Pochettino's USMNT kids close out perfect window vs Canada
The USMNT aim to close out an extremely successful international window with four wins from four as they host Canada in Saint Paul on Tuesday. After beating Peru, Chile and Mexico by an aggregate score of 11-3, Mauricio Pochettino’s youngsters are cooking.
Kick off time is 8pm ET Tuesday (October 6) at Allianz Field — Saint Paul, Minnesota. TV Channel: Universo; Stream link: Peacock.
Canada have had a successful week too, beating Chile 1-0 and Peru 2-0 as Jesse Marsch has given plenty of new faces a chance in defense and they’ve grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
The question now is simple: can Pochettino’s side finish the window with a perfect record?
YOUNGSTERS SHINE UNDER POCH
Against Mexico on Saturday, Pochettino leaned on experience everywhere except one spot: the attack, where teenagers Julian Hall and Cavan Sullivan got the nod from the start. The gamble paid off instantly.
Sullivan lobbed in the opener to become the youngest scorer in USMNT history, and Hall added a goal of his own in the 3-0 victory. Both were excellent, per www.nbcsports.com, and both made the case that the kids are not just tourists in this squad.
Pochettino’s decision to bulk up this window with young call-ups has paid off in a big way. With Peru, Chile and Mexico dispatched by an aggregate 11-3, the teenagers have not only held their own — they have been the story.
.png)
The question now is how much more trust they earn when the big names return. For one night in Saint Paul, though, the future was the present.
ROTATION AND RETURNS
Pochettino will likely mix things up a little more for this game, with Sergino Dest, George Campbell and Neil Pierre all in line to get minutes in defense, per www.nbcsports.com. Those would be fresh legs at the back after a demanding stretch, though the lineup has not been confirmed.
The bigger picture is what is occupying Pochettino now. Given how well so many youngsters have performed over the last week, he has plenty to think about for the upcoming international window.
Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie are all likely to return to the fold then — but they will be doing so knowing the kids are snapping at their heels. Sullivan and Hall have already shown they can score on the biggest stages this window, and the competition for places is suddenly real.
That is a great thing for the USMNT moving forward, according to www.nbcsports.com. The veterans will have to earn their spots rather than assume them, and the teenagers have given Pochettino a selection headache that most coaches would welcome.
For now, the rotation against Canada is expected to give the defense a fresh look. Whether the returning stars are ready to reclaim their roles in November remains to be seen, but the pressure is already on.
CANADA'S CHANGED SQUAD
Canada will look very different from the side that beat Chile and Peru, with Jesse Marsch leaving Alphonso Davies, Alistair Johnston, Moise Bombito, Jonathan Osorio and Ali Ahmed out of this squad entirely.
Injuries have hit harder still. Marcelo Floris, Alfie Jones, Derek Cornelius and Ismael Kone are all missing, stripping Marsch of key options at the back and in midfield.
The one bright spot up front is Cyle Larin. The Southampton striker has been in incredible form in the Championship to start the season, per www.nbcsports.com, but a small back injury kept him out of the win against Peru. His availability for this match is not specified in the source.
Even without Larin, Canada are stacked in the forward areas. Marsch still has Jonathan David, Promise David and Tani Oluwaseyi to call on, and that trio gives the visitors genuine firepower against a rotated USMNT defense.
The attack is not the concern. The question is whether a makeshift back line, already missing its first-choice names, can hold up against the teenagers who have been scoring freely for the USMNT.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Tuesday’s rivalry clash is expected to be tight, and the fireworks may not stay on the pitch. Jesse Marsch’s comments have often added fuel to the fire in recent years, and these games are always extremely tight, per www.nbcsports.com.
The source’s prediction is an entertaining draw with plenty of shenanigans on and off the pitch: USA 2-2 Canada. That scoreline is the author’s opinion, not a confirmed result.
After this match, the upcoming international window will reportedly see the return of Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie. With so many youngsters pushing for places, Pochettino will have real selection headaches ahead.
That is a great problem for the USMNT moving forward. Tuesday’s result will only sharpen the debate over who deserves a spot when the veterans come back.
Advertisement
You may also like
Buzelis: Last Year Was 'Extremely Hard' as Bulls Finally Find Structure
Matas Buzelis did not sugarcoat his second season. After Tuesday's practice at the Advocate Center, the 21-year-old called last year "extremely hard" and said…
The 1969 Zodiac cipher that hid a name — until codebreakers cracked it
In December 2020, a team of codebreakers — including David Oranchak, a software developer, and two others — decrypted the second Zodiac cipher. The…
The bloodstained watch that tied a doctor to his wife's murder scene
The watch had blood on it. It was found at the murder scene, inside the Bay Village home where Marilyn Sheppard died on July…
São Paulo Hosts South America's First WTA Coaches Workshop in Historic Debut
More than 60 tennis coaches gathered in São Paulo last month for a first in South American tennis: an official WTA Coaches Workshop, held…
Booed Larkin Returns as Red Wings Host Senators After Trade Demand
Dylan Larkin is back on the ice for the Detroit Red Wings — and the fans have not forgotten. Larkin made his season debut…
Red Wings Fans Boo Dylan Larkin in Injury Return Amid Trade Request Fallout
Dylan Larkin's return to the Detroit lineup didn't come with any grace period. The moment the center touched the puck Tuesday night against the…