Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) — The booming drum beat from Portugal fans was a helpful reminder to anyone who might have been unaware: The World Cup is a mere two months away.
That means it’s nervy times for players who are uneasy about making the 26-person roster, even if they don’t show it.
The U.S. men’s national team wrapped its last camp on Tuesday night in Atlanta with an unimpressive 2-0 defeat to Portugal in front of an announced crowd of 72,297 people, many of whom were wearing Cristiano Ronaldo jerseys (even though he did not make the trip). The result came a few days after a humbling 5-2 loss to Belgium.
USA manager Mauricio Pochettino will announce his final 26-man roster on May 26 in New York City, and now the only thing players who may be on the bubble can do is wait. And wait.
(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
And after Tuesday’s loss, players didn’t have much time to chat after the match. Many were rushing out the stadium to catch international flights back home to rejoin their respective clubs. When a few of them were asked if they found any clarity about their place within Pochettino’s World Cup plans during this past week, they seemed exhausted.
“I just try to block it out,” a fairly calm Sebastian Berhalter said off to the side of a crowded mixed zone following the Portugal loss. The 24-year-old midfielder played in both games during this window and is hoping to make his first World Cup roster.
“Just focus on myself,” added defender Auston Trusty, who has only made five appearances for the national team and started on the back line vs. Portugal. “I can only control what I can control.”
The U.S. players are all in the thick of their respective club seasons (17 of the players are based in Europe), and this was a fully packed week in Atlanta. It wasn’t just about training and games because it also included other responsibilities, like pre-tournament marketing opportunities and photo shoots. It can undoubtedly be taxing mentally to be part of those things when you don’t even know if you’re going to be on a World Cup squad.
“Not too concerned with that, not too focused on that,” said goalkeeper Matt Freese, who made some quality saves against Portugal. Pochettino said the starting goalkeeper job is still open for competition, while Freese added that he has no inkling of whether it will be him or Matt Turner, who gave up five goals against Belgium.
(Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
Some players would like to know either way.
“I would, personally,” said midfielder Cristian Roldan, who was part of the 2022 World Cup squad but didn’t play. “I think that I have so much respect for Pochettino and the coaching staff. And look, they didn’t have to bring me in back in September, and they gave me the opportunity, and I’m extremely thankful for that opportunity. And I think that respect goes a long way.
“So if I didn’t make the squad, I would love to hear from Pochettino the reason why or just having that man-to-man conversation that is difficult at times. But it definitely plays a part in your entire career, and it could impact the way you look at things.”
(Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/USSF/Getty Images)
