Giovanni “Gio” Reyna US National Team Discussion

He has had trouble meeting minimum standards of fitness (notoriously at the Qatar World Cup) in the past.

There is a maxim among pro athletes that those who do not maintain high fitness levels accumulate injuries.

 

That was coming off a long-term injury. Maybe the 87' against Man City was too much too soon.

 

Ah yes, another injury. The egg comes before the chicken here.

 

New Reyna column about his goal of making the WC roster. [Also some stuff about the last WC.]

2026 World Cup with USMNT 'where I want to be' - Gio Reyna - ESPN

 

Action > words.

 

Right now, Reyna and his buddy Scally are not likely to play in the world cup. Same goes for Musah.

 

I'm struck by the absolute minimal level of accountability.Im not pulling any quotes out because I have no desire to rehash Qatar.

 

He has done a little maturing, but he has a ton more to do.

Not hopeful for his emergence for 2026.

 

Not to be dramatic but he really needs to start and play well today in the German Cup. Hopefully it kickstarts a nice run for him and momentum for a Nov camp invite.

 

There's a DFB Play app that has cup games.

 

Yup as others have said he needs to show he’s an indispensable 90 minute player a the pokal might be his best way to make that case.

 

Right now, they're not likely to make the roster, much less play. Would not surprise me if this group went 0 for 3 on WC26 roster selections given what we've seen recently from Poch.

From my perspective, the Reyna <> Tillman contrast has been really interesting to see evolve. Tillman has transitioned from top tier Bundesliga youth prospect > Scottish PL > Eredivisie > Bundesliga top tier regular and has matured his play each step along the way. It's a good reminder that exciting young players are often not the fully formed end product, even though we sometimes like to jump to that conclusion.

Reyna on the other hand transitioned straight from top tier Bundesliga youth prospect > top tier Bundesliga regular as only a handful are able to do (notably his teammates Haaland and Jude Bellingham, as well as Pulisic). Perhaps he "flew too close to the sun" mentally as a result. Perhaps not, although we know his parents did on his behalf. And then injuries cruelly wrecked his momentum.

I'm still hoping he turns it around. It would be amazing to have Tillman and a high-performing Reyna suiting up for us. But in the meantime, Tillman performing regularly for Leverkusen takes a lot of the pressure off. This last window was when my own mind shifted from "we have a Gio gap" to "maybe we have things covered with Tillman." It's only two games. But it was an important two peformances from Malik.

 

Tillman has been the best US player since the Gold Cup. He’s trending to become one of the most important players in Group D at the World Cup, potentially the most important,

We’d be good if Gio could get enough time with Gladbach to where he could be counted on by the US to function as an offensive sub to be used against bunkered defenses. That would be asking a lot of Gio at this point, however. Does he realize that? Does he have the requisite humility for a role in this group?

 

This. He hasn't played a full 90 minutes in 3 years and shares in an interview that he still holds a grudge and a sense of entitlement about '22. Keep him the heck away from the USMNT. He and Scally are the immature kids in the back of the class, snickering through the teacher's lesson while the other students are trying to learn.

 

I think you have a good grasp of the challenge here.

 

He didn't learn a goddamn thing from WC2022, assuming he was quoted accurately. A shame, too.

 

Definitely not the message to convey. Though putting aside any attitude issues it seems very possible he’s just washed physically and he’s never going to get back.

 

if lineup is correct he and scally are both on bench. Wow…..

 

1983241924682387830 is not a valid tweet id

“I’m not just going to sort of sit here and take all the blame for something that was made out to be completely my fault…I was just upset that I wasn’t really playing.”
Completely tone deaf from Gio Reyna given Pochettino’s team-first messaging.

Gio Reyna tells AP about plans to reboot career with new club and return to US team for World Cup

 

embarrassing to be honest

 

He shoulda left the WC22 alone. When asked about it, all he shoulda said was "I'm moving forward and not dwelling on the past." Couldn't help himself.

What he's saying about his current situation and desire to be on the WC is great. This is the attitude he should have......................

Speaking to The Associated Press at his new club Borussia Mönchengladbach last week, the attacking midfielder said he wants to use this season to convince U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino he still belongs.

"I do obviously think about [the World Cup] pretty often as it's somewhere where I need and want to be," he said. "But I try to focus daily here, stay present here, work here every day, and hopefully believe everything will fall into place."

 

It's nice that he is trying to focus daily at Gladbach.

 

He said he's focud daily on Gladbach and then started talking about the WC22 situation again.

So......................there goes that.

 

Amen about 2022. Just leave it in the rearview mirror (don't even answer that part of the question - just focus on today and each day from here going forward). It will "fall into place" because Gio wills it with his performance and attitude each and every day. There never has been any issue with his talent ... that only carries you so far.

 

These guys all need to utilize the PR people in their organizations.