I assess the initial roster for the U.S. men’s national team summoned by Mauricio Pochettino, and I understand why many might be perplexed. A significant number of individuals forecasted this development.
The squad is preparing for two upcoming friendly matches against World Cup contenders: Korea Republic on Saturday and Japan on Tuesday.
So, hypothetically, what if this was the World Cup lineup? If Pochettino’s selections were final, who should be on the field to maximize winning potential? Here’s my proposed formation:
Goalkeeper: Even though Matt Turner is absent from the camp, Matt Freese will take the role. If Freese is indeed the first choice keeper, it is crucial for him to rack up game time, especially following his limited play during the Gold Cup this summer.
Defenders: There’s been speculation about Sergino Dest playing as a left back, but I prefer him on the right to assess his recovery from last year’s ACL injury while at PSV Eindhoven. He appears to be in good form. Center backs will be Chris Richards and Tim Ream, who have been the most effective pair. However, it would be valuable to check the performance of Triston Blackman or the young Nokai Banks, even at just 18, as these players are also included in the training camp.
On the left, we’ll rely on Max Arfsten until Antonee ‘Jedi’ Robinson returns, as this option feels limited. Yet Pochettino seems to favor Arfsten, so I’m inclined to trust his judgment.
Midfield: Here’s where we have a strong chance with Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, and Diego Luna—a robust trio. There’s potential for Sebastian Berhalter to step in during these matches for added assessment.
Forward: Finally, up front, we’d have the lineup we’ve long desired: Christian Pulisic on the left, Tim Weah on the right, and Folarin Balogun leading. This combination appears promising. Of course, Pochettino might have other plans, but I believe this would be my preferred starting eleven in a must-win scenario.
The striker selection remains intriguing. If Balogun had persisted in his previous trajectory without injuries hampering him, I would suggest considering Josh Sargent to see if he can improve upon past performances for the national squad. Yet, I still question Balogun’s consistency.
Should Balogun appear as the starter once the game begins, and assuming we witness him in a good rhythm, scoring goals, it would remind us precisely why there’s such fervor surrounding him.
