Alexi Lalas’ Three U.S. Males’s Workforce Stars Who Stood Out in September

We noticed the U.S. males’s nationwide workforce cut up its two pleasant video games this previous week – a 2-0 loss to South Korea adopted by a 2-0 win over Japan. 

I do not assume my emotions about this window have modified. I’ll give it grace and throw it out. And I do know that does not lend itself to analyzing this workforce, particularly relative to the World Cup subsequent summer time.

However due to the best way that USMNT supervisor Mauricio Pochettino framed this window, I’ll put all my focus and power into the following set of video games in October. We are able to count on that window (video games in opposition to Australia on Oct. 10 and Ecuador on Oct. 14) to have as near a full World Cup roster as potential with the understanding there’s nonetheless time for some particular person adjustments. 

Finally, I do not assume this was a profitable camp. I believe it raised questions. I believe it confirmed some individuals’s suspensions with regards to how good – or not good – this workforce truly is. I believe for the primary time Pochettino got here below criticism, and we noticed how he reacted.

However Pochettino understands that he will get criticism. I believe some actual solutions are going to return within the subsequent window.

However I do assume some gamers helped themselves and elevated their inventory. This is who I believe actually helped their causes:

Sergiño Dest | Full-Again 

He is again and he’s superior. He has all kinds of power even when he is nonetheless not one hundred pc after a prolonged ACL damage final season. Dest is heading that manner and if he’s even near full power, that bodes properly for him and the way forward for this nationwide workforce. It was great to have him again. 

Matt Freese | Goalkeeper

Are you able to imagine it? I believe he’s the No. 1 goalkeeper proper now over Matt Turner, who began on the 2022 World Cup. Turner is not even within the image on this window. Timing is all the things, and Freese made an enormous splash in the summertime on the Gold Cup, saving penalties and attending to the ultimate. 

 Is Matt Freese the U.S. keeper for the 2026 World Cup? (Photograph by Ben Jackson/USSF/Getty Photographs)

I assumed he ought to have accomplished higher in opposition to South Korea, however he earned a shutout in opposition to Japan. He made some good saves, and I believe he established himself as greater than a man who saves penalties. We’ll see if it lasts till subsequent summer time, however there’s now open competitors for who begins at keeper.  

Folarin Balogun | Striker

My prime star from this window was Balogun. He is again with the workforce after a protracted layoff due to accidents. Towards South Korea, he helped change the complexion of the sport in his 20 minutes as an alternative. Within the recreation in opposition to Japan, he began and scored a objective. 

Folarin Balogun seemed sturdy up prime for the USMNT. (Photograph by Robin Alam/ISI Pictures/ISI Pictures through Getty Photographs)

Proper now, he’s the beginning striker for this nationwide workforce. He was far more energetic, particularly once you examine and distinction his performances with what Josh Sargent did.

Alexi Lalas is a soccer analyst for FOX Sports activities and host of “Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast.” He represented the USMNT on the 1994 FIFA World Cup and had a nine-year skilled profession. In 2006, he grew to become the president of the LA Galaxy and helped convey David Beckham to Main League Soccer.

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