Rokas Pukstas at Hajduk Split (Croatia)

That's a skilled and athletic (and hard-nosed) goal. Very good.

 

Pukstas started today for Hajduk against last-place Osijek

He drew a penalty, which his teammate converted

Hajduk up 1-0 in the 25th

 

I was typing the info below just as Pukštas scored!

The USA's next exhibition match is March 28 vs Belgium. Would it hurt them to call him up and see how he stacks up in training and give him a few minutes?

We have too many guys on the team who don't want to be on it and aren't playing for the flag. It was beyond embarrassing what happened last summer at the Gold Cup.

We have a guy (Rokas) who actually has wants to play for the US badge and is scoring legit goals and drawing PK's and the not the occasional toe-poke empty netters he used to knock-in.

What harm would there be? None.

When you've been irrelevant since 2010, no one should be ruled out because we're looking at not even advancing out of the first round on our own home soil. I hope someone in US Soccer wakes up and doesn't look at HNL as a joke since there is a strong possibility that one MLS Player (Marco Pasalić) has a strong chance of starting for Croatia and an outside chance for FC Dallas' Petar Musa. Dalić adapted towards the way he looked down towards MLS based players and hope the folks associated with US Soccer wake up.

They shouldn't be sneering at anyone's league. Give this guy a chance on March 28 vs Belgium, even if it's as a back-up (even though I put the odds at 1%).

 

We went exactly as far in 2104 and 2022 as we did in 2010.

 

Well good thing I'll be dead by 2104, thanks for the spoilers

 

With that kind of attitude you will be.

 

Rokas had at least two passes that should/could have been converted into goals. Had a nice shot in extra time that was punched aside for a save.

I'm not counting on it, but the USMNT has nothing to lose by giving him a chance to workout with the team and play a few minutes in their next exhibition match next month.

 

Poch has said clearly that there will be no new players in from now on until WC that he hasn't called before.

 

Nothing except the chance to build a settled side ahead of the WC. Pukstas would be a disruption to that.

At the moment he playing at too low a level to warrant a callup anyway. Once he gets his move to the Top 5, he'll be one for the next cycle.

 

Not exactly. He didn't close the door. He simply said it would be "difficult" to do so. Check his January 29 interview.

With that logic, Croatia doesn't use any HNL players in their 2022 run for third place where they had several players as starters and some as backups who were large contributors to their success. Also, they wouldn't have utilized any Dinamo and Osijek players to qualify for this year's World Cup if the bar had to be guys who played in "Top 5 Leagues".

In the same January 29 interview, Pochettino stated "Now it’s about wishing our players will be fit and in very good form for us to select the right players.” Except for the injury sustained near the end of the winter break, no one can argue that he hasn't been fit or in good form.

Exactly a year ago, it would have been laughable to suggest he'd be on the radar and ideally he'd be in another league. However, if someone is truly open-minded, they can't argue that the kid is had been impressive in all facets of the game. You're not picking the best players, but the players who give you the best chance of winning.

Lastly, I respectfully disagree that it would be a disruption being 3 months before the WC. The only disruption was last year with a plethora of guys not wanting to play during the summer. Croatia's head coach has already stated that he is open-minded to using a player next month in their two friendlies next month who has yet to suit up. A nation with an impressive resume with three medals and ranked #11 currently is open-minded, but the USMNT can't do the same for an event where they've done nothing impressive since a 2002 quarterfinal run?

 

Yes, but the Croatian League was a lot stronger in 2022 than it is today: 16th versus 20th in the UEFA rankings and only 3 points behind the Erdivisie. That's why the last Croatia squad had only 2 domestically-based players and one of those was on loan from Fenerbache. Overall, per Wikipedia, only 4 domestic players have been called up in the last 12 months.

IMO there'd have been a stronger case if Split had qualified for the Conference, but the lack of top-quality competition, not to mention his lack of consistent PT last season (too few starts, lots of garbage minutes) under the Italian jerk who shall not be named left him with too small a body of work to go on for Poch's liking.

It might well have been different if he'd got those starts but this cycle is 12 months early for him.

 

Have you advised @butters59 about this?

 

A profile in the Athletic

Meet the U.S. talent who left home at 16, battled with Gattuso and is inspired by his Olympian father


https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/70...s-interview-usmnt/?source=user_shared_article

 

There is a paywall so I can't see anything. Is there anything new that we haven't already heard about his relationship with Gattuso?

There was one preseason interview he did where he hinted the guy is a mess (no shock) but he was pretty professional on that topic.

 

The applicable bit:


Given the sacrifice made on his behalf and by him personally, it is perhaps no surprise that Pukstas did not wilt when life under Gattuso initially became tough during the Italian’s single season at Hajduk.

“We had a few disagreements at the beginning of the season but then our relationship started mending,” he said. “We became better by the end of the season.

“I’d say, if you know what he wants and you follow his rules, he’s actually a really respectful guy. But if you cross him, you’re in the mud. You have to be disciplined for him. He’s very good for team discipline.”

There was also a rather long story he told of running and biking to a team meeting (because of traffic), falling off the bike and gwetting bloodied, and barely making it on time. He thought that impressed Gatusso.

Btw, I don't pay many subscriptions but the NYT / Athletic one is really worth the price.

 

Thank you for sharing.

This is the nicest thing he says about the coach.

I can't stand Gattuso, but there was a startling article this week that Hajduk is only one or two points ahead of last year's pace. While the team looks more organized on the field, the low-scoring results are still a problem despite the additions of several players like former National Team player Ante Rebic.

No question that Garcia has improved his overall game since Pukstas was being played out of position and disappeared for large portions of games.

 

Try this link
https://archive.ph/5vfYo

 

Pukštas scored the opening goal in Hajduk's 3-2 loss vs Rijeka in the quarterfinals of the Croatia Cup.

They had a 2-1 lead in stoppage time but gave up 2 late goals. I would not be surprised if Coach Gonzalo Garcia is canned either before or after their match on Sunday vs 1st place Dinamo Zagreb.

His goal is at the 6:40 mark of the video. He hit the post earlier in the half on a header (also on the video below):

 

🇺🇸 Meet 21-year-old Rokas Pukštas, an outsider for the USMNT squad at this summer's World Cup with a unique back-story

🇱🇹 Born to Lithuanian parents in Oklahoma, Pukštas is the son of former athletes who appeared at the 2004 Olympic Games

👋 At 13, Pukštas left home to train at… pic.twitter.com/bUT5qF1Z6H

— FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) March 4, 2026

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/...chettinos-usmnt-radar-ahead-of-2026-world-cup

 

It's a VERY misleading title as it suggests he's on the radar for this year's WC instead of "down the road".

Perhaps it's because of lack of decent soccer coverage in the US, but Croatia's National Team coach has been flying around Europe watching domestic league matches in person the last 2 weeks but there's nothing indicating if Pochettino is doing the same.

Italy has a WC qualifier coming up in 3 weeks, and they are considering using someone for the first time since the player has been playing well and scoring goals for his club team after their last loss in November.

 

Man…get this kid a gig in Serie A.