (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 42/2), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire; 2/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 3/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/Ita; 58/11), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/Ger; 31/8), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon/French; 6;
Forward (7): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 2/2), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 3/1) Yunus Musah (AC Milan/Ita; 45/1), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/Ita; (Juventus/Ita; Ita; (Vancouver Whitecaps/Can; 3/1)
