by Austin, Texas (AP) – midfielder Weston McKennie, defender Antonee Robinson and goalkeeper Matt Turner returned to the American national team for friendly matches against Ecuador and Australia, while coach Mauricio Pochettino changed more than half of his roster.
Pochettino also chose midfielder James Sands, who has not played Gold Cup 2023 since the Concacaf 2023, and midfielder Aidan Morris, who last appeared in October 2024.
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Defender Cameron Carter vickers, midfielder Tanner Tessmann, McKennie and goalkeeper Patrick Schulte were selected for the first time since March. Robinson, the first choice that remains, has not played for the US since November 2024 due to injuries.
“It’s a long, long time we don’t see him,” said Pochettino Tuesday. “It is important that he can be with us.”
Turner, goalkeeper Chris Brady, defender Miles Robinson, midfielders Brenden Aaronson and Malik Tillman, and Vooruit Patrick Agyemang and Haji Wright are on the 26-man schedule after last month’s friendly matches against South Korea and Japan.
Pochettino tried to shake up what he considered complacency when he arrived in October 2024.
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“That is not because your name is somewhat that you (a) place, certainly, in the schedule for the World Cup,” he said. “That is an idea that we fought in the past year to try to resolve, which change the culture or change the division, turn into the idea of, ok, it is because I perform somehow in the past or because I did well a year ago, now I am invited to camp and use my place because my place is.”
While 14 players were chosen who missed last month’s matches, 13 players were dropped: Keepers Roman Celentano and Jonathan Klinsmann; Defenders Noahkai Banks, Tristan Blackmon, Sergiño Dest and Nathan Harriel; midfielders Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Luca de la Torre, Jack McMlynn and Sean Zawadzki; And Damion Downs and Josh Sargent strives.
Adams, the American captain at the World Cup 2022, is a normal starter.
“He expects his wife to have a baby in the coming days,” said Pochettino. “That’s why he’s not here.”
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Dest, the first choice immediately back, is injured, just like midfielders Johnny Cardoso and Gio Reyna, and Vooruit Ricardo Pepi.
Midfielder Yunus Musah, who has seen limited playing time in Atalanta, was also omitted, just like defender Joe Scally, a regular starter for Borussia Mönchengladbach. Pochettino said he does not give players explanations why they were not selected.
“The players who were not mentioned today must be desperate to perform better and do it better and improve,” said Pochettino. “And the players were called, have to arrive here and be desperate to perform, score goals, score, (make) saves, tackles, run more than the opponent and convince us to have the opportunity to call again.”
Pochettino praised Christian Pulisic, who has six goals this season in the first seven games of AC Milan. Pochettino had left Pulisic from the schedule for a few friendly matches in June because Pulisic wanted to take free instead of playing the Gold Cup.
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“He is now the most important player for the national team, who plays and plays under great pressure,” said Pochettino. “He has to perform every week and every game in a place like Milan, and he is doing well.”
The US will play Ecuador in Austin on 10 October and will be opposed to Australia in Commerce City, Colorado four days later.
Pochettino will then have four friendly matches before they call players for a pre-World Cup training camp, against Paraguay and Uruguay in November plus a few matches in March.
Health and endurance at the World Cup are factors in the decisions of Pochettino.
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“We call players with the possibility that they can perform again every three days,” he said. “We see that too many players who can be involved with us, that they cannot play two games or three games in a week.”
The schedule:
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freese (New York City), Patrick Schulte (Columbus), Matt Turner (New England)
Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Glasgow Celtic), Alex Freeman (Orlando), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antone Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati))
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Diego Luna (Salt Lake), Weston Mckennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Cristian Roldan (Seattle), James Sands (St. Pauli), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon), Malik), Malik),
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Forward: Patrick Agyemang (Derby), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Marseille), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alex Zendejas (América)
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
