The United States absolutely lit it up this international window, banging in an incredible 12 goals across four games and winning every single one. That’s a perfect window, folks, and it signals a serious shift for the USMNT, especially with some insane young talent stepping up.
The Kids Are Alright, And Then Some!
Seriously, if you weren’t watching, you missed out. The hype train for 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan was all about tempering expectations, right? But the kid’s play, especially against Mexico, just threw all that out the window. His energy is wild, “tries shit” like Bruce Arena said about Clint Dempsey back in the day, and it’s exactly the palate cleanser US fans needed after that World Cup crashout. I’m not buying a ticket to the hype train yet, but I’m definitely considering it.
Then there’s Sebastian Berhalter, who usually comes off the bench but absolutely crushed it in a start against Mexico. His distribution is next level, breaking lines with ease, but the real game-changer is his dead-ball service. Finally, someone who can actually deliver a corner kick with precision, unlike those Pulisic specials that went straight to the first defender. And how about Diego Kochen? Matt Freese and Chris Brady were struggling, but Kochen just came in, calmed everything down in his debut, and then had a composed performance in the 3-0 win over Mexico. His command of the area? Arguably the best in the pool already, and his Barcelona upbringing has his defenders trusting him with the ball like it’s second nature. People have been talking about him as a keeper of the future, but after this window, you gotta wonder if the future is just…now. Julian Hall is another one. Most US strikers are all about speed or strength, but Hall’s got this preternatural spatial awareness and off-ball movement that gets him dangerous looks, and his finishing is just getting better and better with New York. Balogun is still the guy, sure, but Hall is a seriously worthy apprentice.
Pulisic’s Absence and Pochettino’s Peculiar Play
Now, not everyone came out of this window smelling like roses. Christian Pulisic was conspicuously absent from Mauricio Pochettino’s roster. Sure, some folks floated valid reasons, like Pochettino needing to evaluate younger players, or Pulisic only recently recovering from that leg injury that sidelined him at the World Cup. But if it were that simple, why did Pochettino refuse to talk about Pulisic’s individual exclusion when asked, only to then speak at length about Balogun’s absence a few minutes later? He even mentioned talking to Balogun personally, which, yeah, makes sense with the transfer drama. But his silence on Pulisic, and then going into extended thoughts about what he’s looking for in other players? It just feels…off. It makes you wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes with Pulisic.
This window was a huge statement from the USMNT’s young core. They’re playing with swagger, skill, and a fearless attitude. What does this mean for the next call-ups? Who’s gonna keep rising? We’re on the edge of our seats to see these guys build on this momentum.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Guardian.
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