The USMNT will take the field in the World Cup in just a little over a month. At this point, Mauricio Pochettino has a good idea of who he will bring into the team. However, there are some positional battles that still need to be settled and players that need to show they should be considered in settling them. Let’s check in on key areas of the player pool as April wraps up.
Matt Turner – The New England Revolution netminder is putting up solid numbers so far this season. With the USMNT keeper starter pool featuring players in MLS that very well may put him between the sticks when the World Cup rolls around. He’s allowed 12 goals in 9 MLS regular season games, keeping two cleansheets in that time. Turner is averaging 5.1 saves a game, good for second in the league, his save percentage is .208 which is 12th – sitting in 11th is Matt Freese with 2.12 and Chris Brady is in 13th with .207. It should be noted that Brady is also having a great start to the year with five clean sheets and has allowed just 8 goals in 9 games. The goalkeeper position is very much up for grabs and it will be interesting to see who gets the gloves for the final two friendlies before the World Cup begins.
Haji Wright – After missing the last friendly window due to injury, Wright has taken some time to come back with Coventry City. His 17 goals is second best in the Championship this year but in the five games he’s played in April he has found the back of the net just once. The striker race has settled with Folarin Balogun having a terrific year and Ricardo Pepi tearing it up with PSV, the injury to Patrick Agyemang may very well bring Wright to the World Cup as it seemed like he and Pepi were in a three man race for the final two striker spots.
Christian Pulisic – CP10 has not scored in 16 games for AC Milan and his cold streak is starting to worry some folks. His manager spoke to the press after the team’s 0-0 draw with Juventus saying, “Christian is a very sensitive man and this drought is hitting him harder,” Allegri said in a post-match interview with DAZN on Sunday. “He is also someone who struggles more with the physicality of duels and the lack of a center forward.” That should offer some reassurance as far as the tactical cause to his struggles, but the note about his sensitivity speaks to what could be a difficult time for him in regaining his confidence ahead of the World Cup.
Gio Reyna – The midfielder has made 4 appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach since the last international window and in that time has one shot. He was called against Portugal and Belgium in despite not producing for his club and it might be time to find another option in attacking midfield for the World Cup. Meanwhile, Alejandro Zendejas has been playing in huge games for Club America with a goal and two assists in seven matches in April.
Alex Freeman – It seemed like a big risk for Freeman to move to Villarreal but it may be starting to payoff in the last few weeks of the season. After making some appearences off the bench, Freeman started against Celta Vigo over the weekend and showed he belongs in La Liga with 96% of his passes completed, a pair of tackles, six clearances, two interceptions, six recoveries and won all five of his duels. Defense will be huge for the USMNT this World Cup and the fact that he excelled defensively in the game is a good sign ahead of the tournament.