Jeff Carlyle | ESPNReading: 5 min.
Christian Pulisic, League of Nations, Gold Cup and Berhalter’s future
The U.S. linebacker stated that the team wants to “continue to dominate and win continental competition.” He mentioned Gregg Berhalter’s future with the national team.
The absence of Gio Reyna stands out in the list of 24 players that Gregg Berhalter provided for the FIFA Date matches in which the US will play against Uzbekistan and Oman.
A reconciliation between US men’s team coach Gregg Berhalter and Giovanni Reyna will have to wait as the Borussia Dortmund striker was not included in the list of 24 players called up for the upcoming friendly against Uzbekistan on September 9 in St. Petersburg. Louis and Oman in St. Paul, Minnesota three days later.
Reina, one of eight players to miss the next few matches due to illness or injury, is still in the process of fully recovering his fitness after suffering a calf injury in the Koncacafe Nations League final against Canada last June.
The player and coach have not spoken since the dispute between Berhalter, on the one hand, and Reina and her parents, Claudio and Daniel, on the other, became known eight months ago.
It included Berhalter’s revelation that he almost sent home an anonymous player, later identified as Reina, from the World Cup.
In response, Danielle Reyna told US Soccer about a 1992 domestic violence incident involving Berhalter and his wife Rosalind.
For the duration of the investigation, US Soccer allowed Gregg Berhalter’s contract to expire. Ultimately, the USSF was satisfied with the Berhalters’ explanation of the incident and rehired Gregg Berhalter as coach last June. Anthony Hudson and later B.J. Callaghan managed the team on an interim basis until Berhalter was rehired.
There are still many familiar names in the squad, including AC Milan duo Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musakh, Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun and Juventus midfielder Weston McKenny. In total, the list includes 12 players who helped the United States reach the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 16 players who were part of the US team that won the Koncacafe Nations League this summer.
“We have a long-term strategic goal, and two of our principles are strong squads and maintaining continuity,” Berhalter said. “We are delighted to have several key players in this group and can also introduce some new faces to the senior team. Uzbekistan and Oman are the teams that we could face at the World Cup, so this is an important opportunity to gain this experience.”
Other injured players include Bournemouth captain Tyler Adams, Utrecht forward Taylor Booth, Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, Toronto goalkeeper Sean Johnson, Norwich City forward Josh Sargent and Manchester City goalkeeper. Zach Steffen and Nashville defenseman Walker Zimmerman.
The new face is Palermo defender Christoffer Lund. Lund, a 21-year-old left-back, has played for Denmark at youth level and has applied for a one-time change of association with FIFA. He is eligible to represent the United States through his mother.
Other non-international players include Inter Miami goaltender Drake Callender, Wolfsburg defenseman Kevin Paredes and Inter Miami midfielder Ben Kremaski.
Fulham defender Tim Rome returns to the US after missing the Nations League with a broken arm.
International teams from Europe, Africa and South America participate in the qualification for various competitions, so they are not available. This allowed US Soccer to schedule games against Uzbekistan and Oman. Both teams are gearing up for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Qatar next January.
DETAILED COMPOSITION BY POSITION (Club/Country; international matches/goals)
Goalkeepers (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/England; 8/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/England; 32/0)
PROTECTION (9): Serginho Dest (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands; 26/2), Christoffer Lund (Palermo/Ita; 0/0), Mark McKenzie (Genk/Belgium; 11/0), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/Germany; 0/0), Tim Rome (Fulham, England; 1/51), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace, England; 1/10), Anthony Robinson (Fulham, England; 2/36), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 3/25), Joe Scully (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany; 6/0)
HALF-FIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (International/BRA; 7/0), Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami; 0/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 16/0), Weston McKenny (Juventus) /ITA; 44/11), Yunus Musa (Milan, Italy; 0/27), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven, the Netherlands; 0/4)
FRONT (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin, Germany; 7/32), Folarin Balogun (Arsenal, England; 1/2), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 1/8), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven”, Netherlands; 7/16). , Christian Pulisic (Milan/ITA; 60/25), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 31/4)