da brwin： An awful lot has changed since the 1-0 victory over El Salvador in Orlando at the end of March…
da imperador bet： The U.S. men's national team that will face Mexico on Thursday night is much different than the one we saw in Nations League play just a few months ago. Most of the pieces are still in place, mind you, but there is one big addition headlining the squad.
Folarin Balogun is the man of the hour as he prepares for his USMNT debut after months and months of recruiting and rumors. Those rumors went into overdrive just ahead of the USMNT's last Nations League game, a win over El Salvador in Orlando, when Balogun was caught stateside by USMNT internet detectives.
Those days are long gone now, though, as Balogun is here and committed. He'll be the USMNT's striker of the future, a role that has been occupied by several names over the last few years.
Is he the USMNT's striker of the immediate future, though? Does he get the start right away against Mexico? Probably, but we can't be too sure. He's very much still integrating himself to the team, and any match against Mexico, especially one with a trophy in the line, will be a tough one to make a debut in.
That's one storyline to watch this week, but there are plenty of them. GOAL breaks down some of the key things to watch in the Nations League…
GettyBalogun's debut
We'll get the obvious one out of the way. It is all anyone will be talking about, after all.
Balogun is officially with the USMNT, although it remains to be seen if he is officially the USMNT's starting No. 9. The man himself said he wasn't expected to be handed the top spot, even if most believe he will be heading into his first matches with the national team.
Balogun is one of two strikers in the squad, with Ricardo Pepi also included. Like Balogun, Pepi is coming off a career-altering loan season, having hit double figures for a bad Groningen team. If not for Balogun, Pepi would certainly be the starter, and would be more than worthy of the role.
But this is Balogun's time, right? What better game to make a debut in than a semifinal against Mexico? What better way to introduce yourself to the U.S. than by scoring in a big tournament on home soil?
Will Balogun get that chance? We'll have to say, but it's a safe bet to say he'll have a big part to play over the next two games.
AdvertisementGettyReyna in midfield?
Gio Reyna is once again listed in midfield and, with Tyler Adams still out of action, could we see him start there once again?
The Borussia Dortmund star played centrally during the last round of Nations League matches, although he was relatively ineffective in the role. Still, the No. 10 spot looks like it could be the best way to get the most talent on the field given the wealth of options on the wing.
That applies even more this week with Adams out and no true replacement for him in the squad. There isn't a player in the pool that can really do what Adams can do, which means it may make the most sense to not even try.
Can the U.S. get away with a midfield trio of Reyna, Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie against Mexico? It's an interesting question. There isn't too much defensive strength in that trio, but they are certainly a group that would cause any team in this region some problems.
For Reyna, though, the important thing is getting on the field and putting in a good performance, no matter where he plays. He's coming off a tough six months, both for club and country, and could certainly use a bit of a pick-me-up before heading off for the summer.
GettyIs it Richards' or Trusty's time to shine?
It's been five years since a teenage Chris Richards first burst onto the scene with his move to Bayern Munich. He's had some big moments since then, playing 10 times for the Germany giants before moving to Crystal Palace in search of more playing time.
However, his 2022-23 campaign was derailed by an early-season injury, with Richards making just 10 appearances this season as he struggled with form and fitness. Now, though, at 23 years old, is it his time to take the leap?
The USMNT centerback pool is in an interesting spot at the moment, even with the ageless Tim Ream out of action. The safe move would be to start Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson, with that duo providing athleticism and experience against a tough Mexico team.
One other option, though, is Richards, a player that many saw as the USMNT's centerback of the future. It hasn't yet happened for him, unfortunately, but he's certainly still young.
The other option is Auston Trusty, who heads into camp fresh off a spectacular season on loan with Birmingham City. He earned his first cap earlier this year and looked solid enough. What part will he play in the centerback race going forward?
Callaghan has some tough choices to make, and he's already made some by excluding the likes of Mark McKenzie and John Brooks. He has good options in central defense, even with Ream out, and finding the right pairing may be key to winning this tournament.
Getty Images McKennie and Aaronson's need to shake off Leeds relegation
It's safe to say that things have gotten worse since we last saw McKennie and Brenden Aaronson in a USMNT shirt.
Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, with McKennie, in particular, made a scapegoat for the club's failures. His time at the club is surely over, while Aaronson's future also remains uncertain as Leeds head to the Championship.
That is behind them, though. That was the Premier League; this is the Nations League. You have to have a short memory in this sport, and that'll be put to the test for the Leeds duo this week. Aaronson says his mind is not looking at the past or future, as he and his teammates are firmly focused on their time together in camp.
Once again, they won't have Adams next to them, which is a blow for the U.S., but both could have key parts to play. McKennie is expected to reclaim his starting midfield spot, while Aaronson seems more likely to remain an all-energy super sub.