20230329 American States United

March 29, 2023

“We cannot go and give first-team call-ups to someone just because we don’t want them to go somewhere else … Clearly, other nations have been quite aggressive in their recruitment and what they are offering.”

—England manager Gareth Southgate on Folarin Balogun and the U.S.’s full-court recruiting press of the talented English striker, who was born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents.

USMNT:

Our Baby Eagles abroad returned home this week, camping it up for a few days in Florida before pulling off back-to-back CONCACAF Nations League wins against Grenada 🇬🇩 (7-1) and El Salvador 🇸🇻 (1-0). With the wins, the USMNT has now qualified for the Nations League semifinal on June 15 against Mexico. 🇺🇸🇲🇽

The first win against the 173rd-ranked (by FIFA) Grenadians, a largely part-time team representing an island nation that has a population of just 125,000, felt like a welcome reunion for our boys — like old high-school friends meeting at their local on Thanksgiving Eve — and it showed on the pitch. Starters like Christian Pulisic 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Hershey, PA) and Weston McKennie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Little Elm, TX) playing — and celebrating — with joy and freedom after months of frustration with their European club sides … Brenden Aaronson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (22; Medford, NJ) getting back in the goals after admitting it’s been a tough stretch lately with Leeds … Alejandro Zendejas (25; El Paso, TX) banging in his first U.S. goal in his second appearance. By the end of it, the match almost had USMNT All-Star Game vibes and left some beginning to wonder if interim manager Anthony Hudson should be given the full-time job in disastrous 1998-Steve Sampson style. Hudson was even asked about applying for the USMNT job on a permanent basis. And this was before the El Salvador win.

The second match was a dose of much-needed reality. An entirely more CONCACAF-y experience. The U.S. looked flat in the first half, while Hugo Perez had his gritty El Salvador side tactically and mentally ready for their trip to Orlando. Ultimately a hard-earned win against an uncowed visitor.

Man of Both Matches, were there such a thing, had to be Ricardo Pepi 🇳🇱 (20; El Paso, TX). De Trein 🚂 had a brace at Grenada, and then calmly dinked home the 62nd minute winner against El Salvador. Eredivisie Finishing School really paying off for El Paso’s Finest, who has reached six USMNT goals faster than any American not named Christian Pulisic or Jozy Altidore. Respect.

Gio Reyna 🇩🇪 (20; Bedford, NY) also represented well, at first just by being included in the squad after all of the Gregggate drama. And the Dortmund youngster did look nervy in the first match; he was the only one of our starting forwards not to score against Grenada. But he was a different player against El Salvador — arguably our top performer — showing composure and skill on the ball in the final third, and even coming very close to a goal of his own. Which led to praise from interim manager Anthony Hudson.

🗣 “We're pleased with him. We're pleased with what he's done. We're very, very pleased with how he's been this week in training. And, you know, I think we're all just in a position where we just want to keep looking forward.”

Others flourished as well. Wes had two goals and an assist across both games. Auston Trusty 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Media, PA) showed no nerves, and even had an assist, in his first USMNT start/appearance against Grenada. Taylor Booth 🇳🇱 (21; Eden, UT), Johnny Cardoso 🇧🇷 (21; Denville, NJ), and Zendejas are now all officially cap-tied to the U.S. 🦅🦅🦅 But arguably the most emotional moment of the week came with Miles Robinson’s 🇺🇸 (26; Arlington, MA) return to the U.S. lineup after suffering a ruptured achilles last May that agonizingly removed him from consideration for the World Cup. Great to see someone so deserving back in a U.S. uniform.

Flo in Florida:

For American Soccer Twitter (ourselves included), it was a week of pure, hopeful insanity on the Folarin Balogun 🇫🇷 (21; New York, NY) front. First, out of nowhere last Wednesday, he showed up in Orlando. Then he hit up a Magic game. Hung out with the Yankees at Spring Training. And even tried his hand at our own football.

Balogun wound up leaving the States without any formal announcement as to whether he’s going to commit to the U.S., Nigeria, or England. But that didn’t stop USMNT fans from showing him love. Which just isn’t something you’ll find in England, Flo. 😉

News and Notes:

  • Sad news out of Leeds, as Tyler Adams 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Wappingers Falls, NY) has undergone hamstring surgery and now faces an “extended absence” from football. Wishing you all the best in your recovery, Tyler. 🙌

  • Fulham are reportedly considering a move for Joe Scally 🇩🇪 (20; Lake Grove, NY) this summer. Which would make the Cottagers’ backline 75% Eagle.

  • According to Fabrizio Romano, AC Milan won’t trigger their buy option clause for Sergiño Dest, meaning he’ll return to an uncertain future with Barcelona at the end of the season. Which reportedly has everyone from Atletico Madrid to Union Berlin monitoring the situation.

  • Richy Ledezma 🇺🇸 (22; Phoenix, AZ) has returned home, leaving PSV for NYCFC.

Baby Baby Eagles:

The Junior Convocation 🦅 was also in action in Spain this week, which gave Kevin Paredes 🇩🇪 a chance to show why he’s getting valuable minutes for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. The 19-year-old from South Riding, Va. had a stunning goal (WATCH) against England, as well as an assist on Owen Wolff’s 🇺🇸 (18; Snellville, GA) extremely clever backheel finish (WATCH). The USYNT lost, 4-2, but one has to think that after Paredes’ strong showing — coupled with his strong play in Germany’s top flight — he could be on track to receive his first USMNT cap soon.

Parting Shots:

We’re going to go out on a limb and guess that the highlight of Matt Turner’s 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (28; Park Ridge, NJ) week wasn’t the shutout he served up against El Salvador. Even if he did get a chance to show off the North Jersey Fingertips of Justice in the win. Instead, it was likely an excellent gender reveal moment that he shared on the pitch with family and teammates after the game in Florida. Congrats to Matt, wife Ashley, and the rest of the Turner family. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦