USMNT
USMNT vs Switzerland: Positional Play Scholar
USMNT played Switzerland and lost 1-2. The US was mostly dominant in the first half outshooting their opponent and having most of the ball. The second half was a different story. Three things stood out to me. I hope to write about each of them this week. I’ll start with the Press.
Press, Press, Press
This game was all about the press. When things went well and the US had near complete control it was due to the press. When the the US gave up the equalizer it was a failure of the press. When the game slipped out of control it was due to the press.
The gooD
In the first half the US mostly pressed well. They wanted this. Man Marking all over the field. Aaronson was in his element. Notice the angle he’s taking here. He’s using his body position to turn a 2v1 into a 1v1 and push the ball back toward the center where they have cover. This repeatedly caused the Swiss GK or CB to try long balls which the US mostly easily collected. This worked extremely well through most of the first half.
Possession was also part of the success of the press. Except when in their own defensive third, (which I will talk about in the future) the US progressed the ball well. I said when we started that I wanted to see some La Pausa from the team. I wanted to see that they could press with intensity, attack in transition if they could but when it wasn’t there realize it was time to slow down and break the opponent down. This was a key piece the team has lacked. The USMNT is a young team. In the past, they have only been able to choose one way or the other. Either they played “composed and brave” and possessed the ball or they played high intensity. We have not seen them able to mix the two and good teams can do that. They press with intensity, transition quickly but when it’s not there or when the opponent does a good job making that an inefficient option, then they can change the rhythm. They did exactly that in the first half. The benefit of that was this.
The Bad
Pressing is dangerous. US Fans love the idea of the press. High octane, attacking defense instead of passive low block defense. More transition play and more (in theory) play based on athleticism. The bad part of a heavy pressing scheme is that it’s risky and depends on 1v1 defense.
This is particularly hard for players and fans who grew up with the sport in the last 30 years. I’ve seen retired defenders marvel at the bravery of modern defenders. The things they’re asked to do today would have gotten defenders yelled out before. If one word can describe soccer tactics today its bravery. Bravery to pass out of a press in their own third. Bravery to commit numbers in the final third and mostly bravery to defend 1v1 with limited cover. This requires mobile defenders who attack the ball in the midfield.
A key defensive principle that is taught at even the E License is Press and cover. When I’ve ever decided to coach a young recreational team who has little to no experience with the game, I teach press and cover.
This simple principle will take an untrained recreational team who gets beat by that one super athletic player and make them competitive. It’s a basic principle that’s true at the highest level. It’s the core principle behind the concept of keeping +1 in the back. +1 in the back means just what it sounds like. Most teams, even EPL teams try to keep one more defender in the back than attackers. So if the opponent is keeping one striker up, the team will keep 2 cbs. If the opponent is keeping 2 attackers, then the opponent will keep 3 in the back with the 6 or fb falling in. Offensively this keeps a free man to keep possession. Defensively this ensures that if they do lose the ball, the cb has at least 1 cover.
I say all of this because the Press often removes that cover. It plays 1v1 defensively, even in the back. It requires the 6 and cb’s to step up to make challenges in the midfield. If you watched Chelsea and Man City in the finals, you saw Rudiger literally breaking De Bruyne’s face because he was doing exactly that. He was stepping up as part of the press to challenge De Bruyne 1v1.
This works great if the defender wins their battles and if they get back in position. The equalizer came from that not happening. Yueill mostly had a very good game(which I will get to later) but in this case, he pressed forward (appropriately) and then didn’t get back into his 6 spot.
The 6 protects the back line. In a pressing scheme they have to switch back and forth between a man to man press concept and zonal concept. Yuiell, who plays mostly man to man concepts with the Quakes, and who usually has very good game IQ to play the zonal 6 concepts, failed to quickly get back into position.
The US pressed well as they did the whole first half. They forced the Swiss into a difficult arial ball to the cm. Yueill correctly stepped up and challenged. Dest (who was incorrectly blamed for not getting back) also stepped up to press. The ball was bobbled by the Swiss attacker and Yueill hesitated between trying to win that ball or get back. The Swiss settled it and they were able to get it to the Swiss attacker right into the zone normally patrolled by the 6. This created a 2v1 on Brooks that the Swiss exploited all the way down the field for the equalizer.
The second problem of a team fully dependent on the press reared its head in the second half. Fatigue. I’ve said to fans before that Berhalter and his staff use friendlies as training sessions. Mckennie said post game that a key goal of the friendly was altitude training. Given their next competitive match is in Denver, this is really smart. They pressed heavy all game as part of altitude training. By mid way through the second half, the team was gassed. They had just spent 60+ minutes running full speed in a pressing scheme in high altitude. This was after training sessions geared towards altitude training. The subs came on and couldn’t match the pace of the game.
This is a big problem with depending on the pressing scheme for the US in the World Cup. Assuming they qualify, which no one is taking for granted this cycle, can the US press through a tournament in Qatar? I’m personally doubtful. It’s not just the heat of Qatar. It’s the lack of US depth. The press for EPL teams was less effective this year than recent years. Many blame the lack of fans which is probably part of it. The other is fatigue. Watching both Chelsea and Man City this year, I don’t think it was a coincidence that the two teams in the finals are two of the deepest teams in the UCL. I watched as both heavily rotated their squads throughout the season. Both were able press and play with intensity with tight schedules because they have the depth to rotate star players. In the WC, Germany, France, and England will have that depth to rotate their squads. The US has a starting XI that I would say (with complete bias) is starting to be up there with elite teams. They do not have the depth.
Lastly, the US has limited time to prepare for matches. The “System” has an answer to most questions asked of teams. Positional Play possession, high press, mid block press and low block defending.
We saw against the first Canada match what happens when the team focuses mostly on possession play and they need verticality. Canada saw the difficulty the US has handling a heavy central press. The coaching staff may tell them to respond to this with vertical passing (which btw, we saw against the Swiss). But you could tell they hadn’t worked on it. The plan is vertical pistoning between the 8’s, 9 and wings.
We saw a really good run by Mckennie going deep using this agains the Swiss. We also saw him coming back for the ball.
Against Canada in the first game, this was still the plan. We saw Brooks constantly waving his wingers for movement. It’s great that the team seems to have gotten this concept but it’s a reminder that in each window, they can’t work on everything in the system.
This time I thought they struggled in the low block. It makes sense as with the plan to high press and possess, the low block is where they plan and hope to spend the least time in the game. However, It resulted in the second goal.
This is neither a low block, nor is it pressing. You generally don’t press trap in the middle of the field. The reason you don’t is because of this very reason. The Swiss slipped a pass passed Musah and had a 2v1 on Cannon. This resulted in the cross and second goal.
We can blame this on either the lack of time to drill the low block (which tbh most should know) or fatigue.
Berhalter admitted and took accountability for the fatigue and risk of the constant press. He admitted that in future games they’d have to balance that press with defensive integrity. This will be key for the US going forward. How do they use the press and their athleticism to their advantage while not burning out their players?
The press made them dominant in the first half but was ultimately the cause of the loss. There are multiple phases of the game. The US cannot depend on only the press and transition attack the way Jesse Marsch has or teams like RB Leipzig has. They are going to have to adapt and lean on different phases of the game in different games. They are going to have to do that with line ups beyond a single starting XI. I hope we see them start to figure that out in the upcoming competitive games.
Club News
The constructing of a World Cup roster
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
With the September FIFA window now in the rearview mirror, and only three more windows left before final rosters are set in late May or early June 2026, Mauricio Pochettino has drawn a clear line.
He’s stated that September’s camp was the “last camp to have the possibility for new faces.”
If we take him at his word, the nearly 70 players who’ve been called across six camps and the Gold Cup will form the pool from which he selects the 2026 World Cup squad.
Of the 60 players named to the 2025 Gold Cup provisional roster, only five, Maxi Dietz, Richie Ledezma, Tim Tillman, Caleb Wiley, and Griffin Yow, have yet to appear on a #USMNT roster under Pochettino.
Comparing the 2025 Nations League provisional roster to the Gold Cup list reveals over a dozen different players, raising the question: are these minor differences simply the edges of the player pool Pochettino intends to draw from?
Goalkeepers
Nine goalkeepers have been called into Pochettino’s camps, but it’s clear that Matt Freese is his first-choice right now, with Matt Turner likely the No. 2 as we sit just 10 months from the World Cup.
- Chris Brady
- Drake Callender
- Roman Celentano
- Matt Freese
- Ethan Horvath
- Jonathan Klinsmann
- Diego Kochen
- Patrick Schulte
- Zack Steffen
- Matt Turner
Fullbacks
Outside of Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson, the USMNT’s fullback depth remains a concern. Pochettino appears high on MLS defenders Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten, while Caleb Wiley, though yet to feature in a USMNT camp but named to recent provisional rosters, could still be on his depth chart.
- Max Arfsten
- Sergino Dest
- Alex Freeman
- Marlon Fossey
- DeJuan Jones
- Kristoffer Lund
- Shaquell Moore
- Antonee Robinson
- Joe Scally
- John Tolkin
Centerbacks
Center back remains another position with uncertain depth. Chris Richards and the veteran Tim Ream look like locks for now, leaving three spots up for grabs. If Pochettino opts for a back three, that tactical shift could influence which players ultimately make the cut. Notably, Jackson Ragen and Maxi Dietz are the only center backs from the recent provisional rosters who haven’t been called into a USMNT camp.
- Noahkai Banks
- Tristan Blackmon
- George Campbell
- Cameron Carter-Vickers
- Mark McKenzie
- Tim Ream
- Chris Richards
- Miles Robinson
- Auston Trusty
- Walker Zimmerman
Central Midfielders
The central midfield position is the deepest for the #USMNT, with many players in the pool capable of also playing fullback, center back, or winger. Although Richie Ledezma has primarily played as a right back and right wing-back for his current club and for PSV last season, USMNT coaches view him primarily as a midfielder. This likely explains why he hasn’t yet been called into a USMNT camp.
- Tyler Adams
- Sebastian Berhalter
- Gianluca Busio
- Johnny Cardoso
- Ben Cremaschi
- Luca de la Torre
- Emeka Eneli
- Jack McGlynn
- Weston McKennie
- Aidan Morris
- Yunus Musah
- Tanner Tessmann
- Sean Zawadzki
Attacking Midfielders
There are several players at this position who could add real quality and play pivotal roles for the #USMNT at next summer’s World Cup. Gio Reyna remains a major question mark, but his talent is undeniable. With his recent club change, there’s hope he can return to the high level of form we’ve seen from him in the past.
- Brenden Aaronson
- Paxten Aaronson
- Brian Gutiérrez
- Djordje Mihailovic
- Matko Miljevic
- Gio Reyna
- Malik Tillman
Wingers
The winger position remains thin for the #USMNT, though several players there can also slot in as attacking midfielders, strikers, or even fullback. Notably, two young wingers, Cole Campbell and Griffin Yow, appeared on provisional rosters but have yet to be called into any Pochettino camp.
- Cade Cowell
- Diego Luna
- Christian Pulisic
- Quinn Sullivan
- Indiana Vassilev
- Tim Weah
- Haji Wright
- Alejandro Zendejas
Strikers
Another area of concern for the USMNT is striker depth. While the top options have all produced well for their clubs when healthy, injuries have kept the pool thin. If everyone is fit, the primary competition for the starting role likely comes down to three players: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Josh Sargent. Haji Wright and Tim Weah can also step in as center-forward options if needed.
- Patrick Agyemang
- Folarin Balogun
- Damion Downs
- Jesus Ferreira
- Ricardo Pepi
- Josh Sargent
- Brandon Vazquez
- Brian White
Conclusion
It’s tough to read Pochettino’s mindset right now. Many expect fewer MLS players to be called for the October window, partly because the league continues through FIFA dates and the regular season ends mid-October.
Most World Cup rosters largely select themselves, with only a few surprising omissions, think of the 1994 squad, which left out several players many felt deserved a spot.
But with Pochettino still showing a shaky grasp of the USMNT player pool, this cycle could produce more notable snubs than ever, though there’s still time for him to get it right.
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.
The constructing of a World Cup roster
Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky
Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished
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