Roster announced and yes Pulisic is injured. DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals) GOALKEEPERS (3): Alex Bono (Toronto FC/CAN; 1/0), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge/BEL; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 3/0) DEFENDERS (9): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 33/3), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Swansea City/WAL; 4/0), Eric Lichaj (Hull City/ENG; 15/1), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Matt Miazga (Nantes/FRA; 7/1),Shaq Moore (Reus Deportiu/ESP; 2/0), Tim Parker (New York Red Bulls; 2/0), Antonee Robinson (Wigan Athletic/ENG; 2/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 52/0) MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 17/1), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; 5/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 16/2), Julian Green (Greuther Fürth/GER; 10/4), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 3/1), Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 4/1), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 6/0), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain; 3/1) FORWARDS (3): Andrija Novakovich (Fortuna Sittard/NED; 2/0), Bobby Wood (Hannover 96/GER; 39/12), Gyasi Zardes (37/6; Columbus Crew SC)
Brazil, Friday September 7, 19:30 ET, FS1 Mexico, Tuesday September 11, 20:30 ET, ESPN It’s interesting that some of the predicted call-ups were so far off. Erik Palmer-Brown was said - by his own team - to be invited. Bradley and Jozy were strongly reported to be involved. I’m excited to see pretty much every defender that I’d like to see called in on the list. It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, clicks with Brooks in the middle. Moore and Robinson on the outside for some much needed experience. The midfield also has pretty everyone it needs (besides Pulisic obviously). I would like to see Adams, McKennie, and Weah on the field together with Trapp holding it down. Also curious to see Lletget again as his other call up was quite successful before being cut short. I’m not impressed up front. While Wood has performed for country, he’s been pretty terrible for club. I haven’t seen enough of Novakovich to have much of an opinion and Zardes is a total wild card. He’s hot now but has been wildly inconsistent in the US fold. I saw a lot of hype for Emmanuel Sabbi (20) and Jonathon Amon(19), but it might be a little early for these two. Definitely two players to keep an eye on though. Brazil named a very strong side so I’m not expecting much of a result there. Mexico’s squad contains a few young guys so it may be a closer match on Tuesday. The most important outcome for the Americans though is that Tim Ream gets healthy.
I agree. Even if Zardes starts with him, I think Bobby Wood is going to be a very lonely man at the top. P.S. Do we have a coach yet?
Sounds like Sarachan through the end of the year which makes me believe it will be an MLS coach once the season ends (Berhalter?).
Lineups: USMNT: Steffan; Robinson, Brooks, Miazga, Yedlin; Trapp; Green, McKennie, Adams, Arriola; Wood. Bench: Bono, Carter-Vickers, Zardes, Roldan, Weah, Lichaj, Parker, Acosta, Delgado. BRAZIL: Alisson; Fabinho, Marquinhos, Silva, Luís; Fred, Casemiro, Coutinho; Costa, Firmino, Neymar.
Robinson was punished early for a great example of poor man marking = 0-1 Patented Brazil dive conned the ref for the penalty = 0-2 Having said that, Brazil were different class, and we didn't trouble them very much. I get the "play the kids" thing, but as long as they're their only teammates, they learn nothing. Our veteran players did NOT let us down leading up to the WC. It was incredible poor management by JK and Arena that kept us out of Russia. This stigma is encouraged by US Soccer because it obsolves them of blame. The announcing team is toeing the party line as well. "Bobby Wood hasn't scored a league goal all season," toned my fellow ex-Terp. THIS e-Terp yells "They've played TWO matches, you @$%@%$@" The problem continues to be US Soccer as evidenced by their inability or unwillingness to sign a national team coach. I'll continue to watch us, but the international side of US football is completely dysfunctional. Rant over.
I've pretty much decided that we're a non-factor in world football until we at least start competing well against Brasil. It seems like they kick our ass every time, and without breaking much of a sweat.
The US is a non-factor on the world stage at a consistent level. If we’re honest with ourselves the very best field players the US has ever produced (Dempsey and Donovan) would probably never have played, or at least played regularly, in important matches for the best national teams around globe. There is a reason the US is really only known for grit raising a squad above its technical abilities. Our superstars have never become world superstars. Regardless, I will always hope the US will find that special chemistry that makes me proud to root for them.
I stopped watching after Mandon's goal. This match featured work by CD9 -- our biggest might-have-been -- sigh
You’re correct. But perhaps naively, I think we can take that next step within a generation. First things first, though. We have a lot of work to do in the next year or two.
The second goal v Brazil ranks in my Top 5 all-time US goals, counter-attack to its utmost perfection. I know it’s just a ‘friendly’ and most of these players were toddlers to youngsters in 2001, but it’s 9/11, it’s a sacred day, I expect the team in the US jerseys to play 90 minutes with their hearts on their sleeves. EDIT: Pretty ugly, but will gladly take 1-0 win. At least the intensity and effort were there.
Good match over all -- made when Miazga got shirty followed by the Red Card. Not to wear out my tune, but I think we've seen the kids enough and it's time to see how they play with the experienced US internationals. Otherwise, we're developing a fine U-23 team. Classic Ian Darke-ism late in the match, "Mexico are on the crest of a slump."
I loved the Miazga moment as it was so stupid and not the greatest trash talking, but the Mexican players (helped get that red card), fans and media have lost their sh!t over it. And that cracks me up.
