Even before the USMNT plays two games in the September international window, manager Gregg Berhalter says the final World Cup roster is about 85% complete.
Mathematically, this means there are four World Cup spots up for grabs. Furthermore, Berhalter has yet to secure a potential starting eleven at the World Cup.
That makes this September window so important to the USMNT. There are players who have yet to secure a starting spot, let alone a spot on the plane to Qatar. Supporters of the side understand that the striker position is perhaps the one with the biggest question mark. While the United States has relative security and depth at both ends and in midfield, no forward has put up a consistent and promising effort with the national team.
Instead, it comes in spurts. Ricardo Pepi thrived in his USMNT debut during World Cup qualification. Former FC Dallas teammate Jesús Ferreira scored a couple of times in the same qualifying process. Then there are players in brilliant club form, looking to take that to the stars and stripes.
Of course, while the forward position makes headlines, it’s not the only blank spot on the USMNT team. Questions about the defense, largely as a result of injury, linger. Similarly, there are concerns about goalkeeping, with the main candidates for the job not playing at the highest level or playing behind the starters.
5 USMNT players who have the most to prove
With some roster changes just days before the first game, Gregg Berhalter lost two players from the original team. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Chris Richards, both in the center back role, withdrew due to injury. Mark McKenzie and Erik Palmer-Brown occupy the same positions.
1. Malik Tillman
Malik Tillman, who plays for his club soccer at Rangers, is one of the most promising midfielders in the USMNT system. At just 20 years old, the attacking midfielder rose through Bayern Munich’s youth system, making his first-team debut last season in the DFB-Pokal. In addition, he played as a substitute against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Tillman takes a backseat to the likes of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams and Luca de la Torre. The only thing Tillman has going for him is potential. However, Gregg Berhalter has ambitions at this World Cup, not just in the future.
When the manager went to see Rangers play at Old Firm, he wasn’t too happy with the midfielder.
“He’s done well, but he needs to do better,” Berhalter said while addressing the media on Monday. “I am disappointed with his last two performances against Ajax and Celtic, but he has a lot of quality. He can help this group, but he needs to improve a bit. He is a guy that the coaching staff is very impressed with and we think he has a huge ceiling.”
That shows the importance of the next two games. If Tillman can get the minutes and make the most of them, there’s a reason Berhalter should bring him to Qatar. Experience can help in the long-term development of the player, but it can also help in the now. The biggest challenge is getting past established players like Musah, Adams and McKennie, all of whom are part of the September squad.
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2. Matt Turner
Matt Turner leads the way in terms of the US goalkeeping ladder. Previously, that title belonged to Zack Steffen. However, a combination of poor form and injuries did the Middlesbrough goalkeeper no favours.
Part of the reason for that drop in form was due to him not playing regular minutes for Manchester City. Steffen was a substitute for Ederson, in the same way that Matt Turner was for Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal. Matt Turner has only one appearance for the Gunners this young season, with a 2-1 win against FC Zürich in the Europa League.
The reason Turner is one of the USMNT players looking to prove something in the September window is because his challengers for the job get regular minutes. Ethan Horvath is Luton Town’s starter in the Championship. He has 10 starts in Luton Town’s first 11 games of the league season.
Additionally, Horvath rivaled Turner in international play. The duo split begins in June during the CONCACAF Nations League. Turner kept a clean sheet against a modest Granada side. Then four days later, Ethan Horvath allowed a goal on the way to El Salvador as the USMNT only managed a draw.
For Turner, these two games are an opportunity not only to get more minutes with the national team. With strong performances against World Cup-bound teams, he can solidify his place between the sticks. The shaky game could call form into question, which is always a concern for coaches ahead of the World Cup.
3. Ricardo Pepi
As stated, the forward position is a point of contention. Many USMNT fans wanted to see Jordan Pefok called up in the September international window. His game with Union Berlin helps the club rise to the top of the Bundesliga table.
In any case, the two strikers selected by Gregg Berhalter to face Japan and Saudi Arabia are Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent. Certainly the other names on the hat are Jordan Morris or Jesus Ferreira. However, Ferreira appears to have the first-team experience to catch the eye of Gregg Berhalter. In terms of Morris, it may be too late for the Seattle Sounders forward to make the trip to Qatar. However, nothing is out of the question regarding this position in the field.
Pepi burst onto the scene with America. The first goals in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying had fans salivating over the potential for him to score goals on the biggest stage. However, that scorching start subsided. A transfer to Augsburg perhaps enlightened the teenager too much. Goalless and assistless in 16 appearances, the Bundesliga side sent him to Gronigen in the Eredivisie. However, he hopes that a good start to his time in the Netherlands can translate to the international side. He has a goal and an assist in just two games played.
.@joshsargent ???? @Ricardo_Pepi9 pic.twitter.com/SFOCBNsZoQ
— US Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) September 20, 2022
4. Josh Sargent
Josh Sargent is the other name at the top to watch. Like Pepi, a move to a top team in Europe put a strain on the young striker. Last season, Norwich City acquired Sargent from Werder Bremen. Despite playing regular minutes for the Canaries and playing in 29 games in total, Sargent only scored four goals. He also had three assists. As Norwich suffered relegation, Sargent picked up the pace against relatively weaker opposition. In 10 games in the Championship, Sargent already has six goals, good enough for second place in the Championship scoring chart before the international break.
Josh Sargent did not play for the United States during World Cup qualification, making his perspective on the eventual tournament perhaps more limited. However, if he can continue his club form and impress Gregg Berhalter during the USMNT’s September window, he could be a dangerous option at the top.
Introducing your #NCFC Player of the Month for August… ????
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— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) September 2, 2022
5. Sam Vines
Antonee Robinson will start for the United States at left back when the World Cup begins, if he is healthy. ‘Jedi’ Robinson started 11 of 14 games in the Octagon, playing a key role defensively. Also, he is a starter in the Premier League and, in fact, he did well against Mohamed Salah, one of the best right wingers in the world, let alone the Premier League.
So Sam Vines, barring an injury to Robinson or just miraculous form, is an option to be Robinson’s backup. Vines is 23 years old and plays for Royal Antwerp. There, he is a regular starter in the Belgian top flight. Last season, a collarbone injury stunted his season and his availability with the national team.
However, when he plays for the USMNT, he looks decent. The competitive strength of him is the biggest drawback. Even then, he managed to score as a defender in the Gold Cup against Haiti, the only goal of the group stage match.
