OT: USMNT / Intl' Break

I know this is regularly an Urban Meyer blog, but from time to time USMNT topics come up. This week is another international break. I thought I'd throw together a little primer for those who are interested.

Short Notes/Quick Hitter Style:

The Schedule: 

USMNT vs Jamaica / Oct 7 / 7:30 EST / ESPN2
Panama vs USMNT / Oct 10 / 6:00 EST / Paramount+
USMNT vs Costa Rica / Oct 13 / 7:00 EST / ESPN2

The Broadcast:

A lot of questions about who what and why. Basically the short answer is this: Home teams control the broadcast rights to their national team matches.  The English USMNT rights were purchased jointly by Fox and ESPN, and they split the English home broadcasts of the USMNT games. This grouping of two home games will be aired on ESPN2 with Jon Champion and Taylor Twellman on the call. Champion not as good as Darke, but still very good. Twellman is, well, fine.

Why is the Panama/USMNT only on Paramount+? The Away broadcasts are a separate rights package and were purchased by CBS. In an effort to promote more footy content on their digital streaming network Paramount+ (along with Champions League, Serie A, etc), CBS has put most of the USMNT away qualifiers on Paramount+. So, CBS wants you to buy P+ ergo put USMNT matches on there to incent you to do it.

Andres Cordero and Maurice Edu are the commentary. Not a fan. The studio show is pretty awful too. Kate Abdo is the only redeeming part. Charlie Davies talks like a guy who watches Stephen A. Smith and thinks "hey, I can do that!" Clint Dempsey barely talks. And Oguchi Onyewu would be OK if the other two weren't so awful. CBS seems to have realized that having three former US players may not be the best idea after all, even as good as Abdo is. They have hired former SI writer Grant Wahl to boost their studio show. It needs help.

You also have the American/Spanish broadcasts: Jamaica @ Univision, Panama @ NBC Universo, CRC @ UniMas

The Team:

Full roster by position (Club)
Goalkeepers (3): Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Zack Steffen (Manchester City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

Defenders (10): George Bello (Atlanta United), John Brooks (Wolfsburg), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Tim Ream (Fulham), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray)

Midfielders (8): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Luca de la Torre (Heracles), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)

Forwards (6): Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg), Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Matthew Hoppe (Mallorca), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas), Tim Weah (Lille), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew)

The Standings:

Because of COVID qualifying for 2022 WC in Qatar is more compact and slightly different than normal. There are eight teams in the US's region (CONCACAF) ergo the 'octagonal'. Current standings:

Mexico 2-0-1 7pts
Canada 1-0-2 5pts
States 1-0-2 5pts
Panama 1-0-2 5pts
C Rica 0-1-2 2pts
Hondur 0-1-2 2pts
El Sal 0-1-2 2pts
Jamaic 0-2-1 1pt

The top three teams automatically earn a spot into 22 Qatar. The fourth place team will qualify for a international "play-in" game.

There's still a decent road to go as we're only 3 games into a 14 game qualifying period for each team. But after this block that'll be 6 of 14, which is almost half done. All results are important, and the US kinda slow rolled their way into 5 points.

 

Some Quick Storylines:

Ricardo Pepi - Almost out of nowhere, the 18 year old standout thrust himself into the spotlight and salvaged the USMNT's hopes with a huge performance at Honduras last round. Do we have our true 9 (striker)? We've been down this road before. I choose to be optimistic. So, fingers crossed. That said, if he has a couple more performances like Honduras, look for Pepi to become a club transfer rumor darling through the holiday season.

Pulisic and Reyna - The two most talented creators on the US squad, Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna are both injured and not available for this group of matches. How the US fills those gaps will likely define their outcomes for these three matches.

Weston McKennie - Rumor has it that WK and MGoBrian Cook broke curfew in Nashville and were spotted on a pedal tavern with 9 bachelorettes before a 2-day bender at Kid Rock's Honky Tonk. McKennie was shipped back to Italy for breaking COVID protocols. He's back with the team for this group of qualifiers, a few of his squad mates have made thinly veiled comments that he needs to earn back their trust.

At Panama - Away matches in COVID-Red countries for English/Euro based players like Steffen have been mildly controversial. There's rumor that some clubs (like Steff's City) may prefer they not even travel for those matches. This may be why Sean Johnson, an MLS-based keeper, was brought on as 3rd keeper, versus english-based Ethan Horvath. Keep an eye out if Turner is given the nod for Panama and maybe Steff just hangs back for this one.

Keeper - On that note, my guess is Steffen for the two home matches, and Turner for the Panama match.

John Brooks and Sergino Dest - Both struggled at times in the last group. Brooks with quality of play. Dest with play and then injury. Let's hope to see them bounce back.

Stars in the Making - All of them. If you're not familiar, this US side is one of the youngest international teams in the world. That they're performing at this high of a level is extremely exciting. The true test of this team will come four and eight years down the road likely, ala Belgium in the early 10s. But this is exciting times.

Keep an Eye On - Pepi (of course), Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Tim Weah, Matthew Hoppe, Shaq Moore, Chris Richards, Luca, Busio... man it's tough, the team is so young. Keep an eye on most everyone.

Berhalter - Controversial start to his qualifying. Made some pretty questionable decisions and subsitutions (or lackthereof if you're talking Canada). Sands bad, Pepi good. No callup for Scally bad. Honestly it's just a mixed bag with GGGB. 

Outcomes - Panama at Panama will be tough. Going on the road to these hostile environments with riot shields and smoke-filled fields after firework shows that just keep going during the match is akin to Hickory going on the road to Terhune. A draw in Panama would be great. Then wins at home vs Jamaica and CRC would keep the US in the pole position. I dont know that 7 or 9 points is a must for this round, but you have to stay in front, otherwise you're playing catch-up and the match clock starts ticking loudly.

Costa Rica - The third match will be played in Columbus. No word yet on Cayman Nebraska's availability for the match, or if Urban Chophouse will be catering the event. Things are just in flux right now, as you can expect.