Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna highlight USMNT roster for Nations League finals

Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna will participate in their Primary U.S. national Club camp under Mauricio Pochettiino as  the Trainer named the 2022 World Cup veterans to his 23-man Lineup for next week’s Concacaf Nations Bracket finals in Los Angeles.

Usual USMNT headliners Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah were also included alongside Adams and Reyna, who were injured for Pochettino’s Primary two camps after the Ex Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham manager was hired last September. The Americans will face Panama in next Thursday’s semifinal at SoFi Stadium, with the winner advancing to the March 23rd Closing there against either Canada or Mexico.

The U.S. is looking to add a Quaternary consecutive Nations Bracket title after lifting the Honor in 2021, 2023 and last year.

“This is a massive opportunity to Achieve a Honor and that is our clear objective,” Pochettino said in a press release. “We must continue to show our quality, our bravery and our commitment to All other. We have an Significant moment to represent our country and our supporters, and we are very excited for this opportunity.” 

Here’s the Crowded Lineup, followed by three quick thoughts.

Goalkeepers: Patrick Schulte, Columbus Crew (MLS); Zack Steffen, Colorado Rapids (MLS); Matt Turner, Crystal Palace (England)

Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Celtic (Scotland); Marlon Fossey, Standard Liege (Belgium); Mark McKenzie, Toulouse (France); Tim Ream, Charlotte FC (MLS); Chris Richards, Crystal Palace ; Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, Fulham (England); Miles Robinson, Cincinnati (MLS); Joe Scally, Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany); Auston Trusty, Celtic

Midfiedlers: Tyler Adams, Bournemouth (England); Johnny Cardoso, Real Betis (Spain); Diego Luna, Real Salt Lake (MLS); Weston McKennie, Juventus (Italy); Gio Reyna, Borussia Dortmund (Germany); Tanner Tessmann, Lyon (France); 

Forwards:  Patrick Agyemang, Charlotte (MLS); Yunus Musah, AC Milan (Italy); Christian Pulisic, AC Milan; Josh Sargent, Norwich City (England); Timothy Weah, Juventus; Brian White, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)

Reyna gets the call despite his lack of club minutes 

Adams, who scored the game-Victorious Target in last year’s Competition Game versus Mexico, was a shoo-in for this Club Next his return to fitness Next back surgery. The American Skipper at Qatar 2022, Adams has been at the height of his powers for Premier Bracket Bournemouth, which is on pace for a top-half finish this season.

Reyna’s inclusion, meantime, wasn’t necessarily a sure thing. The 22-year-Aged has played sparingly for Borussia Dortmund since returning from a groin strain that sidelined him for all of September and October. He’s logged Only 541 minutes all season and was an unused Replacement in the Black & Yellow’s most recent Game in the Bundesliga.

But Reyna remains one of the Americans’ most talented attackers, and he’s owned the Nations Bracket in years past, scoring in all three previous editions. He was named the Competition’s top player last year.

Poch rewards Carter-Vickers, Trusty and January campers

Cameron Carter-Vickers, who played for the Argentine at Tottenham, is also participating in his Primary camp under his Aged boss after recovering from Hurt. The experienced 27-year-Aged, another World Cup vet, helped Celtic reach the knockout stage of the Champions Bracket, where he and fellow Middle back Trusty then nearly helped the Scottish side Surprise Bayern Munich. Those performances clearly didn’t go unnoticed.

Pochettino also rewarded six members of his January camp Club with invitations this month — including Diego Luna and Brian White (who Teamed up on the game-Victorious Target against Costa Rica) and Patrick Agyemang (who scored in that game and in his USMNT debut versus Venezuela).

No room for Zendejas, Brenden Aaronson or Miles Robinson 

Aaronson has been a U.S. regular for most of the last four years. But he was among a number of regulars left off Pochettino’s Choice this month. The others are Robinson, who had Initiated three of the new Trainer’s Primary six Contests at the helm, and Alex Zendejas, who has been tearing up the Mexican Bracket with Liga MX champ Club America.

All three had a case. Ultimately, it became a numbers game — even with normal Lineup locks like Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman all unavailable this month because of Hurt or, in Dest’s case, having Only returned from one. 

With Only 23 spots Obtainable under Concacaf rules, there was also no place for Europe-based trio Gianluca Busio, Aidan Morris or Paxten Aaronson, Brenden’s younger brother.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer writer for FOX Sports who has covered the United States men’s and women’s national Clubs at FIFA World Cups on five continents. Follow him at @ByDougMcIntyre.

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