USMNT
The “New” USMNT Manager’s Mandate: Fire Players That You Hired
By John Roche ([email protected])
So the new Gregg Berhalter era begins with trepidation for most fans. We need not rehash the many reasons why – they are warranted. Amidst the lingering concerns, though, there is a unique opportunity for Berhalter to demonstrate that he has learned valuable insights from his first tenure, that he is prepared to both transform his coaching philosophy and appease the faithful – through a swift open salvo, a genuine power move that shows his evolution as a Manager. He need only unleash his inner German!
Let’s explain.
Joachim Low’s Shaming of 2019
In March of 2019, then-German National Team Manager Joachim Low individually sat down three of his aging, but still core players in Thomas Muller (aged 29), George Boateng (30), and Mats Hummels (30) – and fired them. Low was turning the page to evaluate younger players, he explained, and they were no longer under consideration. A press release from the German Football Association followed. Many German fans opposed the decision, but Low’s choice was not a referendum; the players were out.
As many readers know, Hummels and Muller returned to the team two years later under Low, so the finality of the incident is not what Berhalter needs to draw on. Rather, Low – in a very direct, perhaps excessively-Bavarian way – eradicated any ambiguity around player selection at a time when the German Football Association was mired in unprecedented disarray. Germany had exited the 2018 World Cup at the opening group stage for the first time in the history of the tournament. Fans needed clarity on the direction of the program, and Low delivered it with conviction – if not consensus.
Berhalter’s Mirrored Perspective
When he took over in 2019, Berhalter’s player selection crisis resembled Lowe’s at the time: his core players were old, and the program had also experienced historic failure in 2018. The key difference was that Berhalter could not cast-out aging, subpar performers like Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Omar Gonzalez, et al, because younger, more capable backfills did not exist – at least yet.
Fast forward to 2023, and the pool is younger, more skilled, and deeper than ever. Realistically, the only tension around current player selection is entirely of Berhalter’s own making: certain players are still under consideration not due to their superior USMNT performances, their adulation from fans, or their potential for the future.
Instead, their candidacies exist singularly out of Berhalter’s strange and frustrating allegiance to them. And unfortunately, an excessive loyalty to suboptimal players ran amok throughout his first tenure: Will Trapp, Jonathan Lewis, Gyasi Zardes, Nick Lima, Daniel Lovitz, Sebastian Lleget, and the recently-recalled Jackson Yueill are among those that were deputized for WAY too long given obvious shortcomings.
Conviction Meets Consensus: A USMNT Retirement Party
Berhalter needs to remedy his own self-inflicted wound right away by dispatching the aging, underperforming players whose callups are alienating fans – and likely players – more than ever. Put plainly: Aaron Long, Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris should be retired. With their performances at this week’s Gold Cup, their opportunity to contribute a has expired.
(To note: DeAndre Yedlin is the only other recently-selected player that could be included in this “aging meets underperforming” profile, but I think he is still too capable to be cast-out indefinitely. The USMNT’s intimacy with MLS will still mean we have silly January camps where moderately talented veteran leadership is necessary.)
For certainty, there does not need to be any shame in this process. Berhalter can have private, positive one-on-one conversations with each of them. Sure, these players will not be happy about such a decision, but none would reasonably feel aggrieved, as all three have had injury spats and are by now not even impacting games in B-team competitions. Lastly, the USSF could follow the German approach of issuing a press release, but instead could spin the announcements as player-endorsed retirements.
More important than maintaining these players’ dignity, though, the fans get a deserved win. Would any among us genuinely express concern or outrage at these three players no longer being available? (In fact, most would probably encourage firing more players!) A few MLS beat writers might throw-up some “fake rage” hit pieces on social media, but ultimately the fan base would collectively exhale.
So….Does He Do It?
Disappointingly, Berhalter will almost certainly not touch this idea. His public-facing statements on player conflicts have veered between passive-aggressive silence and irreconcilable imagination – as witnessed most awkwardly through the ongoing John Brooks saga. He will likely not change his approach now.
Without this clarity, the fan base will likely experience some needlessly nervy moments ahead of roster drops. The injuries and dips in player “form” will endure, but we can only hope that a deserving player is not omitted in favor of a quirky Berhalter selection. At least in that respect, this time should be different.
USMNT
Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky
USMNT
Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
Not long ago, winning your confederation’s tournament earned a spot in the FIFA Confederations Cup, a prestigious competition held in the World Cup host nation the summer before the world’s biggest tournament.
The tournament featured the champions of all six confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA), along with the reigning FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, rounding out the field to eight teams. The tournament was last played in 2017.
The Concacaf Gold Cup is a semi-cycle tournament played in the first and third years of the cycle. The CAF Africa Cup of Nations is the only other confederation that plays two tournaments a cycle, and in many circles, the frequency of the Concacaf Gold Cup and the addition of the Concacaf Nations League has made the Gold Cup a throwaway tournament for the USMNT, as it’s been six years since the so called A list player pool has played in the event.
It raises the question for FIFA and Concacaf: should the Gold Cup be played once a cycle, and should FIFA consider bringing back the Confederations Cup?
The USMNT won the inaugural Gold Cup in 1991 and has claimed seven of the 17 editions since. Only two other CONCACAF nations Mexico (9) and Canada (1)—have lifted the trophy, and both are contenders in this edition.
The USMNT has a strong track record at the Gold Cup, finishing first in their group every year except 2011. They’ve reached 12 finals, with a record of 69 wins, 12 draws, and 9 losses, scoring 189 goals and conceding just 60
Gold Cup Player Stats
Across 17 editions of the Gold Cup, the USMNT has netted 189 goals, conceded just 60, and recorded 50 clean sheets. Here’s a look at the players who made it happen, those who found the back of the net, and those who kept it out.
Goals
18-Landon Donovan
13-Clint Dempsey
9-Eric Wynalda
8-Brian McBride
7-Jesus Ferreira
Assists
16-Landon Donovan
7-Michael Bradley
6-DaMarcus Beasley
6-Alejandro Bedoya
6-Eric Wynalda
5-Clint Dempsey
Wins
17-Kasey Keller
11-Tim Howard
8-Tony Meola
7-Matt Turner
Shutouts
14-Kasey Keller
8-Tim Howard
6-Tony Meola
6-Matt Turner
Captain
10-Michael Bradley
10-Kasey Keller
9-Carlos Bocanegra
8-Tony Meola
7-Claudio Reyna
Gold Cup Manager Stats
Over the past 34 years, the USMNT has reached 12 of the 17 Gold Cup finals under the leadership of seven different managers. Here’s a look at how each of them performed.
Matches Coached
25-Bruce Arena
18-Bob Bradley
12-Gregg Berhalter
12-Jurgen Klinsmann
10-Bora Milutinovic
8-Steve Sampson
5-B.J. Callaghan
Matches Won
19-Bruce Arena – GF-52-, GA-14
14-Bob Bradley – GF-34, GA-17
11-Gregg Berhalter – GF-26, GA-3
9-Jurgen Klinsmann – GF-32, GA-9
8-Bora Milutinovic – GF-15, GA-8
6-Steve Sampson – GF-14, GA-5
2-B.J. Callaghan – GF-16, GA-4
Gold Cup Trophies
3-Bruce Arena
1-Gregg Berhalter
1-Bob Bradley
1-Jurgen Klinsmann
1-Bora Milutinovic
Conclusion
In the future, U.S. Soccer and the USMNT should clearly communicate roster expectations for the Gold Cup, especially if a full A-list squad is not planned. Transparency on this front is essential, as it directly affects fan interest and attendance.
Club News
From Louisville to Lisbon: Joshua Wynder’s Journey with S.L. Benfica
The current state of the USMNT has been at an all-time low since Couva in 2017. One of the positions in dire situation is Center Back. Tim Ream will be 38 by the time of the 2026 World Cup. Chris Richards has too many highs and lows and has not shown his club form with the US. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty have yet to perform for the national team. Miles Robinson, despite what many MLS fans want to believe, is not good enough and makes too many errors, like the second Turkish goal on June 7th, 2025. Walker Zimmerman has one World Cup left in him and he has a history of making critical errors as well, like the penalty against Gareth Bale in the 2022 World Cup. Lastly, Mark McKenzie has improved his game since his move to Toulouse, but he is lacking the deserved opportunities and a good partnership.
Our U20 CBs will need to be called up sooner rather than later, either before or immediately after the 2026 World Cup. The top 3 prospects by fans and analysts are Noahkai Banks, Matai Akinmboni, and Joshua Wynder. Of the three, Joshua Wynder is the oldest at 20 years old and is part of a club that is world-renowned for their development, S.L. Benfica.
How did Wynder manage to accomplish such a move from Louisville City in the USL Championship to Benfica? To summarize, Wynder had a breakout season for Lou City at 17 years old in 2022, so much so that he was included in the US U20 World Cup team in 2023.
Wynder secured a spot to go on trial at Benfica and passed. On June 8th, 2023, Benfica officially acquired Joshua Wynder from Lou City for a record-breaking $1.2 million transfer fee, which still stands today.
Benfica registered Wynder with the second team for the 2023/2024 season, who participate in Liga Portugal 2. Due to Portuguese rules (players play in the youth system until they are 19 years old), he spent the season with Benfica’s UEFA Youth League team and U23 team and only received 21 minutes with the B team until a season-ending injury. What began as a promising start, with the support of the fans, was cut short after just six matches. The following season went according to plan for Wynder. Wynder became a consistent starter for the B team where he started in 29 matches and appeared in a total of 31 matches. He also scored four goals, all headers from corners.
His success with the B team made him a fan-favorite and several calls to be called up to the first team by fans on social media. That day came on April 9th, 2025, when he made the team sheet for Benfica’s Taça de Portugal Semi-Final match against FC Tirsense. Wynder made his first team debut when he was subbed in at the 76th minute mark of that match. He made a following appearance on the bench for the first team in their second leg match against FC Tirsense.
As early as November 27, 2024, it was reported by Glorioso 1904 that Joshua Wynder had gained the attention of the Benfica manager, Bruno Lage. The report further said that Wynder was becoming an option for the next season’s first team. A similar report surfaced on March 25, 2025, by Record, in Portugal, that Wynder is on track to be with the first team for the 2025/2026 season. That day may be coming sooner rather than later. Joshua Wynder will be joining Benfica on their 2025 Club World Cup campaign. This will be a true test for him to prove to Bruno Lage that he is ready to be part of the first team for the upcoming 2025/2026 Liga Portugal and UEFA Champions League season. If he is given serious minutes with the first team and performs, Joshua Wynder needs to be considered for the 2026 World Cup or immediately following the World Cup.
Benfica is in Group C of the Club World Cup with Auckland City, Bayern München, and Boca Juniors. Their first match is against Boca Juniors, 33-time Argentine champions, on June 16th. Game two is on June 20th against 10-time New Zealander champions, Auckland City FC. Lastly, their 3rd group stage match is against the 6-time UEFA Champions League winners, Bayern München, on June 24th.
Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky
Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished
From Louisville to Lisbon: Joshua Wynder’s Journey with S.L. Benfica
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