With the World Cup looming and some injuries impacting training, Mauricio Pochettino challenged to put puzzle together
AUSTIN, Texas – It's not quite a full-strength U.S. men's national team, but it's close. Mauricio Pochettino promised that this October camp would be the start of a whittling-down process for the World Cup. He's delivered. Save for a few injury absences, this USMNT is looking closer to complete as it features most of the team's big stars.
Antonee Robinson, for example, is back after close to a year-long absence. Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann and Cameron Carter-Vickers are back for the first time since the CONCACAF Nations League. Malik Tillman is healthy, too, after missing September. This approaching the A-team and, while that's great news, obviously, it also creates some tough selection decisions.
But late Injuries, meanwhile, could impact the XI, too, as Pochettino said Thursday that Robinson, Christian Pulisic and Alex Zendejas are all dealing with minor issues. Beyond that, after making a move to a three-at-the-back system last camp, Pochettino has some choices to make.
There are talented players to place in different spots. How does he sort between them? Which players fit where, and what pieces might need to move depending on tactics?
GOAL projects how the USMNT could line up on Friday against Ecuador.
Getty Images SportGK: Matt Freese
Pochettino could go with the returning Matt Turner, it just depends on what message he wants to send. If Turner starts, it's a clear indication that the goalkeeping race is back on and that Freese isn't, in fact, the defacto leader. If Freese starts, it's a show of confidence in the NYCFC shotstopper that he's the guy – at least for now.
Given the need to keep building Freese, it makes the most sense to roll with him and continue giving him the confidence and minutes needed to be a No. 1. Turner, then, could start then start next week against Australia, if Pochettino desires.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesLWB: Max Arfsten
There were already concerns about throwing Robinson in here given his recent injury history, but realistically, if he was to play minutes in either game, this would have made the most sense. He could then have more than a week to properly gear up for Fulham's match at Arsenal, keeping him on a one-game-per-week cadence as he builds back to fitness.
However, Robinson didn't work with the team in the final pre-game training session. As a result, don't expect Pochettino to risk him. Give Arfsten the minutes and see what happens for the match against Australia next Tuesday.
Getty Images SportCB: Tim Ream
The most likely candidate to wear the captain's armband on Friday, Ream can once again start in one of those outside centerback spots in the back three. It's a great system for him, in truth, as it takes advantage of his passing and game-reading abilities while helping mask some of the miles that have been put on his legs over the years.
Pochettino could, of course, mix things up with a younger option in this spot, but it's worth putting at least one more game of Ream in a back three on film before trying out other options. In that sense, it might as well be the tougher game of the two.
Getty ImagesCB: Chris Richards
No need to over-explain this one. Richards is, quite possibly, the USMNT's most irreplaceable player. He's made himself a locked-in starter, whether that's in a back two or three. It would be surprising to see anyone else Richards anywhere else but in the starting XI on Friday.