USMNT: The most talented player pool in history?
The USMNT have never been known to produce wildly gifted young players. But this current crop might end up comprising the most talented player pool in the team’s history.
It is easy to disparage the history of the U.S. Men’s National Team. They have largely underwhelmed and often offer much more potential than the product they ever deliver on the pitch. Just ask those that suffered the humiliation of failing to qualify for the World Cup.
But while the USMNT’s history may be one of embarrassment and disappointment, that does not mean that their future must — or will — follow suit. In fact, a quick glance around the calibre of player that the U.S. have developed and are still developing shows that they might just have the greatest set of players they have ever had.
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This week, Jason Kreis unveiled his squad for the under-23 Olympic qualifiers. 20 players have been included, 15 of which are based in Major League Soccer. There are 10 players who have played for the senior team, while three players were a part of the 2019 Gold Cup roster. Four of the 20 players have more than 100 senior appearances and most of the rest have more than 50. This is a young, talented, but also experienced set of players. It is the best squad that has ever been named for the Olympics qualifiers, and it serves to illustrate the growing talent in the USMNT pool.
But as Matt Doyle points out for mlssoccer.com, this roster of 20 young players is only a part of the blossoming youth throughout the States. According to Doyle, there are 11 players who were deemed too valuable to their teams and were not released for selection:
- Christian Pulisic
- Tyler Adams
- Weston McKennie
- Sergino Dest
- Josh Sargent
- Gio Reyna
- Sam Vines
- Christian Cappis
- Cameron Carter-Vickers
- Chris Richards
- Brooks Lennon
Also per Doyle, you can add Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson and Tim Weah to that list as players who were not called up due to injury but would not have been released from their club sides.
All this is to say that Kreis has named the best under-23 roster in USMNT history without 14 of his best players, including what could be a full starting XI. Combine this burgeoning youth and potential with some of the experience that Gregg Berhalter can unveil for the senior team, including Jozy Altidore, Aaron Long and Zack Steffen and you can see the makings of what could be an exciting, varied, deep, improving team.
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Historically, the USMNT might be shrouded in disappointment and underperformance, in humiliation and failure. But there is reason to be excited about the future. This is the most talented player poor in history. Now they just have to go out and prove it.