Gregg Berhalter had some tough choices to make with the USMNT roster for the WorldCup. Some choices came down to injuries, others may relate to tactical preferences. In at least one case, Berhalter openly stated that the choice boiled down to form.
The big surprise came in goal, with Zack Steffen — who was largely assumed to be battling Matt Turner for the No. 1 shirt — excluded entirely. That news was first reported by stunning turn of events for the Middlesbrough goalkeeper
Berhalter was asked directly about his choice on ESPN’s roster reveal show, but his answer was entirely about the goalkeepers he did choose. “Josh is competing in the Championship, he played in the Premier League last year. We’re playing Wales and England, both teams are stocked with players from those leagues,” said Berhalter on Josh Sargent getting the nod. “Haji Wright is in great form with his team in Turkey, scoring nine goals already so far. And Jesús has been good for us, and a guy who really understands the game plan and how to execute it.
Ultimately, Berhalter said on ESPN that “Haji Wright is in better form than Jordan Pefok at this moment,” so the rationale for this choice — whether fans agree or not — is clear.Cannon ended up missing out despite Berhalter opting to take five fullbacks to Qatar. The Boavista man has only missed time for his club due to injury, largely playing on the right side of a back three. He seems to be clear of that knock, having gone the full 90 minutes in each of Boavista’s last three games .
What happened? It’s not entirely clear. Injury is always a possibility, and Arriola had numerous strains and sprains during his time with D.C. United. Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson, and Gio Reyna would have all been ahead of Arriola on the right, but only Weah seems likely to play there as a first option.
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