The U.S. Men’s National Team made 10 additions ahead of a pair of European based friendlies, and there are a number of intriguing faces joining camp for the final matches before the World Cup.
Zack Steffen, William Yarbrough, Shaq Moore, Tim Parker, DeAndre Yedlin, Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, Kenny Saief, Wil Trapp and Bobby Wood joined camp ahead of the USMNT’s pair of friendlies against Ireland and France. The matches promise to be steps up in competition in the aftermath of the USMNT’s 3-0 win over Bolivia on Monday.
While many of the team’s youngest stars like Weston McKennie, Josh Sargent, Timothy Weah and Matt Miazga were already in camp, the crop of new additions bring some intriguing stoylines to watch.
At goalkeeper, Zack Steffen and William Yarbrough only add to a goalkeeping competition that includes Bill Hamid, Ethan Horvath and Alex Bono. As things stand, there’s no clear-cut No. 1, although Steffen and Hamid seem to be the frontrunners for a consistent job.
In defense, the U.S. adds another young fullback in Shaq Moore as well as a veteran leader in DeAndre Yedlin. With a somewhat new face in Tim Parker also in the fold, could we see the long-awaited three-at-the-back experiment or will Miazga and Cameron Carter-Vickers continue on as partnership?
The midfield picture adds a number of options, with Tyler Adams once again joining up to provide plenty of energy. Wil Trapp also competes for a central spot while Luca de la Torre and Kenny Saief look to prove themselves as playmakers heading into the next cycle.
And then there’s Bobby Wood, a player very much in need of a confidence boost. The forward scored a goal against Paraguay in his last USMNT match but, after a rough season with Hamburg, Wood is a player that needs a positive change.
With that said, which player are you most excited to see? What players and positions will you be watching?
Vote in the poll below and discuss in the comment section:
[polldaddy poll=10018538]
Shaq Moore is getting minutes in La Liga. I have never seen the guy play.
Is anyone getting slightly worried that Jonathan Amon might turn into another Jonathan Gonzalez, especially considering he hasn’t played for the US at any youth level other than one recent camp? He’s definitely accomplished more than de la Torre and some others who recently got called up. I’m just hoping he’s more unaware of that fact than, say, the Nigerian FA might be.
I think he is currently struggling with a hamstring issue.
“Is anyone getting slightly worried that Jonathan Amon might turn into another Jonathan Gonzalez…?” You mean change his international affiliation then get hosed when his new team leaves him off their WC roster? No sir, I am not…
Yes at 19 he’ll never have another chance at playing in a World Cup.
I think he was in the January mega camp or whatever they called it with the u16- u20s, and I think he was called up to the last u20 camp but wasn’t released
His brother played for the U.S., his mom is American, and his dad immigrated here at a very young age. I would be pretty shocked if he went that route, tbh.
Because I think Adams, along with McKennie and maybe even Parks, will be a mainstay of our central midfield for the next World Cup cycle, I want to see all three of them on the field at the same time for extended minutes. I would say Saief is second because he is still such an unknown to me personally as a fan.
I like Adams energy but his skill is not on parr with Mckennie or Parks. Adams needs minutes at “a position.” He is such a wild card as to where he fits I’m interested to see how he plays.
I am also interested in all the wide players (LB/RB and wide midfielders) and how they play defending in transition, overlap going forward, and holding the ball in wide areas. Saief looks the part from previous performances.
Sounds like Adams would benefit from a stint in Europe where he could get playing time.