20230419 American States United

"There's no such thing as a friendly when you're playing against Mexico.”

—Tim Ream, when asked what to expect from tonight’s USA-Mexico match

A reminder probably isn’t necessary for ASU readers, but here’s one anyway: The U.S. and Mexico meet tonight in the inaugural Allstate Continental Clásico at 10 p.m. ET (kickoff officially at 10:22 p.m. ET). 🇺🇸🇲🇽

For a proper USMNT-El Tri preview, be sure to check out Rog and VAMOS, Presented by Bud Light host Herculez Gomez’s PREVIEW PODCAST that takes a look at all the big storylines heading into tonight’s match. Then be sure to join Rog after the match for a special Do It Live! on AMP recapping all the CONCACAF action from Arizona.

Now We Newsletter.

ASU EXCLUSIVE:

We may have just achieved Peak Convocation. 🦅

Ahead of this weekend’s Fulham-Leeds match (aka Premier League Bowl I), Rog was fortunate enough to sit down with Brenden Aaronson, Weston McKennie, Tim Ream, and Antonee Robinson as a group to chop it up about … well, everything. From music, to most missed American food item, to favorite USMNT inside jokes, the group interview turned into the ultimate Americans Abroad hang. And it was tremendous. The entire interview will be released as a special podcast and video later this week.

But for now, a teaser. At one point, Rog asked Brenden a question from a fan.

@hanginalone112187: "Was there ever a time when you’ve seen Wes at a loss for words. And if so, when and why?"

BRENDEN: "OK, I've got a good one. [Group laughs] So there's a thing at the club right now where I'm getting backlash, because I had my friends come out from America. And I wanted to just go golfing with my college friends. And I love golfing with [Weston], but I'm going to be honest, I didn't want him to come with me on the day. I wanted it to be just me and my friends, and we were just going to go out and play."

WES: "Hold on, I'm gonna chime in. Tim, Antonee, please give me your input. He went golfing with his friends, right? And I was like, 'Oh, I really want to go golfing also.' So I was like, 'I'm going to Wike.' Which is a place around here. And he was like, 'Oh, I'm going there too.' So it happens that we show up at the same time. His friends tee off in front of me, bro. I'm in the buggy by myself, playing by myself. And it's only three of them! And instead of saying, 'Hey Wes, come make it four with us.' [Group laughs] He let me golf by myself behind him." [Group laughs even more loudly]

ANTONEE: "Is that when you put the story up on Snapchat, 'Golfing On My Own'?"

WES: "Oh yeah! Yeah!"

BRENDEN: "Bro, I made it so clear!"

ANTONEE: "Nah, Brenden. That's poor." 😂😂😂

Look for the complete conversation on our YouTube and our Pod feed later this week.

Goals as Comfort Food:

Injuries. Limited playing time. Family drama. Gio Reyna’s 🇩🇪 life on and off the pitch has been a North Rhine-Westphalian Roller Coaster over the last few months. But thankfully for Gio, he has had one constant throughout all the madness. The goals.

The 20-year-old from Bedford, N.Y. strolled on as a substitute against Stuttgart on Saturday and scored a late banger, pouncing on the ball in the box, before finishing calmly and coolly (WATCH). This was his fourth goal as a substitute since January 22.

The American Dream who melts steel beams now has six goals this season, tied for second-most by a US international in a Bundesliga campaign. Reyna is now just three goals behind USMNT great Eric Wynalda.

Reyna’s also scoring 1.0 Goals Per 90 Minutes, a very high ratio. By comparison, in England, Erling Haaland is averaging 1.29 G/90 in the Premier League, but after the City striker, the leaders are: Harry Kane (0.75) in second, and Roberto Firmino (0.71) in third.

Not bad when the Norwegian Meat Shield is your statistical point of reference.

Zendejas Brace:

It’d been a minute since top USMNT recruit Alejandro Zendejas 🇲🇽 got in the club goals (he scored for the U.S. less than a month ago), but he did so in timely fashion on Saturday, bagging a key brace for Club America against rivals Cruz Azul during their 3-1 away win. Watch the first goal here, second here.

The 25-year-old who was born in Ciudad Jaurez, Mexico but raised in El Paso, Texas was not given permission by Club America to play for the USMNT in their match tonight against Mexico. Which is a bit of a bummer, but at least the next time we get to see Zendejas show off that left-peg magic in a U.S. kit, it’ll be alongside the likes of Puli, Wes, and company.

Fossey Flippin’ Out:

Marlon Fossey 🇧🇪 can’t stop scoring. Which is some sort of noise considering he’s banging them in from right back, not up top.

The 24-year-old who was born in Los Angeles but grew up on the Balliwick of Jersey 🏝 headed home his third goal in four games for Standard Liege in their fiery 3-1 Walloon Derby win over Charleroi on Friday. Watch the goal, stay for the cele. (Best soccer handsprings since Obafemi Martins.)

Fossey, who joined the Fulham Academy at 11 after being discovered during a youth tournament in Jersey, played senior football in England for Shrewsbury Town and Bolton Wanderers before settling in with Standard Liege in 2022. He’s a regular starter — let alone Man of the Match — on the right flank for the Belgian side, and has helped lift them to an impressive sixth place in the Belgian top flight.

Fossey also has eight caps with the US U20s. Maybe a senior one’s on the horizon for the Wallpaper Wonder.

News and Notes:

• Ricardo Pepi 🇳🇱 (20; El Paso, TX) strong-necked home his 12th goal of the season for FC Groningen (WATCH) in their 2-1 loss at Waalwijk.

• Josh Sargent 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (23; O’Fallon, MO) slotted one past fellow USMNTer Zack Steffen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (28; Downington, PA) (WATCH) in Norwich’s 5-1 loss to Middlesbrough. It was Sarge’s 12th for the Canaries.

• Tim Ream 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (35; St. Louis, MO) added some chest magic to his Reamaldinho mixtape (WATCH) during Fulham’s 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

• Chris Richards 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (23; Birmingham, AL) is back from injury, and while he didn’t get off the bench in Palace’s 2-0 win at Southampton, he was in good spirits afterwards. 😙🎶

• Kevin Paredes 🇩🇪 (19; South Riding, VA) had to sub off due to a hamstring injury during Wolfsburg’s scoreless draw with Bayer Leverkusen Sunday, but the injury isn’t too serious and he should only be out about 10 days. 🙌

• Paxten Aaronson 🇩🇪 (19; Medford, NJ) saw his first extended minutes for Eintracht as a 55th minute sub in their 1-1 draw with Joe Scally 🇩🇪 (20; Lake Grove, NY) and Gladbach on Saturday. The younger Aaronson even cracked a smile or two during his post-match interview, admitting that “it felt great being out there.” 😎

Parting Shots:

Lovely and talented USMNT striker Daryl Dike 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 suffered a tragic, season-ending Achilles injury during West Brom’s win at Stoke on Saturday. After receiving word that surgery would be required — meaning he’d sidelined for six to nine months — the 22-year-old from Edmond, Okla. bravely opened up on Twitter about how gutting this third serious injury was for him, but that he would draw strength from friends, family, and fans. “Now is my time to bounce back and give myself a positive reaction,” he wrote. We couldn’t agree more, Daryl, and can’t wait for you to return to the pitch, where you’re sure to start scoring with aplomb once more. 🙌❤️

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