Heading into an international window that is surrounded by uncertainty, there will be opportunities for players to stake their claim for first-team roles. Interim manager Micky Varas can only be guaranteed to manage the national team during this specific window due to the expected arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, but uncertainty can bring opportunities for players within the squad.
“We’re pretty clear with the players, at the end of the day those three views have to be in sync with each other. You can’t just go long-term and you can’t just go short-term. Our job is to move the program forward so players have the opportunity win that opportunity but we have to win games,” Varas said of the goal of the camp. “So if they don’t win it, they won’t just get it. This is the men’s national team, it’s the highest level for soccer in our country, the highest standard, so the balance provides them with opportunities to get in and get in. compete and give them a fair shot. That’s what they all want, they want transparency and a fair shot at it.”
While Varas’ comments don’t get us any closer to how the USMNT will line up in camp without Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Gio Reyna, it does provide a lens on how to view camp. There could be opportunities to shake up the XI, but if those opportunities are not taken, then an elder statesman like Tim Ream can keep his place in the XI. Through that lens, let’s look at three players who could benefit from this opportunity.
Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Save your inbox.
Sorry!
An error occurred during your subscription.
DEF: Mark McKenzie
After moving to Toulouse from Genk, this camp is quite an opportunity for the left-footed centre-back. He has not had a USMNT cap in almost a year since coming off the bench in a 4-0 win against Oman in September 2023, McKenzie has not been involved in Nations League or Copa America play where Ream is the preferred centre-back. partner of Chris Richards. But with Ream at 36, measures need to be taken to see who can step up on defense. What better time for Mark McKenzie to get a shot than a year after his last cap if he has shown his skills in training? Comfortable in a back three or back four, similar to Richard, it could offer much needed flexibility to the USMNT back line.
MIDDLE: Malik Tillman
Off to a strong start to the season for PSV. Malik Tillman already has two goals and an assist in four matches so far. Now, Gio Reyna’s injury may require the inclusion of Malik Tillman in the XI for the USMNT. The creative midfielder was involved in 21 goals in all competitions for PSV last season and the USMNT is crying out for more creative attackers to help free up Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun. While everything Tillman tries may not happen, he is someone who is not afraid to try things. After becoming more familiar with the squad after a one-time switch from representing Germany, now is the time for Tillman to show what he can bring to the international stage.
FWD: Haji Wright
Few members of the American player pool have seen their stock rise as much as Haji Wright. His brace during Nations League is one of the only reasons that the USMNT could win it and he did nothing but continues to perform when with Coventry City in the Championship as well. However, he is a player whose success off the bench can come as something that hinders his starting chances. This is not a very deep USMNT squad and being able to bring Wright into matches is a boon for any coach. He is in a place where he is expected to be included in squads, but it is not known what exactly he needs to do to jump from the 12th man in the squad to one of the first 11. Being comfortable on the left, he could allow Pulisic . take a central role, but something like that may be better attempted against New Zealand instead of Canada.
Predicted lineup: Matt Turner, Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Mark McKenzie, Caleb Wiley, Aidan Morris, Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun
Looking at the XI, it’s a chance to mix experience with new faces. Players like Wiley and Morris have already been given opportunities under Varas at youth levels, which makes them natural inclusions in his first senior line-up, but in attack things are a bit shaky. Morris, Aaronson and Wright are probably playing for two places in the XI but if Varas is looking to maintain similar tactics to the 4-3-3 that the players are used to under Gregg Berhalter, that’s where the top lineup comes in.
How to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday, September 7 | time: 4 pm ET
- Place: Children’s Mercy Park — Kansas City, Kansas
- Television: TBS | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
- Probability: United States -114; Network +225; Canada +300
require.config({“baseUrl”:”https://sportsfly.cbsistatic.com/fly-0773/bundles/sportsmediajs/js-build”,”config”:{“version”:{“fly/components/accordion”:”1.0″,”fly/components/alert”:”1.0″,”fly/components/base”:”1.0″,”fly/components/carousel”:”1.0″,”fly/components/dropdown”:”1.0″,”fly/components/fixate”:”1.0″,”fly/components/form-validate”:”1.0″,”fly/components/image-gallery”:”1.0″,”fly/components/iframe-messenger”:”1.0″,”fly/components/load-more”:”1.0″,”fly/components/load-more-article”:”1.0″,”fly/components/load-more-scroll”:”1.0″,”fly/components/loading”:”1.0″,”fly/components/modal”:”1.0″,”fly/components/modal-iframe”:”1.0″,”fly/components/network-bar”:”1.0″,”fly/components/poll”:”1.0″,”fly/components/search-player”:”1.0″,”fly/components/social-button”:”1.0″,”fly/components/social-counts”:”1.0″,”fly/components/social-links”:”1.0″,”fly/components/tabs”:”1.0″,”fly/components/video”:”1.0″,”fly/libs/easy-xdm”:”2.4.17.1″,”fly/libs/jquery.cookie”:”1.2″,”fly/libs/jquery.throttle-debounce”:”1.1″,”fly/libs/jquery.widget”:”1.9.2″,”fly/libs/omniture.s-code”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init”:”1.0″,”fly/libs/jquery.mobile”:”1.3.2″,”fly/libs/backbone”:”1.0.0″,”fly/libs/underscore”:”1.5.1″,”fly/libs/jquery.easing”:”1.3″,”fly/managers/ad”:”2.0″,”fly/managers/components”:”1.0″,”fly/managers/cookie”:”1.0″,”fly/managers/debug”:”1.0″,”fly/managers/geo”:”1.0″,”fly/managers/gpt”:”4.3″,”fly/managers/history”:”2.0″,”fly/managers/madison”:”1.0″,”fly/managers/social-authentication”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/data-prefix”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/data-selector”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/function-natives”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/guid”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/log”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/object-helper”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/string-helper”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/string-vars”:”1.0″,”fly/utils/url-helper”:”1.0″,”libs/jshashtable”:”2.1″,”libs/select2″:”3.5.1″,”libs/jsonp”:”2.4.0″,”libs/jquery/mobile”:”1.4.5″,”libs/modernizr.custom”:”2.6.2″,”libs/velocity”:”1.2.2″,”libs/dataTables”:”1.10.6″,”libs/dataTables.fixedColumns”:”3.0.4″,”libs/dataTables.fixedHeader”:”2.1.2″,”libs/dateformat”:”1.0.3″,”libs/waypoints/infinite”:”3.1.1″,”libs/waypoints/inview”:”3.1.1″,”libs/waypoints/jquery.waypoints”:”3.1.1″,”libs/waypoints/sticky”:”3.1.1″,”libs/jquery/dotdotdot”:”1.6.1″,”libs/jquery/flexslider”:”2.1″,”libs/jquery/lazyload”:”1.9.3″,”libs/jquery/maskedinput”:”1.3.1″,”libs/jquery/marquee”:”1.3.1″,”libs/jquery/numberformatter”:”1.2.3″,”libs/jquery/placeholder”:”0.2.4″,”libs/jquery/scrollbar”:”0.1.6″,”libs/jquery/tablesorter”:”2.0.5″,”libs/jquery/touchswipe”:”1.6.18″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.draggable”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.mouse”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.position”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.slider”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.sortable”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.touch-punch”:”0.2.3″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.accordion”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.menu”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.dialog”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.resizable”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.button”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tooltip”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effects”:”1.11.4″,”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.datepicker”:”1.11.4″}},”shim”:{“liveconnection/managers/connection”:{“deps”:[“liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4″]},”liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4”:{“exports”:”SockJS”},”libs/setValueFromArray”:{“exports”:”set”},”libs/getValueFromArray”:{“exports”:”get”},”fly/libs/jquery.mobile-1.3.2″:[“version!fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init”],”libs/backbone.marionette”:{“deps”:[“jquery”,”version!fly/libs/underscore”,”version!fly/libs/backbone”],”exports”:”Marionette”},”fly/libs/underscore-1.5.1″:{“exports”:”_”},”fly/libs/backbone-1.0.0″:{“deps”:[“version!fly/libs/underscore”,”jquery”],”exports”:”Backbone”},”libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs-1.11.4″:[“jquery”,”version!libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core”,”version!fly/libs/jquery.widget”],”libs/jquery/flexslider-2.1″:[“jquery”],”libs/dataTables.fixedColumns-3.0.4″:[“jquery”,”version!libs/dataTables”],”libs/dataTables.fixedHeader-2.1.2″:[“jquery”,”version!libs/dataTables”],”https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js”:[“https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js”]},”map”:{“*”:{“adobe-pass”:”https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js”,”facebook”:”https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js”,”facebook-debug”:”https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all/debug.js”,”google”:”https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js”,”google-csa”:”https://www.google.com/adsense/search/async-ads.js”,”google-javascript-api”:”https://www.google.com/jsapi”,”google-client-api”:”https://accounts.google.com/gsi/client”,”gpt”:”https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js”,”hlsjs”:”https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/hls.js/1.0.7/hls.js”,”recaptcha”:”https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=loadRecaptcha&render=explicit”,”recaptcha_ajax”:”https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/js/recaptcha_ajax.js”,”supreme-golf”:”https://sgapps-staging.supremegolf.com/search/assets/js/bundle.js”,”taboola”:”https://cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/cbsinteractive-cbssports/loader.js”,”twitter”:”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”,”video-avia”:”https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.12.0/player/avia.min.js”,”video-avia-ui”:”https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.12.0/plugins/ui/avia.ui.min.js”,”video-avia-gam”:”https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.12.0/plugins/gam/avia.gam.min.js”,”video-avia-hls”:”https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.12.0/plugins/hls/avia.hls.min.js”,”video-avia-playlist”:”https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.12.0/plugins/playlist/avia.playlist.min.js”,”video-ima3″:”https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js”,”video-ima3-dai”:”https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3_dai.js”,”video-utils”:”https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js”,”video-vast-tracking”:”https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/sb55/vast-js/vtg-vast-client.js”}},”waitSeconds”:300});
