Pochettino's First USMNT Roster: Key Players and Insights

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00:00Let's talk about the clasico of CONCACAF, both the U.S. and Mexico have released their

00:07list.

00:08Mauricio Pochettino, for the very first time, has to draw some names over on the list.

00:13Who are the guys that you think will bring the most attention and the expectations for

00:19the U.S. Men's National Team?

00:20I mean, this is a quintessential moment for the U.S. National Team.

00:27Pochettino naming his first roster.

00:29The big news for me is the return of Zach Steffen, great goalkeeper, being dropped from

00:34the World Cup squad.

00:35It's a statement from Pochettino that experience still counts, that he knows these players

00:39that have been shining at the international level in Europe.

00:42And it's not just Steffen.

00:43Midfielder Gianluca Busio is back in the fold, while some key players like Tyler Adams are

00:48missing because of injury.

00:50A great list.

00:51I think that he's making a statement, but also showing that he respects the process

00:54that has been in place.

00:55And he's not coming and undoing the work that, you know, Greg Behatred did before him.

01:00I think he chose great names, great examples, because Zach Steffen got to replace William

01:05Yarbrough in Colorado.

01:07He's done a tremendous job and one of the big reasons why the Rapids are fighting for

01:10the top spots in the West.

01:12And also Gianluca Busio, a teenager that I got to see with Sporting Kansas City, made

01:17his debut at 16 years old.

01:18So happy to see him on the fold after he went to play in Italy.

01:22Talking Mexico now.

01:23Yes.

01:25Very interesting about El Tri.

01:26The second time around for Javier Vasco Aguirre in terms of a list.

01:29Because if you talk about tenures, this is his third one already.

01:32La tercera.

01:33El Vasco Aguirre.

01:34La tercera es la vencida.

01:35So then again, let's talk about Mexico.

01:38What do you think about Memo Ochoa coming back?

01:41I have mixed feelings.

01:42I think we saw...

01:43I know where you're going.

01:44You know, clearly Ochoa has the experience and the know-how.

01:47He still plays at a great level.

01:48But I believe that it goes against what we were trying to be with Jimmy Lozano before.

01:53A whole new generation of players.

01:55Now we're falling back with many calls that seem like more of a homage than really a strategic.

02:01We have the return of Andres Guardado.

02:03He's clearly coming back for a celebration of his career as a captain of the national

02:08team.

02:09But the real surprise for me is Obed Vargas, this young Seattle Sounders player, which

02:14I think you love his style and tell me because you've seen him play a lot.

02:19The major headline is the fact that he played for the U.S. national team last year at the

02:24U-20 World Cup.

02:25A kid that made his debut at only 16 years old playing alongside perennial MVP candidate

02:30Joao Paulo.

02:31And you put him alongside veterans and his vision is incredible.

02:34His soccer IQ is incredible.

02:36So then again, making his debut with the U.S. national team in the U-20 World Cup in Argentina

02:40last year and now getting his chance with Mexico.

02:43He has said before that he's always wanted to play for Mexico.

02:46Another big player that I want to highlight is the return of Raul Jimenez to the Mexican

02:50team.

02:51A player that was in great form until his tragic injury that kept him away.

02:57And when he came back for the World Cup, he didn't perform at the level that people expected

03:01from him.

03:02But he's having a great season with Fulham this time, three goals in five games.

03:07Hopefully he can be the player that Mexico needs to make a statement.

03:10This game is very important.

03:11I think that it's very clear that the U.S. is in an uptrend trajectory while the Mexican

03:16team is trying to figure itself.

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