Giovanni “Gio” Reyna US National Team Discussion

Reyna has played a lower proportion of minutes in this tournament so far than he did in 2022.

Though that should change against Turkiye.

 

I grew up with big South American football influence. Left foot, right foot, instep, inside, outside, heel, toes ... it's all the same., just different striking surfaces. A good player can use them all with equal proficiency and control. Ball mastery is everything.

I've scored that type of goal many times, and every one in my group could do that. It is often called a trivela, popularized by the Portuguese Ricardo Quaresma, but it has been a part of South American long before Quaresma.

Here is the Peruvian Cubillas doing it at the World Cup against Scotland in 1978.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/bL5jCvnD4Jg

 

We were using it in HS in early '70's. And we didn't grow up with the ball but had s decent coach along with a Hungarian dude that showed up at our practices showed us technique and told us stories about high level.soccer in the old country.

But to be really good at it (trivela) you need good internal hip rotation or it will be a struggle.

 

80' or bust!

 

I’m not trying to start a fight, but I think you are making my point. If you have to go back to 1978 to see this technique used in a WC is definitely evidence of its rarity.
Also, using a legendary player like Cubillas, the greatest Peruvian player of all (my dad is Peruvian, so I followed all of Perus games and have met Cubillas multiple times. (I live in Miami) is kind of also showing that only the greatest players can accomplish this in the toughest games.
I loved your video though. But I think the difficulty of that shot is extremely high. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before. I mean that technique from that distance is very rare . What a beautify technique and shot.
Reyna is not in Cubillas league but sometimes he flashes skill that you know only elite players exhibit. Sometimes he makes passes with such precision that requires understanding and control that not many USA players display.
But his injuries and lack of playing time def give me Freddy Adu vibes. Amazing flashes but disastrous and ultimately failed career.
I hope Reyna can recover his career at some point he’s such a gifted player.
I miss players like Cubillas, such class and beauty on the ball. I used to be a ball boy for the Strikers when I was a youngun and got to kick the ball around with Cubillas, such a cool memory!

 

I did not have to go back to 1978. That was just an example to show that the curved, outside of the foot shot has been around forever.



The Pavard goal from 2018 is much harder than Reyna's, as it was taken on the volley. Don't get me wrong, I was really happy for Reyna and it is a nice goal.

When you think about it, the human foot is curved on both the outside and the inside, and so either side can be used to do a curled shot. One is just as easy as the other. It's just that the trivela is less a part of some football cultures, and that is why you see it less.

If we are just talking outside of the foot strikes, one can be reminded of Tim Weah's strike against Wales.

 

It was a very good goal but nothing special about the technique.

 

I'm impressed, apparently lot's of top level players hang out on these boards, not saying that sarcastically either.

No cheating on that strike at all. To hit it on a rope with the outside of the foot, from the top of the box, it takes strength and you need to hit the ball pure.

 

If we had centerbacks of the caliber of Tillman and Weston, Gio’s main rivals for playing time, Ream wouldn’t be in the team.

 

Also ream is much faster than Gio, based on the sprint data from games.

 

I think based on bundesliga data they’re similar now. Doesnt matter though

 

Ha! Maybe that's why my dad taught it to me like it was natural. I was born in 82, so it was still fresh in his mind!

 

I was just checking out stats on FIFA website and Gio is the number one player under Physical metrics for top Average speed. So, that’s something. Top speed wasn’t listed.

https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/statistics/player-statistics

 

Whoa..I would not have guessed that. very interesting data point. So he isn't lazy and lethargic. It seems he has just lost the top gear that he used to have? He got a lot of minutes against Turkiye, which is obviously good for building his endurance

 

That should make some heads explode.

 

But the context is his total meters covered is 12,000. Weston in comparison has covered over 30,000.

 

Sure but everyone has said he's slow and doesn't run at all and this doesn't show that.

 

Personally, I’ve never said Gio is slow and doesn’t run at all. I said he plays slow and doesn’t run enough. And that was in reference to one match.
I know you don’t mean literally ‘everyone’, Pegasus, but when you say that it’s a bit trollish.

 

Interestingly we were also number in the group stage in terms of total distance covered looking at the stats (which now have Canada and South Korea ahead by virtue of them having played an extra game).

https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/statistics/team-statistics

 

I’m not seeing the stat you’re referencing in the link. And I’m confused by your comment that SK has played an extra game. They’ve played 3 and won’t play another in the tourney.

 

Its total distance in the physical tab. And of course was referring to South Africa not South Korea.

 

Why It is 5mph. That is the slowest jog you can do.

 

Ah yeah I meant South Africa.

 

8.24 KM/hr is a slow jog. A very slow jog. Whatever that means, it doesn’t mean he’s fast.

 

I agree. First time I've seen this stat and not sure how useful it is. Soccer is a lot of start/stops and changes of directions.