Austin, Texas (AP) — Midfielder Weston McKenney, defender Antony Robinson and goalkeeper Matt Turner have returned to the US national team for a friendly match between Ecuador and Australia.
Pockettino also chose midfielder James Sons, who hasn’t played in the US since the 2023 Conca Cuff Gold Cup, and midfielder Aidan Morris, who last appeared in October 2024.
Defender Cameron Carter Vickers, midfielder Tanner Tessman, McKenney and goalkeeper Patrick Schulte have been selected for the first time since March. The first option, Robinson, has not played in the US since November 2024 due to injuries.
“It’s a long time since we didn’t see him,” Pockettino said Tuesday. “It’s important that he is with us.”
Turner, goalkeeper Chris Brady, defender Miles Robinson, midfielders Brenden Arson and Malik Tillman, as well as Patrick Aggieman and Haji Wright, are on the 26-man roster after losing a friendly against South Korea and Japan last month.
When Pockettino arrived in October 2024, he tried to shake up what he considered self-satisfaction.
“That’s not because your name has a place on the World Cup roster,” he said. “I think the idea is that we were fighting to try to fix it last year, which is changing culture, changing divisions, changing ideas.
14 players were selected who missed last month’s match, but 13 players were dropped. Goalkeepers Roman Serentano and Jonathan Clinsman. Defenders Noaky Banks, Tristan Blackmon, Serguinho Desty and Nathan Harriel. Midfielders Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berharter, Luca de la Torre, Jack McGlyn and Sean Zawaziki. Transfer Damion Downs and Josh Sargent.
Adams, the US captain of the 2022 World Cup, is the regular starter.
“He hopes to have a baby with his wife in the next few days,” Pockettino said. “That’s why he’s not here.”
The first choice, Dest, was injured, as was midfielders Johnny Cardoso and Gio Reyna, and Forward Ricardo Pepi.
Midfielder Yunus Musa, who has limited playing time in Atalanta, was also omitted, similar to defender Joe Scully, a regular starter for Borussia Menchenradbach. Pochettino said he had not explained to players why the player was not selected.
“People who weren’t even called today need to be desperate to perform better, improve and improve,” Pockettino said. “And players need to be called, arrive here, achieve their goals, save, work, run more than their opponents and be desperate to persuade them to have the potential to call again.”
Pochettino praised Christian Purisic, who has six goals in AC Milan’s first seven games this season. Puchettino was off the roster for a June friendly match from Pulisic, as he wanted a break rather than playing the Gold Cup.
“He’s now the most important player for the national team, and he’s playing and playing under a lot of pressure,” Pockettino said. “He needs to play all the games every week in places like Milan and he’s doing well.”
The US will play Ecuador in Austin on October 10th and face Australia four days later in Commerce City, Colorado.
Pockettino will then host a four more friendly match before calling players for World Cup training camp before facing Paraguay and Uruguay in November to a pair of matches in March.
Health and stamina during the World Cup are factors in Pockettino’s decision.
“We call players with the possibility of playing again every three days,” he said. “You can see that there are so many players that you can get involved with with us that you can’t play two or three games a week.”
List:
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freeze (New York City), Patrick Schulte (Columbus), Matt Turner (New England)
Defenders: Max Alfsten (Columbus), Cameron Carter Vickers (Glasgow Celtic), Alex Freeman (Orlando), Mark Mackenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antony Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Sinshinnati)
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Diegolna (Salt Lake), Weston McKenny (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Christian Roldan (Seattle), James Sands (St. Pauli), Tannatesman (Lyon), Mariktilman (Bayer Lubaxen)
Forwards: Patrick Aggieman (Derby), Foralalin Balogun (Monaco), Christian Purisic (AC Milan), Tim Weir (Marseille), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alex Zendejas (Eika)
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
