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Zimmerman withdraws from USMNT camp due to injury

Walker Zimmerman has been forced to withdraw from U.S. Men’s National Team duty due to injury.

U.S. Soccer announced the news on Monday following Zimmerman’s injury in Sunday’s MLS regular season finale with LAFC. Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson has been added to Gregg Berhalter’s squad in place of Zimmerman, after originally being named to the U.S. Under-23 roster.

Zimmerman was injured in the 66th minute of LAFC’s match against the Colorado Rapids. He made 25 league appearances for the Supporters’ Shield winners this season, scoring one goal and adding one assist.

Zimmerman was expected to fight for starting minutes in this month’s Concacaf Nations League matches against Cuba and Canada.

In addition, USMNT and Toronto FC forward Jozy Altidore will be evaluated following his injury in yesterday’s win over the Columbus Crew.

The USMNT faces Cuba on Friday in D.C. before traveling next week to face Canada at BMO Field.

Comments

  1. If Altidore is out is he replaced? Already have two CFs. Is Toye or Soto brought from U23 camp? That would leave U23s with only one striker so I’d guess not.

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  2. I watched the LA-COL game and Zimmerman was clearly unconscious before he hit the ground hard. If the MLS is taking concussion recovery seriously, he may be unable to return even for LA’s next game over 2 weeks from now.

    People were arguing Zimmerman shouldn’t start for the USMNT now it is clear he will not. That means a backup is needed, but it is late to get an MLS or Mexican league player released. The exceptions would be MLS players from any of the teams not in a playoff spot. Downside is I don’t think there is an obvious choice there. GB might take some random Crew player.

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    • They’ve already said Robinson will take his place. Doubt they’ll replace a U23 since they only have one match.
      —————
      November will be harder with MLS guys on vacation and not in regular training.

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  3. Ventura Alvarado is captaining Necaxa to second place in Liga MX (a better league than MLS)…. So what exactly should he do to make himself known to Berhalter? Like, if not that, what does it take? This is so frustrating.

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    • to me there is a hint that at least one chunk of the so-called U23s is actually a B team. it’s not one of a few older players including alvarado. it’s a guy who in theory is necessary to a U23 camp, already called there. that suggests, along with him calling people for U23 who likely won’t get released, that it is serving both as true U23 — at positions like keeper — but also as B team sop to ambitious players he doesn’t yet rate enough.

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      • i say that in part because calling people in who won’t be released, or letting them be cannibalized for the senior team injury replacements, while beneficial to the Nats, and serving other purposes, is somewhat at odds with a goal of reversing the U23s qualifying failures. i am fine with us saying the senior team matters, i am just saying this particular decision tends to expose priorities.

    • James: these types of decisions need to be made in advance, you can’t just call Necaxa on Monday morning and say we want Ventura. Fifa regulations prohibit it.
      IV: see my answer above, then the U23s are only playing one match so depth is not as big of issue to pull from. Miles is already accustomed to the NT from last camp, travel is not a big issue being already in the US. It’s not some conspiracy it’s the only choice that really works on that short of notice. US Soccer has talked about how they’ve been working with clubs to secure releases. The players on this U23 squad will be released in March unless they move to another club. MLS will release because it’s the beginning of the season the Euro players included are on reserve or youth teams. If Mendez or someone else moves to the first team that changes of course. That’s likely why you don’t see CCV or ARobinson on this roster their first teamers they won’t be released unless Concacaf allows changes to rosters were guys could come just during the international break.
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      Look at this years U20 WC just about everyone was released whereas in 2017 there were more than a handful of players who were not.

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    • I agree James we need Alvorado. But Beerholder i??‍♂️?is probably gonna 9 times out of 10 call up Omar Own Goal Gonzalez. ⚽???‍♂️??‍♂️

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      • As I explained above and last night it can’t happen at this point. Clubs have to be notified in advance per FIFA.

      • I read that as sarcasm. Think Gold Cup when Lletget got hurt, so they had to call someone else so that meant there was no room for Sargent anymore so we got Zardes instead.

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