GOAL looks at what's required from Reyna, Musah, Josh Sargent, Joe Scally and Damion Downs to secure USMNT roles
AUSTIN, Texas – Mauricio Pochettino made it abundantly clear when speaking to the media about his latest U.S. men's national team roster. He wasn't in the mood to offer explanations for those players not called in. They know, he said, what they need to do to make it back. The players that are on the squad, similarly, know what they did to get the call this time.
"Maybe sometimes you say, 'Why don't we give an explanation?' Pochettino said. "No, they don't need an explanation. It is about performing. Nothing is personal. If you are the best and you are performing in the best way possible for your club, we are going to call you."
It's seemingly that simple. Play well? You're in. Play poorly? You're out. That's the macro view. When breaking down the micro, there are specifics that certain players need to show if they're to rejoin the USMNT picture.
Some need to show fitness. Some need to add parts to their game. Some, in truth, may just need to cross their fingers and hope that things bounce their way or that Pochettino has a change of heart. It's the magic of roster selection: it's imperfect and subjective. And it can change in an instant.
GOAL looks at five notable omissions from Pochettino's latest squad, and what they can do to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Getty Images SportGio Reyna: Get meaningful minutes
There's no mystery with this one, largely because it's been the same answer for the past few years. If Reyna plays – and we mean really plays – at a legitimate level on a consistent basis, he's too talented to keep out. The thing is, though, that he hasn't played enough – can he change that in time?
The optimist would say "yes." He's moved to Borussia Monchengladbach, a club that seems to value him. He's got a close friend, Joe Scally, alongside him. There's a sense of urgency and motivation, too, for a player who knows that, right now, he's probably on the outside looking in.
Reyna, more than anything, just needs consistency. He needs it from his club and, more importantly, he needs it from himself. There are reasons for pessimism, however. Just a few weeks into his Gladbach tenure, Reyna has already battled injury issues that have prevented him from potentially rejoining the USMNT.
Those issues, of course, were all too common at Dortmund, ultimately defining his last few years with the club. That cannot happen this season if he wants to be called in to the World Cup. Reyna needs to stay fit and, once that happens, then think about contributing.
The talent is there; it just needs a place where it can be displayed. If Reyna can do that, he could potentially play a part next summer.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportYunus Musah: Specialize on a role
There has always been one big question around Musah, centered around "when." When would he add some attacking gusto to his game? When would he find the defensive chops he needs to play at a higher level? When, ultimately, would he take a leap as a player by building on the his foundational talent?
It hasn't quite happened yet. That's why Milan agreed to loan him to Atalanta, a Serie A rival. And it's why, at the moment, he's not quite at the USMNT level.
Musah still might be the most purely talented midfielder the U.S. has. His athleticism and dribbling ability are off the charts, which is why he was such a key player at the 2022 World Cup. There may not be a single other midfielder in the player pool that can do with Musah can do. He's totally unique in more ways than one.
Unique doesn't always translate, however. Pochettino and his staff have made it clear that they are looking for players who can fit into roles and, as of this moment, Musah remains something of a tweener. He doesn't offer enough going forward nor does he offer enough defensively.
He has previously played well at right-wingback but, with options such as Sergino Dest, Tim Weah and Alex Freeman ahead of him on the depth chart, there doesn't seem to be a role there for him either.
So how does he forge a path? Specialize. Either as an attacking midfielder or a defensive midfielder, Musah needs to show a new layer to his game if he wants to be a starter going forward.
IMAGNJosh Sargent: Take some chances
To put it lightly, Sargent hasn't seized his USMNT chances. He's had plenty over the last few years, but none have resulted in goals. It's no mystery why he isn't in this camp. This one is clear as day.
Sargent, admittedly, was put in a tough spot last camp. Facing off with South Korea, the USMNT were fairly overmatched and, when they did get forward, it wasn't in a way that suited Sargent's game. He was largely left chasing, giving him few opportunities that didn't involve him sprinting onto a long ball to nowhere.
Devoid of service, Sargent, once again, didn't score and then didn't feature in the vastly better win over Japan a few days later. Since, though, Sargent's gone cold. After lighting up the Championship prior to September camp, Sargent hasn't scored since, entering a period that, by his standards, is something of a drought.
Sargent is too good to be kept down for long, and his goals remain crucial to Norwich City's hopes going forward. It's a safe bet to say that he'll start scoring again soon. History has shown plenty of examples.
When and if that USMNT call does come again, though, Sargent has to push back on history – one that includes the fact he hasn't scored for the national team since 2019. When that call comes, he needs to take his chance, because there aren't many left.
"Maybe it's just about relaxing and believing in myself a little bit more," he told GOAL last month. "It'll happen. I do believe. I know I can score goals and I know it'll happen. It's just a matter of time, so I'll just try not to put so much pressure on myself."
Getty Images SportJoe Scally: Just keep grinding
Scally is in a challenging position. He doesn't seem to be a natural fit, and it's going to be very hard to change that perception. Over the last several months, Pochettino has shown a clear preference for attack-minded fullbacks. More specifically, he's shown a preference for fullbacks with the ability to attack.
They don't always have to, and they won't always be asked to. But Pochettino clearly wants versatility in that spot with a slight skew towards players that can add something further up the field. It's why Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten got so much run this summer, and it's why both are still in the team.
Scally doesn't offer that. To his credit, he is fresh off a two-assist game in the Bundesliga, but there's no mystery with regards to his strength. He is a very good defender, one who proved that, in particular, last summer against Brazil. He is not Cafu, though. He's more old-school.
So what does Scally do about that? Continue grinding. He's been playing as a right-wingback for Gladbach and has shown the ability to play as a centerback in a back three. With the USMNT playing in that system now, Scally can certainly play his way in. He'll just need to keep making his mark for Gladbach.