ASN: Evaluation: breaking down the USMNT 2023 Gold Cup roster

USMNT interim supervisor B.J. Callaghan introduced the USMNT roster for the Gold Cup and ASN’s Brian Sciaretta gives up his ideas on the roster for the biennial continental championship. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 12, 2023
4:45 PM

SHARE THIS STORY

UNITED STATES NATIONAL TEAM interim supervisor B.J. Callaghan as we speak introduced his 23-player roster for the 2023 Gold Cup which is able to run from June 24 by July 16 in venues within the USA and Canada. The U.S. workforce is the defending champion having gained the match in 2021.

The match kicks off nearly instantly after the Nations League match that may run by July 18.

Many of the European-based gamers who’re already core to the nationwide workforce had been left off this workforce. It’s been a troublesome season for a lot of gamers and there are switch rumors involving most of them. In such a pivotal offseason,

It should largely be a totally totally different workforce as solely 5 gamers will overlap from the Nations League roster: goalkeepers Sean Johnson and Matt Turner, central defender Miles Robinson, midfielder Alan Soñora, and winger Alex Zendejas.

However solely six of the gamers on this workforce had been a part of the 2021 Gold Cup profitable workforce: Matt Turner, Miles Robinson, Gianluca Busio, Cristian Roldan, James Sands, and Sean Johnson.

Right here is the roster together with a number of the ideas:

USMNT Gold Cup Roster
 

GOALKEEPERS (3): Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 12/0), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; 1/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 26/0)

DEFENDERS (8): DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 2/0), Aaron Lengthy (LAFC; 32/3), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; 23/1), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; 2/0), Bryan Reynolds (Roma/ITA; 3/0), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), John Tolkin (New York Purple Bulls; 1/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 78/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 9/0), Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar/NED; 6/1), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 32/3), James Sands (New York Metropolis FC; 8/0), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0)

FORWARDS (6): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 3/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 18/8), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 2/0), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 52/11), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; 3/1), Alex Zendejas (Membership América/MEX; 3/1)

Younger gamers concerned
 

The roster consists of seven gamers who’re eligible for the 2024 U.S. U-23 Olympic workforce.

Goalkeeper Gaga Slonina, central defender Jalen Neal, proper again Bryan Reynolds, left again John Tolkin, midfielders Gianluca Busio and Aidan Morris, and winger Cade Cowell.

For these gamers, it’s a nice probability to make use of this match to cement their means into changing into the core of that workforce.

Significantly, Reynolds and Tolkin are probably the entrance runners to be the beginning fullbacks in Paris subsequent 12 months. Tolkin, nonetheless, has much more on the road as a result of the backup left again place on the total nationwide workforce behind Antonee Robinson shouldn’t be set. Up to now, essentially the most used choices have been utilizing proper backs out of place on the left facet.  

Gamers lacking
 

When it comes to gamers lacking from this workforce.

 There are explanations for some.

Concerning Hoffenheim central defender John Brooks, Callaghan made the next assertion:

“We had a number of good conversations with John,” Callaghan said. “As a starting point, he reiterated his commitment to the national team program and how much it means to him. He is coming off a season at Hoffenheim where he was a key member of their fight to avoid relegation. This summer he will have the chance to participate in a full preseason with them for the first time, so we felt in this particular moment it’s best for him to take advantage of that opportunity and be performing at his highest level in the upcoming season to position himself to contribute to the national team in the future.”

Mark McKenzie is coming off a really sturdy begin to the season with Genk. He was injured within the closing sport of the season and this report out of Belgium solid doubt on his involvement within the Gold Cup. However Callaghan didn’t difficulty a press release about his absence.

This report from Belgium says Mark McKenzie suffered a dislocated shoulder in Genk’s final match of the season. He does not want surgical procedure however the report paints a questionable image over his potential #USMNT Gold Cup involvement. https://t.co/mxRfbBUf8l

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 7, 2023

Different shocking exclusions embrace Tanner Tessmann who had a really good season with Venezia in Serie B and can also be Olympic eligible.

Kellyn Acosta will miss each summer season tournaments and he was top-of-the-line gamers on the 2021 Gold Cup. However he has been carrying an damage recently at LAFC. The identical along with his teammate Timothy Tillman who not too long ago accomplished his change of affiliation change from Germany to america.

Stunning inclusions
 

There have been some shocking inclusions with some gamers you wouldn’t count on.

Alan Sonora is really getting an prolonged look with the workforce at a time when he’s not enjoying actual minutes in Mexico with Membership Juarez.

Gianluca Busio can also be one other participant who arrives not simply in a tricky season, however one the place his minutes have severely declined at Venezia.

Miles Robinson is double shifting with the Nations League and the Gold Cup (in contrast to Walker Zimmerman), and this comes at a time when he’s set to be a free agent on the finish of the season. It leaves the impression that Atlanta is making an attempt to extend his worth in order that they will get cash for him earlier than he leaves.

General ideas
 

Based mostly on how this roster has been mentioned, it’s about what we anticipated. There are such a lot of considerations within the midfield. Busio and Sonora haven’t been battle examined not too long ago and will battle bodily. Equally, Djordje Mihailovic’s minutes have been up and down since he arrived at Alkmaar halfway by the season (it appears as if heading into his first preseason with AZ, that he would need to be there to construct a case for extra minutes).

That is going to place plenty of stress on Cristian Roldan, Aidan Morris, and James Sands because the gamers who’re enjoying recurrently heading into the match.

For Aidan Morris, this can be a massive audition. He’s having a giant season and had beforehand been set again by COVID and his ACL tear.

Brandan Vazquez additionally has an enormous alternative to construct his resume. However the time is now for him as a result of with Folarin Balogun becoming a member of the USMNT, heart ahead spots at the moment are dwindling. With Balogun and Ricardo Pepi rising, the strain is on gamers reminiscent of Haji Wright, Josh Sargent, Jesus Ferreira, and Vazquez to indicate their skills.

Lastly, based on U.S. Soccer: “Six dual national players will be cap-tied to the United States should they appear in any match during the Gold Cup: Cade Cowell, Julian Gressel, Aidan Morris, Gaga Slonina, Alan Soñora and Brandon Vazquez.”