ASN: Morning replace: Zendejas to USMNT, Koleosho and Italy, plus Weekend preview

Completely happy Friday to all you ASN readers. To kickoff your Friday, Brian Sciaretta provides his ideas on the information together with twin nationwide panic (wins and losses) whereas previewing the weekend’s video games domestically and overseas. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
March 03, 2023
4:05 AM

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Let’s begin with two tales of Twin Nationwide Panic.

Zendejas to the USMNT
 

That’s the report of TUDN’s Gibrán Araige who reported after the press convention of latest Mexico supervisor Diego Cocca to announce his group’s March roster. That roster included former U.S. worldwide Julian Araujo who just lately transferred from the LA Galaxy to Barcelona.

However the roster didn’t embody Membership America winger/midfielder Alejandro Zendejas, 24, who has had a really erratic worldwide profession. He performed for the U.S. U-17 group on the 2015 U-17 World Cup however was offered by FC Dallas to Chivas. There he started to play for Mexican youth nationwide groups and final yr performed for the nation’s full nationwide group in friendlies. However he by no means filed for a swap and Mexico was fined.

In January, he performed for the USMNT in a pleasant loss to Serbia however stated he was not 100% committing his future to the united statesteam.

However Araige now says Zendejas has chosen to play for the U.S. nationwide group. Does that imply that Zendeas will play for the U.S. group this month in Nations League video games? Maybe – if Araige is right. 

— Gibrán Araige (@GibranAraige) March 3, 2023

Whereas he’s an unlikely starter, Zendejas is a pleasant depth pickup for the U.S. group after a strong season final yr with Membership America. Within the Apertura, he had 4 targets and two assists in 1221 minutes.

Koleosho Italian coaching camp
 

Twin Nationwide Panic was not as form to the united statesprogram on one other entrance. Prime American wing prospect Luca Koleosho, 18, as been near the primary group of La Liga’s Espanyol over the previous yr however continues to be ready for his first begin.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Koleosho carries three passports and has represented the USA youth groups previously. Final yr, he was referred to as up by Canada’s full nationwide group twice (his mom was born in Canada) however didn’t play in any recreation.

However on Thursday it bought extra severe as Italy’s U-19 group referred to as him up for a coaching camp. However issues are very a lot within the stability. ASN has realized he’ll simply be attending a coaching camp with Italy’s U-109 group from Sunday via Wednesday. After that, a choice might be made on enjoying for the USA or Italy within the upcoming youth tournaments.

At present’s video games
 

There are a pair of two.Bundesliga video games which are fascinating. Fabian Hurzeler will attempt to stay excellent since taking the top teaching job at St. Pauli. The membership has 15 factors from his first 5 video games to maneuver from the cusp of the relegation zone and into seventh place. On Friday, they go to Paderborn.

Fifth-place Kaiserslautern are nonetheless aiming for a second straight promotion and their success is basically on Terrence Boyd, 32, who has 11 targets on the season (tied for third). At present, Kaiserslautern visits Magdeburg.

Within the high flight, Gio Reyna has barely performed in latest weeks for Borussia Dortmund and in the present day they host a superb RB Leipzig group. Dortmund is enjoying so properly, it is going to be robust to get Reyna in.

Within the Eredivisie, seventh-place FC Utrecht hosts Fortuna Sittard however it’s nonetheless too early to know if Taylor Sales space will play for Utrecht. He has been coping with an harm and missed the membership’s elimination from the Dutch Cup.

USMNT scouts might be readily available to observe Djordje Mihailovic as his third-place AZ Alkmaar group visits thirteenth place Vitesse. Mihailovic’s enjoying time has been erratic, however he has needed to get well from harm for the center portion of February. Nonetheless, a superb efficiency on this recreation may get him again on the U.S. nationwide group later this month.

In Portugal, Reggie Cannon and Boavista host Arouca, who’ve American Benji Michel. Cannon continues to play as a central defender for Boavista and that has harm his probabilities on the U.S. nationwide group.

One other recreation to observe from a USMNT perspective is at 3pm EST when Hull Metropolis hosts West Brom. West Brom ahead Daryl Dike is coming off a two-goal efficiency for eleventh place West Brom in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough. He’s one other participant on the cusp of the nationwide group and one other large recreation may swing issues in his favor.

Saturday and Sunday overseas
 

Just a few of the large issues I’m awaiting this weekend overseas:

On Saturday

–          Pellegrino Matarazzo must discover a win with a Hoffenheim group sinking to relegation. On Saturday they go to Mainz and John Brooks is probably going on the bench.

–          After a brutal 4-0 loss final weekend to Mainz, it appears doubtless that Joe Scally will return to the XI for Borussia Monchengladbach and reclaim his spot.

–          Chris Richards has additionally discovered enjoying time to be uneven for Crystal Palace. Will he get minutes in Saturday’s go to to Aston Villa? Is he in line for a call-up this month? In all probability.

–          In in all probability probably the most intriguing recreation for Individuals in Europe this weekend, a struggling Chelsea group hosts Leeds United and their American trio. If Leeds can get a win, it could be large after Everton dropped a recreation towards Arsenal this week. Leeds performed poorly within the FA Cup loss to Fulham. Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie must rise to the event.

–          Zack Steffen and Middlesbrough will look to shake off a loss final weekend to West Brom and stay within the promotional hunt after they host Studying on Saturday.

–          In Scotland, Malik Tillman and Rangers host Kilmanock with the group wanting more likely to end second. Is Tillman nearing a return to the USMNT?

–          It’s exhausting to see Matthew Hoppe getting a USMNT call-up this month however he can proceed to place his profession on the rise on his mortgage with Hibs after they go to Scott Pittman and Livingston. Hoppe scored his first Hibs aim final recreation in a 2-0 win over Kilmarnock.

–          Defensive midfielder Lennard Maloney and Heidenheim sit third within the 2.Bundesliga and are aiming for promotion. Saturday’s recreation at residence towards first place Darmstadt.

–          Within the Eredivisie, Ricardo Pepi will hope to proceed his robust season with a go to to leaders Feyenoord. Groningen may be relegation fodder, however Pepi is giving himself choices for subsequent yr with 9 targets on this season for a nasty group.

–          Sergino Dest’s misplaced season doubtless continues when AC Milan visits Fiorentina.

–          Tim Weah will doubtless proceed on at left again when Lille hosts Lens.

–          USMNT scouts might be readily available to observe Marlon Fossey and Customary Liege host Bryan Reynolds and Westerlo. Reynolds looks as if having a fantastic shot to return to the USMNT this month – it has been two years since he final performed with the group.

On Sunday
 

–          Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic will doubtless proceed their coast to a Scottish title with a go to to St. Mirren

–          Erik Palmer-Brown and Troyes need to climb out of the relegation zone after they host Monaco.

–          One other American coasting to a title is Mark McKenzie and Genk who go to St. Truiden. McKenzie is one other participant to observe for a doable return to the USMNT in March.

–          Venezia can climb to security in Serie B with a end result towards Frosinone. Tanner Tessmann has been among the many group’s greatest gamers whereas Gianluca Busio hasn’t fairly slot in. Andrija Novakovich will hope his first aim of the season comes towards his former group. Tessmann is a darkish horse for a USMNT call-up.

–          U.S U-20 midfielder Rokas Pukstas and younger winger Agustin Anello, 20 will hope to begin for second place Hajduk Cut up towards NK Lokomotiva in Croatia’s HNL.

–          In an enormous recreation for Yunus Musah, relegation battling Valencia will hope to construct off their large win final weekend towards Actual Sociedad with a troublesome go to to Camp Nou to face Barcelona.

–          U.S. U-20 teammates may meet within the Bundesliga when Wolfsburg host Eintracht Frankfurt. Kevin Paredes has a daily position with Wolfsburg – sometimes off the bench – whereas Paxten Aaronson made the bench for the primary time final week for Eintracht however went as an unused sub.

MLS: Matchday 2 Lookahead
 

Philadelphia Union have a bullseye on their again because the league’s greatest group and a convincing 4-1 win over Columbus in week one. The query from a U.S. youth perspective is whether or not or not Jim Curtin can discover a option to get their U-20 trio into the sport for greater than cameos. It’s robust for Curtin and it’s robust for Jack McGlynn, Quinn Sullivan, and Brandan Craig. On Saturday, Philly visits Inter Miami who impressed with a 2-0 win over Montreal.

DC United visits Columbus in a gathering of authentic groups. DC United mounted a giant comeback 3-2 win over Toronto within the opening week and the trouble was on the heels of younger American subs. Ted Ku-DiPietro scored and assisted in harm time to show a loss right into a win however Kristian Fletcher and Jackson Hopkins additionally performed properly off the bench.
The Crimson Bulls had a troublesome opener in a 1-0 loss to Orlando however will host a Nashville group which outplayed NYCFC 2-0. From an American perspective, Walker Zimmerman was very sharp within the win however Nashville nonetheless stays restricted offensively (Zimmerman on set items and Hany Mukhtar within the open area). The Crimson Bulls have a giant American presence with John Tolkin at left again, Frankie Amaya in central midfield, Dan Edelman in defensive midfield, Sean Nealis in central protection,  Kyle Duncan or Cam Harper (sometimes a winger) at proper again. The query for the Crimson Bulls might be scoring targets.

Seattle and Actual Salt Lake are rivals and Seattle has taken quite a bit from RSL in recent times. I’m wanting ahead to seeing how this matchup emerges. Is Seattle actually again or did they merely benefit from a nasty Colorado group within the 4-0 opening day win. However RSL defeated Vancouver 2-1 in Canada and might be a a lot better take a look at and Pablo Mastroeni continues to do a superb job with the group. For Seattle, Jordan Morris performed like his outdated type earlier than his final ACL tear. Seattle wants lots of issues to go proper to be again. They’re a older group however nonetheless a contender if everybody stays wholesome and doesn’t tire.
The New England Revolution will host Houston of their residence opener on Saturday. That is fascinating as a result of Houston truly impressed of their opener regardless of shedding away to Cincinnati 2-1. IF they play like that often, they may win video games. It was a superb step for Ben Olsen. However Bruce Area’s group additionally impressed in a troublesome 1-0 win away towards Charlotte. Younger American Noel Buck, 17, was one of many high younger American gamers within the league and can now must cope with expectations and hype.

Orlando internet hosting FC Cincinnati can be one of many higher matchups on paper after each groups gained their openers – however weren’t convincing both. Orlando didn’t essentially look nice within the 1-0 win over the Crimson Bulls. New DP Migue Ojeda was significantly disappointing, and your complete midfield didn’t generate a lot. U.S. U-20 proper again Michael Halliday nevertheless regarded spectacular with the U-20 World Cup approaching. Cincinnati additionally didn’t play as much as expectations of their 2-1 win over Houston. Nonetheless, the group’s entrance line is superb and Brandon Vazquez can be motivated to earn one other USMNT call-up this month.
St. Louis Metropolis will play their first ever residence recreation after they host Charlotte FC. That might be fairly the ambiance and the group is buzzing after a giant win over Austin FC. Charlotte, in the meantime, must be determined after shedding to the Revs at residence in entrance of a house crowd of over 70,000.
FC Dallas upset of their season opener with a 1-0 loss to Minnesota. Nico Estevez must get extra out of Jesus Ferreira, Paul Arriola, Alan Velasco, Sebastian Lletget, and Paxton Pomykal. There must be sufficient chemistry in that group to be a contender within the West. Now Dallas will host an LA Galaxy group opening its season. That group is hard to foretell.

LAFC may also open up its protection at residence with a matchup vs. a Portland group that did properly in its opener. Is Steve Cherundolo a contender for the USMNT job? His sophomore season might be telling and he confirmed lots of promise as a supervisor in yr one.
Lastly, Atlanta United want Thiago Almada to rescues them within the first week towards San Jose at residence. Regardless of his heroics, they didn’t play properly. The excellent news for them is that Toronto isn’t nice both and is skinny. With out Lorenzo Insigne, it’s more durable for Toronto. If Atlanta can’t play higher on this recreation, it’s not a superb signal for them to compete towards the league’s higher groups.