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Weston McKennie suspended for USMNT – Canada after violating team COVID protocols

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The U.S. men’s national team is taking on Canada in a crucial Concacaf World Cup qualifier on Sunday night, and will do so without one of its most important players due to the violation of a team policy.

Weston McKennie is out for Sunday’s qualifier in Nashville, and the Juventus midfielder revealed on Instagram that he was suspended after violating COVID protocols.

The USMNT was already dealing with the absence of Gio Reyna due to a hamstring injury, and Zack Steffen due to back spasms, but will now be without another of its most influential players.

This isn’t McKennie’s first time running afoul of COVID protocols. He was suspended by Juventus after hosting a party with teammates and 20 guests at his home in April, which forced him to miss the Turin Derby against Torino.

Sebastian Lletget and Kellyn Acosta have been deployed in central midfield, with Brenden Aaronson shifting to the right wing to replace Reyna.

McKennie could also be forced to miss the USMNT road match against Honduras on Wednesday.


What do you think of this development?

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Comments

  1. It’s a good thing he’s an athlete because he is a complete and utter moron. He got suspended from is club for doing the same dumb shit.

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  2. TBH I’d really like to know all the facts before passing judgment. With that being said, if we assess his previous issues (April covid party and unknown issues now with Allegri – there seems to be something going on at Juve we don’t know about?), plus whatever is going on now. I think we can assume there’s reoccurring immaturity issues that may not reflect well on his professionalism.

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  3. Unacceptable. This kid, and he clearly is an fn kid, needs to be sent back to Italy. You are with ure national team for a week. A must win at home. You break team rules. Go back to Italy and try to win ure starting spot back.
    These kids for all the confident talk they bring, havent done anything national team wise yet. Congrats, uve scored some friendly goals.

    Btwn this and Adams. Tyler played a great game once again except really cost us on a valuable counter with his stupid travel league shoulder check. This is qualifying boys and ure about to lose it.

    PS Berhalter, Roldan’s already capped.
    Brings him in instead of the hottest young striker in america. Love it

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  4. Not enough folks are talking about Tyler Adams’ petulant foul that stopped a breakaway in the 2H. That’s two really selfish moments – one on the field and one assumed to have occurred with McKennie (maybe, and it’s a big maybe, McKennie wasn’t selfish – hard to tell with little news of the circumstances). Landon, DeMarcus, Clint, All those guys took so many cheap shots over the years and found their moments to respond. Really poor by Adams. Really poor by McKennie. Poor by veteran leadership all around. Berhalter deserves the most criticism – starts with the tone you’re setting. Something feels rotten here, and the summer wins are probably covering it up.

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  5. Going to be interesting to see if he makes the trip. It should be pretty obvious to coach and the players if McKennie’s immaturity issues are going to be an ongoing issue or if this should snap him back to being focused on wcq. If the later he goes to Honduras, if not, send him home. He shouldn’t get any other get of jail cards moving forward.
    Chemistry is an issue for this team (in general & in the final third) He is either part of the solution as a leader or someone else is needed to fill that spot. I’d rather have him in…but not if he isn’t 100% in.
    That said, it’s alarming that we lack any creativity in final third. Not sure if this is a formation issue or something else on personnel. You would think the attacking options of pulisic, renya, arronson, would be enough to cover for an unproven #9…but maybe not.

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  6. Send him home and don’t use him again until he shows that he has matured. Like I said yesterday, Berhalter has to clamp down on selfish players. BTW, after Weah was pronounced out due to injury, I urged Berhalter to bring in another player to fill that vacancy. What happens, I wrote, if we suffer another injury during the either of the first games? Well, it has happened and Berhalter has shown to be very shortsighted.

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  7. Sloppy w the ball….sloppy in life.

    Weston is becoming less enthusiastic leader, and more spoiled immature boy by the day.

    Our Euro superstars do not seem very reliable….or seious about the Nats,.

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    • I think you nailed it with the Euro Stars …… little injuries…. oopsI need to be ready for Europe….I hurt myself… Berhalter needs to go. Complete lack of leadership and maturity. None of them with the exception of John Brooks is a full 90 player automatically penciled in starter in Europe. Wonder why? They are close but still lack the quality and mental and physical maturity to start week in and week out.

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      • Brooks was caught ball watching on Canada’s goal. The attacker was so left alone that you or I could have put it in. It isn’t as if no one knew the guy could be dangerous.

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