USMNT takeaways: Young players seize their chance in perfect post-World Cup camp

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Mauricio Pochettino’s primary aim for his first post-World Cup U.S. camp was not necessarily to win all four matches. The games were secondary to integrating more than a dozen prospects and getting them to embrace his tenets. It was about forging bonds off the field and chemistry on it. And along the way, if his team meshed quickly and won a few of these quality friendlies packed into 11 days in three time zones, he would be thrilled. Late Tuesday night, as players stuffed their bags and dashed out of Allianz Field to catch flights back to their clubs, there were smiles and satisfaction throughout the group, though forward Justin Ellis had already left to undergo an MRI after injuring his lower right leg. The gritty 1-0 victory over Canada capped an international window that exceeded all expectations. In their most successful stretch against a variety of opponents in 10 years, the Americans earned four wins by a 12-3 margin and did not concede a goal in the last 221 minutes. All 28 players got on the field. Thirteen newcomers, including eight teenagers, made their debuts. Even with a mix of experience levels, there were moments when the U.S. looked as if it had been playing together for years. “Like we said going into this camp, there's no pressure for any of these kids to perform right now, but a lot of them did perform right now,” captain Tyler Adams said. “They obviously set the standard. Now it's about continuing to keep that standard.” Friendlies don’t usually mean much, but for Pochettino and his beaming crew, the performances in those friendlies — and the work that went into them at their Georgia training headquarters and the sessions in multiple other cities — meant everything. “We were talking now in a meeting with the players” after the match, Pochettino said. “I think, yes, they deserve the credit. Not talking only about the results; talking about the way we compete and the way we build that journey together. I think it was amazing, and that is a starting point to keep going.” Here are other takeaways from the camp: USMNT's Justin Ellis scored twice in the window, including the winner against Canada. AP Photo/Abbie Parr The kids are alright Pochettino’s decision to invite so many young players to a senior camp was initially surprising but it paid off handsomely. They not only gained experience; they thrived. Julian Hall, 18, scored three goals. Ellis, 19, scored twice, including the winner against Canada several minutes after suffering the injury. Mathis Albert, 17, became the youngest scorer in U.S. history — until four days later, when the electrifying Cavan Sullivan, 17, broke his record. Several others embraced their introduction and showed that, while they’re not ready for a World Cup, they have potential to provide depth and push experienced players for roster spots and minutes. Pochettino doesn’t see the U.S. joining the global elite tomorrow. It’s a process, and with four years until the next World Cup, he hopes by identifying and integrating fresh talent now, he will have a strong and deep team by 2030. “The most difficult thing now is how we support this young player,” Pochettino said. “The easier thing always is to arrive there and make the debut, but now, how we are going to evolve with them and how we are going to protect, how we are going to guide, how we are going to make them understand that now they have more responsibility?” In a few weeks, Pochettino will have some difficult decisions to make about his young charges. The U.S. returns to official competition with the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals, a two-leg series against Haiti. At the same time, there are plans for an under-23 camp for Olympic-eligible players. With the the 2028 Olympics taking place in Los Angeles, the tournament is a top priority for the U.S. Soccer Federation. Pochettino is working closely with U-23 coach Steve Cherundolo to mold a team capable of winning a medal — something the U.S. men have not done in the modern Olympic era. All the young players in this senior camp could land on the Olympic squad, and preparations need to begin soon. Before this senior camp began, Pochettino was probably thinking most, if not all, would go to U-23 camp next month. Seeing what they did over these two weeks, he might opt to pluck a few for the Nations League matches. “There are a lot of new faces, and they all had great energy and worked very hard while they were here,” said midfielder Gio Reyna. “Now it's just about everybody going back to the clubs, and that decision is left with Mauricio in terms of who comes back and who doesn't.” Veteran pressure With an expanding player pool, should regulars begin to worry about their place on the team? Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie, among others, were not invited to this camp because they were just getting up to speed after recovering from injuries. Presumably, all three will return for the Nations League. But nothing is certain. And Pochettino has made clear he only wants players who are fully committed to the program, irrespective of their skill level. Even if a player pledges their allegiance to Pochettino’s plan, the competition for roster spots will come into play. Will Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson and other World Cup players remain in the mix? All four goalkeepers started a match. Diego Kochen and Brian Schwake (28) each kept a clean sheet in a full 90 minutes. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS Keeping up with keepers Pochettino awarded playing time to all four goalkeepers in camp, leaving the door open to the starting job. All four started one match. After playing one half in the first two games, newcomers Diego Kochen, 20, and Brian Schwake, 25, looked comfortable and recorded shutouts in 90-minute performances in the final two matches. World Cup starter Matt Freese played the first 45 minutes of the opener against Peru and didn’t play again. He wasn’t in uniform Tuesday. Chris Brady, the third-string World Cup keeper, struggled in his lone appearance against Chile and didn’t play again. Matt Turner, the 2022 World Cup starter and 2026 second-choice keeper, was not invited to this camp. Once a position of great strength in American soccer, goalkeeping will have high priority as the U.S. staff monitors the candidates in league play and weighs options for the Nations League and beyond. Gio Reyna is growing up Reyna was the only player to start all four matches and, for the first time in his U.S. career, he is looking and acting like a leader and role model. He also played well, partnering with Malik Tillman and showing his versatility by working in a pure attacking role and also dropping deep to orchestrate the attack. Remember: He’s only 23. Even when Reyna wasn’t playing regularly in Germany last season, Pochettino kept faith in him — so much so, he named him to the World Cup squad. Now, Reyna is thriving at French club Strasbourg. “Gio is really mature now,” Pochettino said. “He is still so young, but he is one of the leaders of the group too and is helping a lot and is always positive. Yes, all the things we see in him are so positive. That is why we have trust in him playing.” CONCACAF supremacy For what it’s worth, the U.S. can claim regional bragging rights for this window after defeating Mexico, 3-0, on Saturday in Greater Phoenix and knocking off the feisty Canadians here in Minnesota. They had lost each of their previous two meetings to both their neighbors. The next goal is unseating Mexico as Gold Cup and Nations League champions. While the U.S. went 4-0-0 in the window, Mexico was 0-2-2 and Canada 2–1-0.