Christian Pulisic’s busy and productive season at Serie A side AC Milan certainly had U.S. men’s national team fans excited to see him this summer, but instead, the star attacker will be given a needed period of rest.
Pulisic was not included in Mauricio Pochettino’s 27-player roster for the upcoming June international window, which features a pair of home friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland, and the start of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The 26-year-old was one of several omissions from Pochettino’s roster, raising many eyebrows ahead of the USMNT’s final competitive tournament before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Pulisic has made 49 appearances for AC Milan this season across all competitions ahead of the Rossoneri’s Serie A finale on Sunday. One year after logging 51 appearances in his debut campaign in Italy, Pulisic is closing in on the 50+ appearance plateau for the second-straight season.
While having Pulisic in the squad makes the USMNT stronger overall, Pochettino defended giving his captain a break, with the hopes of having Pulisic fit and injury-free for the next 12+ months.
“Many people can say it’s really important for us to be all together for the last time before the World Cup,” Pochettino said in a press conference. “We decided the best for him, the best of the team, the best for the national team is the decision that we made.
“Sometimes we give too much importance knowing to be together and sometimes the group maybe sometimes doesn’t work in this way or build in this way..I think it is important to create this challenge,” he added. “I really believe that to build a team is about staying together, to have time to work, yes, but I think we cannot underestimate the player.”
The absence of Pulisic does open a major void in the heart of the USMNT’s attack, but will force other players to step up in his place. Midfielders Malik Tillman, Quinn Sullivan and Brenden Aaronson could all move higher upfield in Pulisic’s absence while forward Haji Wright is versatile enough to play out wide.
Pochettino ultimately wants the full squad to make the most of the upcoming opportunities this summer, especially knowing a productive window could help boost many players’ chances ahead of 2026.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for different players to have the chance to challenge and to try to get a place in one year’s time at the World Cup because I think that is really, really important for us,” Pochettino said. “I think that is for me the most important thing now we are working for the national team.”
The USMNT will face Turkey and Switzerland on June 7 and 10 respectively before opening group stage play at the Gold Cup on June 15.
i think he should be able to rest, and i think we should be putting every single player’s job up for competition. my issue is i don’t feel like the people we called are a serious effort to challenge the regulars, and the whole thing feels improvised.
like go into the roster list and start counting how many guys sound like attacking wings. it’s not many.
Pulisic: out, Herc Gomez says he’s been dealing with a hip injury
Musah: personal reasons/mental health???
Weah: CWC
Reyna: CWC
Paredes: Injured
Campbell: injured and CWC
Ferreira and Morris: CWC
Clark and Vassilev: looked pretty not it in January
Who are the attacking wing players that aren’t getting a chance?
—————-
I think you’re either going to see some sort of formation change with 2 strikers or you’re going to see Aaronson, Luna, Tillman, Luca (started as LW in 4-3-3 at Celta), or Sullivan deputize there. Even Arfsten started his career as a winger and subbed on their against Costa Rica. I know, I know “double booking.” The MF reads 2 6s, 3 8s, and then the 5 guys to play the 10 and two wings (plus Haji for a wing spot).
Abolutely love it!!! Having Christian Pulisic take a break (and Mckennie, Weah, Musah, Robinson, Sargent etc. not in camp) for the Gold Cup is a huge blessing in disguise for the USMNT. All we seem to know ssoooooo much about is our A-Listers and they have been really flat / TERRIBLE lately. Now its time for something new………with a whole tournament (and upcoming friendlies) to aid in the “new player” evaluation process.
With all our “top” players out of camp this gives openings for new possibilities and opportunities to surface. These players can give their all knowing, for the Gold Cup, they have a high chance to be selected to start…….which brings new life, motivation and drive within the team.
Also, with all these top league players gone there is no pressure on Pochettino to have a new team on the field….as USMNT fans (including myself lol!!!!!) wouldn’t understand why they are not playing, especially if the tournament is going sideways (which of late seems to be the norm) and Pulisic / McKennie / Weah / Musah are all on the bench chillin. BUT NOW IT’S SINK OR SWIM for the rest, no other way around it.
This is a great opportunity to now properly, efficiently and effectively valuate the rest of our player pool.
▪️ Does playing in Europe automatically make you better FOR THE USMNT?
▪️ Does coming off the bench REGULARLY for a top 3 league in the world mean you are better FOR THE USMNT than an MLS starter?
▪️ Are English Championship players better FOR THE USMNT or are they playing at a higher level than MLS starters?
▪️ Are Eredivisie players better FOR THE USMNT than MLS player?
▪️ Can player X actually play in position Y
There are a lot of things we are going to learn from this remaining pool of players in terms of their capabilities and limitations, and again I’m so glad Pulisic isn’t going to be playing because 1) He can rest and stay health for us and 2) We all know, without a shadow of a doubt, regardless of pass results, what Captain American brings to the table
MLS guys with big games leading into camp:
Luna goal
Agyemang 2g (made for rough night for Zawadzki)
Berhalter 1a (and drew hand ball penalty on another corner kick, really puts in a nice set piece ball)
White 2g
Luca goal
Freeman 3 chances created
Zimmerman first appearance since being kicked in the face April 5, 17 mins off the bench
Sullivan goal
Also Miles with a goal, but his team gave up 4 to ATL so maybe not a great day.
Ahh…I’ve so missed your patronizing way of expressing your opinions. Good times. It almost seems like you didn’t read my post other than the last paragraph. Go ahead and give it a reread, son. I might direct you to the second paragraph where I address briefly the points you claim to “over simplify” in your 13 paragraph response.
100% the right thing for both CP and the USMNT. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn’t thinking it through with the schedule or doesn’t understand high level sport. Haven’t we seen enough of our stars injured? And the media is acting so ridiculous, questioning players commitment, swearing doomsday because this is the last tourney before world cup,, and so on. We have NEVER sent the full A team to gold cup, the schedule just doesn’t work for euro players. The whole cohesion spiel by carlisle and others is silly too, CP, Jedi, and the guys missing are pros of the highest level, they will fit back into whatever scheme Poch comes up with just fine. Give these guys a **** break, and lets cheer on some players getting a deserved chance, and just maybe we come up with a handful that can help us next summer.
We used to always send a full strength USMNT to the GC, what are you talking about? And, I played high level sport so I do know that this is the wrong move, unless Pulisic is already carrying an injury that hasn’t been disclosed. He’s the captain, and if he’s not showing up for a tournament that should matter going into a WC year it’s not a good look. There are plenty of star players around the world that play full club seasons and in international games, and I never hear of them taking breaks. The problem is the USMNT has become less of a priority to this generation of players, and it shows on the field. I have a bad feeling about what’s about to happen at the WC next summer, but I hope to be proven wrong
RRonniet,
“We used to always send a full strength USMNT to the GC, what are you talking about?”
?? With all due respect, bullshit.
In 2015, after the Group stage, if the team moved on, you could replace, I believe, up to six players with alternates who had been on the original provisional roster. Often that meant a lot of the euros would rotate out.
When he was in MLS Clint went to three Gold Cups but in 2007, he signed with Fulham, played in that Gold Cup and did not play in the Gold Cup again until 2015 when he was back with Seattle.
“Pulisic is already carrying an injury that hasn’t been disclosed. He’s the captain, and if he’s not showing up for a tournament that should matter going into a WC year it’s not a good look. There are plenty of star players around the world that play full club seasons and in international games, and I never hear of them taking breaks. ”
That’ s ridiculous. It was not that long ago that Pulisic had his time at Chelsea ruined because he was injury prone. You want to push Pulisic until you see if he breaks?
“The problem is the USMNT has become less of a priority to this generation of players, and it shows on the field. ”
Bullshit.
USMNT fans refuse to acknowledge that the opposition has gotten better. Rather than the Golden Generation this should be the Goldilocks Generation. Not too hot, not too cold but just right in the middle, in other words, their results have been mediocre, which is what you can expect from the history on the USMNT. It’s a mediocre program.
Our guys went to Qatar. advanced out of their group and lost the first knockout game. Same as the 2014 and 2010 teams did. Same old, same old. And they did that in spite of questionable management. These guys won the first three iterations of the NL and then got upset this last go around and everyone is suddenly soiling their panties and panicking about taking on Haiti, TNT and Saudi Arabia.
“I have a bad feeling about what’s about to happen at the WC next summer, but I hope to be proven wrong”
You should have a bad feeling. The USMNT has an excellent chance of getting humiliated in the World Cup.
What was lost in all the feel good hype about Pochettino’s hiring was the fact that the USSF gave him a shit sandwich by waiting until Gregg had nearly scuppered the cycle by fucking up Copa America and therefore giving the new guy only one shot at getting this right, a big ask for any manager.
If you don’t know what I am talking about , think about how different the outlook for this team would be had they NOT rehired Gregg after Qatar but instead had hired the new guy right after Qatar.
Gregg was praised by his apologists for the great locker room culture he had established.
Remember that? I do.
Well it turns out that Gregg’s culture brings a losing mentality along with it. That should surprise no one as Gregg represented long time USSF good old boy culture and that culture is a losing one.
Pochettino may yet turn this around but if he does and the guys should get some kind of medal for doing so.
2015 GOLD CUP SQUAD
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 GK
Brad Guzan
9 September 1984 (aged 30) Aston Villa
2 DF
DeAndre Yedlin
9 July 1993 (aged 21) Tottenham Hotspur
3 DF
Omar Gonzalez
11 October 1988 (aged 26) LA Galaxy
4 MF
Michael Bradley
31 July 1987 (aged 27) Toronto FC
5 MF
Kyle Beckerman
23 April 1982 (aged 33) Real Salt Lake
6 DF
John Brooks
28 January 1993 (aged 22) Hertha BSC
7 MF
Alfredo Morales [USA 1]
12 May 1990 (aged 25) FC Ingolstadt
8 FW
Clint Dempsey
9 March 1983 (aged 32) Seattle Sounders FC
9 FW
Aron Jóhannsson
10 November 1990 (aged 24) AZ
10 MF
Mix Diskerud
2 October 1990 (aged 24) New York City FC
11 MF
Alejandro Bedoya
29 April 1987 (aged 28) Nantes
12 GK
Nick Rimando
17 June 1979 (aged 36) Real Salt Lake
13 DF
Ventura Alvarado
16 August 1992 (aged 22) América
14 DF
Greg Garza [USA 2]
16 August 1991 (aged 23) Tijuana
15 DF
Tim Ream
5 October 1987 (aged 27) Bolton Wanderers
16 DF
Brad Evans
20 April 1985 (aged 30) Seattle Sounders FC
17 FW
Jozy Altidore [USA 3]
6 November 1989 (aged 25) Toronto FC
18 FW
Chris Wondolowski
28 January 1983 (aged 32) San Jose Earthquakes
19 MF
Graham Zusi
18 August 1986 (aged 28) Sporting Kansas City
20 MF
Gyasi Zardes
2 September 1991 (aged 23) LA Galaxy
21 DF
Timothy Chandler
29 March 1990 (aged 25) Eintracht Frankfurt
22 GK
William Yarbrough
20 March 1989 (aged 26) León
23 MF
Fabian Johnson
11 December 1987 (aged 27) Borussia Mönchengladbach
Alternate players on Provisional List
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
FW
Juan Agudelo
23 November 1992 (aged 22) New England Revolution
25 DF
DaMarcus Beasley [USA 4]
24 May 1982 (aged 33) Houston Dynamo
DF
Matt Besler
11 February 1987 (aged 28) Sporting Kansas City
24 MF
Joe Corona [USA 5]
9 July 1990 (aged 24) Tijuana
MF
Brad Davis[USA 6]
8 November 1981 (aged 33) Houston Dynamo
26 FW
Alan Gordon [USA 7]
16 October 1981 (aged 33) LA Galaxy
GK
Bill Hamid
25 November 1990 (aged 24) D.C. United
MF
Perry Kitchen
29 February 1992 (aged 23) D.C. United
FW
Jordan Morris
26 October 1994 (aged 20) Stanford Cardinal
MF
Lee Nguyen
7 October 1986 (aged 28) New England Revolution
DF
Michael Orozco
7 February 1986 (aged 29) Puebla
DF
Brek Shea
28 February 1990 (aged 25) Orlando City SC
“Fair or unfair he will now be questioned.”
I’m sure he’s used to it by now.
If he tries to make things happen he’s a ball hog or plays too much hero ball.
If he’s not quite as active he’s lazy and selfish and not patriotic enough
He’s never been good enough and he was always going to be questioned.
They should just hand the arm band over to BA and tell him to run all day.
USMNT fans understand such obvious effort.
“Looking forward to seeing how the team does without some of our big guns.”
You’ve already seen how they did when suddenly deprived of Jedi, one very big gun.
Jedinwouldnt have made a difference. The entire team was disinterested in the Nations league. Poch has two weeks with this team before the tournament starts. I saw hiw the team played in January when Poch had a longer camp. And they played well.
Excuses keep flying in for European based players from you all.
i think the starters looked tired and inept in march, after being inept the summer before, and shaky often for years.
i think the regulars needed a break, but that break should have been used more forcefully to test other choices.
this doesn’t feel planned, it feels like improv. that’s poor communication. i then feel like the selection is MLS biased and fairly glib like some thrown together january camp list. berhalter? zawadski? white? this does not feel like we actually sat down and theorized if we give the leadership the tournament off, who do we want to look at. who are the next set of exciting players. it feels like they rotely called in recent U20s and people with MLS stats. there are a bunch of strikers, but few wings.
last, age group ball, U17 and U20 (and even olympics u23) are supposed to be more about identifying who can help the men’s team, than as ends in themselves. one reason the U20 and olympic teams have struggled, besides access, has been picking the youth teams clean of the best talent, eg reyna and pulisic were grabbed off U17 and never played U20.
i say that because if we’re short a few regulars, and i am looking at scrubby backs, and questionable MLS veteran choices, pull the U20s up and send someone else to youth worlds.
Playing guys who are not ready is a recipe for disaster. Kochen didn’t play well against 3rd Division players, Banks made repeated errors that got him benched the last three months, Campbell is injured and not released. How about the U20s? David Vazquez 0g 1a in MLS Pro, Birchimas is injured (6g in MLS Pro last season), Tskaris (also injured) 66 mls matches 1g 4a, Ruben Ramos 3g 1a in MLS Pro 0g0a for very bad LAG, Marcos Zambrano who knows because he has no stats anywhere. Pedro Soma 0g 2a in Spanish 3rd (plays as a 6/8), Noah Cobb spot starter for 14th place team in East, Nolan Norris has been decent for FCD as a LB, Goza made 5 straight starts for RSL RW with no goals or assists, Leo Duru played 8 matches in League Two for Barrow. Maybe the most ready and available (unlike Campbell who is hurt and with Dortmund at CWC so ready but not available) is Peyton Miller, but Arfsten and Jones are far more effective in the same league. The U17s Adams who had 9 g in one match against the US VI, has 3g in MLS Next Pro, Cavin Sullivan 260 minutes for Union 0g 0a been physically outmatched by USL teams in 2 US Open Cup matches, Mathis Albert was really good in regional competition U19 Bundesliga 6m 5g 1a, but when they moved into championship play against other top teams 10m 1g 2a. “ last, age group ball, U17 and U20 (and even olympics u23) are supposed to be more about identifying who can help the men’s team, than as ends in themselves.” They aren’t ready to help. Campbell is the only one, but he’s hurt and with Dortmund. There is not a Reyna or Pulisic playing regular successful minutes as teenager currently and forcing them to play at a level they aren’t at because Pulisic did is stupid.
I’ve been following this team pretty obsessively since 2002. I feel like I should be the most hyped ever for this team considering the club success they are having and the world class coach on the sidelines. However, it’s exactly the opposite. I have very little excitement. It’s really the lowest I can remember. Honestly I think Reyna’s really sucked the life out of this team. It’s really from that point on this team stop an upward trajectory (even if it wasn’t fast enough for some fans the trajectory was still upward) and have regressed. It’s really a bummer.
I’ve always been a country over club guy and I’ve always had the feeling that was in the player’s hearts too. Perhaps it comes with playing Champions League level football or with outer space sized salaries but it’s palatable how much “the best” players on this team have lost their zest for it. I’m beginning to understand the struggles of the Portugals, and Netherlands and Englands….all these teams have had teams to win everything and haven’t been able to get it done. I think we are experiencing why that is.
For the record – Pulisic should be playing in the GC. He should have played in the friendly against Mexico. There’s no negotiation on these two things in my mind. Now, I blame half of these decisions on Pochettino. And it makes me not super enthusiastic about him and I’m beginning to think only US coaches in the future. And I am super ok if it’s an old boys club hire.
MotO,
I’m oversimplifying it but you are way too young.
When LD was growing up, he has said that the ultimate for him and I assume a lot of other players of his generation, was the World Cup. There were no streaming services then. That was where the best soccer was and where the best players played. And that is exactly how LD lived his life and career.
He was a USMNT player first and foremost, who played in MLS to keep himself sharp for the USMNT. I’m sure there are Quakes and Galaxy fans with a lot of fond memories of his time there. While I saw LD in just about every USMNT game after the 2002 WC, I never saw him play for the Quakes or the Galaxy until Beckham came in and made watching the Galaxy more accessible. And I’ll bet there were a lot of USMNT fans like me.
For LD Club < Country
Fast forward to Dauphin county PA. Christian Pulisic grows up and the ultimate for him is the Champions League and the EPL. That is where the best football is played, not at the World Cup. And that is where the best players are. He lived over there as a teenager and the majority of soccer heroes that he is exposed to are non- Americans. Some of them might even get deported if they came to the US.
2022 – Best and most inspirational player is a American soccer product
2025 – Best and most inspirational player is a European soccer product
Talk to all the new young USMNT players and prospects and I think you will find that CP is an inspiration to all of them and a role model. Again this is an oversimplification but if they share his perspective what did you expect?
One more thing, guys like Weah and Gio make between 2- 3 million euros per season. LD did not make anywhere near that much until 2010-2011 when he was almost done. Why do you think Lalas is so jealous and envious of CP and his guys? I have said this many times but USMNT fans still don't seem to get it. The USMNT only borrows players. They are someone else's property. Yes the USSF pays them but it's nothing compared to what they can make with their club.
Imagine for moment that CP goes to the Gold Cup and pulls his infamous hamstrings. Imagine further that his reps are seriously shopping him to a variety of Milan alternatives. Remember that he had his Chelsea career ruined because he was injury prone. Teams remember this stuff and it would likely either ruin any deal or at least drive his price down.
And if he stays at Milan an injury at the Gold Cup which is right before Milan's pre-season means CP could get off to a bad start. His season could turn into shit very quickly. And the USMNT does not want that for CP's last season before the World Cup.
I don't doubt that CP and all the other tattooed softy millionaires want to play for their country as badly as LD or any of his guys.
It's just that doing so is a little more complicated for the current USMNT euros.
The one thing that this really proves is what a joke the Gold Cup is. Would any South American player opt out of Copa America, or a Euro player opt out of the Euros.
The Gold Cup was always a pretty weak tournament, but the Nations League has reduced its status even further.
Euros and Copa America are never the summer before a WC. That’s a big difference. I’m assuming the prize money is pretty different too.
Gold Cup is also held every two years, which waters it down.
Didnt Landon Donovan do something like this too?
At least he isnt”retiring” like Giggs did for Wales.
I don’t remember Landon ever opting out of a national team callup (could be wrong on that, though).
I do remember him coming home from Europe to play in MLS. Maybe that’s what you’re thinking of?
Landon skipped the first 6 qualifiers for 2014 WCQ Hexagonal (Jan-June 2013).
I didn’t remember that.
Anyway, Jurgen got him back by not picking him for the World Cup.
People forget that JK got permission for basically one signing in his first window at Bayern. He used it on Landon. That failed epically with the sporting director famously saying something to the effect that LD wasn’t good enough to play on their U23 team during his time there. JK got fired and Van Gaal got a big budget to put Bayern back on top. JK lost trust in him then. He used him in the 2013 GC and fall qualifiers but when Landon had a slow start for LAG in 2014 and a poor performance against Mexico in the lead up JK had flashbacks of the ineffective LD of the Bayern days and left him home.
@JR, I dig your posts, but dude, I forget none of it. Landon was called back in by JK and won the Gold Boot at the Gold Cup and generally studded out in the uniform at the tournament, was the best player in the tournament, but JK’s epically limp manhood as a coach (he has proven he sucks) showed it’s epically famous jelly spine, and he chose the likes of, well, remember? Super fail. Why? because of what you said about that signing, and JK’s weak spine vindictiveness, did not want Landon to play in World Cup number 4, score in his 3rd World Cup (know how many have done that–few, but it includes Der Klinsmann). JK’s ego was and is totally out of control. Great player, where it served him very well, pathetic coach where it undermined everything; how can the team be first when it’s all about Jurgen? nice recipe to tear down the locker room from within, his biggest impactful accomplishment
It’s maddening how JK could both overthink and underthink most decisions he made. Yes, LD had gone 11 games to start the season without a goal, which could give any manager pause for 32 yr old wing player? But then failed to ask is the replacement better? Diskerud, Davis, Bedoya, or Green? JK was so “prepping” for 2018 with young players (Brooks, Yedlin, Green, Timmy Ch, Mix, ArJo) that he forgot that it was also about winning in 2014. Bringing LD would have also helped when ArJo and Altidore went down at start of the tournament.
JR
“It’s maddening how JK could both overthink and underthink most decisions he made. “Yes, LD had gone 11 games to start the season without a goal, which could give any manager pause for 32 yr old wing player? “
You are overthinking the situation a little bit. To get back on the team, LD had to earn JK’s trust. He had to show JK how having him on the team gave him a better chance to win. As you pointed out, LD had already helped get JK fired once.
In the end, LD did not do enough to earn back JK’s trust.
By the time the 2013 Gold Cup rolled around and Landon came back, they had become JJ/ Michael and Clint’s team. I can’t remember if they had already qualified for the WC but they were well on their way him without him.
LD, the so-called best player and talisman, had run out on the team and the new manager when they most needed him. And not only did he not say WHEN he was returning he hinted that he might retire from soccer.
That’s not a break, a vacation.
That’s just I’m out of here.
Imagine CP telling Pochettino I’m retiring from the USMNT and football. I don’t know when or even if I’m coming back.
Remember also that JK did not have the four years because Sunil had let Bob hang around until the 2011 Gold Cup before axing him. JK had it better than Pochettino but he did not have a lot of time to waste. So JK and the team moved on. In the Denver Snow Bowl they beat Costa Rica and finally won a big game w/o LD around. It was then where I believe they proved to themselves that they didn’t need LD anymore.
“Remember that LD had tio impress He failed too impress But then failed to ask is the replacement better? Diskerud, Davis, Bedoya, or Green?
“JK was so “prepping” for 2018 with young players (Brooks, Yedlin, Green, Timmy Ch, Mix, ArJo) that he forgot that it was also about winning in 2014. “
I disagree.
1. ArJo and Davis came up injured
2. Brooks scored the winning goal vs Ghana. A very big win.
3. Yedlin was a key offensive sub in the latter part of games
4. Green scored a goal vs Belgium that gave us a chance to draw and take it to penalties.
5. Chandler and Mix DNP but that’s not unusual on a WC squad.
“Bringing LD would have also helped when ArJo and Altidore went down at start of the tournament.”
That assumes they were going to get the best version of LD and that is open to debate. He was never Gio off the bench. He has often stated how he never saw the point of going somewhere if you weren’t going to play. He hated sitting on the bench.
And if you think Gio caused a lot of drama imagine what an unhappy, on the bench LD could do to stir things up. Are you kidding me?
The guy that that JK really missed, the one who would have made up for Jozy, was not LD. It was Eddie Johnson who had been great for the USMNT when he was with Seattle and then melted down over money got himself traded to DC and sank into obscurity.
Some people, including Landon, thought that LD was entitled to his spot and that all he had to do was come back, make some apologies and show he was somewhat fit. Then if you put him on the team he would work his way back into his former greatness.
I don’t think it was that straightforward.
I thought that he had to go the extra mile and dominate the 2013 Gold Cup to prove his exceptional talent was still there. He had to dominate the Gold Cup to prove his worth.
When the new boss came to town other veterans felt the need to prove themselves to JK; why should LD be any different? Clint went on loan to Fulham, DMB immediately agreed to play left back even though, as he later said, he hated the idea.
LD had a nice Gold Cup, but he always has a nice Gold Cup. Weak teams, crap opponents. He did not dominate. He scored 5 goals but so did Wondo. I thought he looked fat, slow and tentative.
V: Davis was hurt? You’ve got a better memory than me. He dressed every game. Davis played 59 minutes, JAB 45, Greene 15, Mix 0, Timmy 0. Of the youth JK brought Green, Mix, and Chandler were gone by 2017, Brooks was a major part of the qualifying debacle losing the first two (significantly to blame for the 4-0 in CR) then got hurt. Of those youth players only Yedlin would be around for our next WC 2022 playing 31 minutes. Maybe bringing LD would have been short sighted, but JK’s youth movement brought him nothing in WC qualifying or in future WCs. The only silverware those guys got was Yedlin and JAB in inaugural NL, 6 years later. Because none of them played in 2017 GC and we failed qualifying 2018 and lost 2019 GC. Yedlin lost 2023 GC. I don’t really think 32 yr old Landon makes a difference in Brazil. Germany and Belgium were just significantly better than we were at basically every position.
JR
“V: Davis was hurt? You’ve got a better memory than me. He dressed every game. Davis played 59 minutes, ”
My mistake. Not hurt but my understanding was that he had the flu or some kind of flu like disease and that’s one reason why he only got 59 minutes vs. Germany.
One other reason might be that , given how things were, by the time we played Germany, the only way we and Germany were NOT getting out of the group was if Germany beat us 5-0. and Ghana came back to beat Portugal by a lot of goals. Point is, we had to keep a pretty conservative game at 1-0.
“JAB 45, Greene 15, Mix 0, Timmy 0. Of the youth JK brought Green, Mix, and Chandler were gone by 2017, Brooks was a major part of the qualifying debacle losing the first two (significantly to blame for the 4-0 in CR) then got hurt. Of those youth players only Yedlin would be around for our next WC 2022 playing 31 minutes. Maybe bringing LD would have been short sighted, but JK’s youth movement brought him nothing in WC qualifying or in future WCs. The only silverware those guys got was Yedlin and JAB in inaugural NL, 6 years later. Because none of them played in 2017 GC and we failed qualifying 2018 and lost 2019 GC. Yedlin lost 2023 GC. I don’t really think 32 yr old Landon makes a difference in Brazil. Germany and Belgium were just significantly better than we were at basically every position.”
That is all fair and reasonable.
However, unlike you I judge JK and any manager by what he did in the 2014 World Cup and my judgement ends with that tournament. There’s no tomorrow. And my judgement on the LD issue is that the chances were excellent that LD would have been a club house lawyer and made the Reynas look like a pleasant diversion. The USMNT was not his team anymore and it always had been. When he was held accountable in his career, at Leverkusen and at Munich, he simply took his ball and went home.
Look at the World Cup over history and it is extremely rare to find a team that uses the World Cup as part of a “development plan” for their team. The 4- year time span kind of screws up that idea.
Of course, Spain won the Euros in 2008, WC in 2010, Euros again in 2012 and 2024. It might have worked out that way but I doubt that was their primary intention. Teams like Spain, the plan is win everything, every time, all the time.
That’s why you see so many WC teams with guys in the 32-36 range. JK was 33 when he played his last World Cup and scored 3 goals. Teams like that don’t let you play in the World Cup to give you experience. They let you play because they think you can help them win. Not everyone on a 23-26 man roster will play, but they better be able to play if called on.
If giving you experience was a really good idea then Pochettino should pick a 90 % MLS roster with almost no Euros since all of them will be too old by 2030.
Can you truly count on Pulisic to deliver in 2026? That will be a question on every USMNT fans lips. Fair or unfair he will now be questioned.
Looking forward to seeing how the team does without some of our big guns.
“Fair or unfair he will now be questioned.”
I’m sure he’s used to it by now.
If he tries to make things happen he’s a ball hog or plays too much hero ball.
If he’s not quite as active he’s lazy and selfish and not patriotic enough
He’s never been good enough and he was always going to be questioned.
They should just hand the arm band over to BA and tell him to run all day.
USMNT fans understand such obvious effort.
“Looking forward to seeing how the team does without some of our big guns.”
You’ve already seen how they did when suddenly deprived of Jedi, one very big gun.
100% weak sauce. No heart…
101% baseless opinion. No clue…
I’d say that it’s disappointing that Pulisic is opting out, and I don’t necessarily understand it. To me, when your national team calls, you show up. Wearing the shirt is a privilege, not an entitlement.
But I wouldn’t question Pulisic’s heart. He gives his all for the national team, and he’s made it clear that playing for the United States is important to him. He has scored some big goals for the United States. I think he’s entitled to a little slack here.
I also think that Pulisic is going through something with Milan right now. I’ve read that they offered him an extension, but he hasn’t signed yet. He may be focusing on switching clubs, and wants to be free to deal with that.
Where else to improve your worth than on the field.
Also, he will fail again in the PL. Too weak on the ball, not enough dribble, not fast enough…
johnny99,
Looking back on the history of the Gold Cup, you will find a lot of our euros opting out over the years.
The Nations League gave a euro based USMNT player a chance to participate in two summer tournaments in which he can avoid resting and increase his chances of getting injured.
If they have a choice, the NL is now the preferred tournament of the two for our Euros. Most play only in one.
WHY?
1. Some people think rest is not important and that the players are paid so much that they are robots and should play 24/7/365.
Others think that any post-season tournament happens when your player should be resting and recovering. Participation in any summer tournament increases the wear and tear on your body. Everyone is different, of course but that wear, and tear increases the chances of an injury for everyone.
Remember when Pulisic and Tyler could not step on the field without pulling a hamstring and being out for a few weeks?
I do
Remember when Gio was healthy and fit?
I don’t
2. The Nations League happens shortly after the European season ends. That means most of our Euros are still in “game shape.” This lessens the chance for injury.
3. The Gold Cup happens later in the summer when our euros are “out of shape”. At best, a euro will use it to begin getting into shape. Chances are, the Gold Cup is not an ideal environment to get into game shape for your club. Most euros have preseason camps for that purpose that start when the Gold Cup ends.
Clint Dempsey has a long history with the Gold Cup. He moved to Fulham in the 2006-2007 season and played in the 2007 Gold Cup. He did not play in it again until 2015 when he was with Seattle.
At the time he was called selfish, money hungry and unpatriotic. It was one reason why so many fans rated LD above him on the REAL AMERICAN Patriotic meter.
I may be in the minority, but I don’t think Clint is an unpatriotic selfish, greedy player probably because I saw him just about kill himself in his World Cup and Confederation Cup appearances.