Post-match: USA v. Ecuador [R] - October 10, 2025 - International Friendly

That's what she said.

 

The issue isn't whether Gio will be able to play for the USMNT ... the issue is whether he can stay match fit healthy at all. I am more concerned about his professional playing career at all. This is starting to remind me of JOB.

 

The standard you have posted is unrealistic.

 

He left the GC early for personal reasons

 

HUGE IFs

 

It is, but last thing I want to note is that we usually have smaller lineups on average because some of our most talented players are also some of our smallest. Sub-5'10 starters in past World Cups have included Tab Ramos ('90, '94, and '98), Earnie Stewart ('94, '98, and '02), Frankie Hejduk ('98 and '02), Landon Donovan ('02, '06, and '10), John O'Brien ('02), DaMarcus Beasley ('02, '06, '14), Steve Cherundolo ('06 and '10), and Sergino Dest and Tyler Adams ('22). (Again, I also suspect Pulisic is on that list, but it seems not on paper.)

The tradeoffs there were arguably always worth it. They probably will be again if and when Dest and Adams return to the lineup.

I'm using 5'10 as a marker, because nobody in our lineup was below that height the other day, at least on paper. Whereas every WC game we've played in the modern era has featured at least one starter from the list above who, as noted, was below 5'10. Moreover, every WC game outside of 2014 has featured at least two starters who were below 5'10. (Beasley was the only one in 2014. The outlier on the other end was 1998, where we had 7 starters below 5'10, and four starters who were even below 5'8.)

 

That's 2 years ago. He's a young player who's been making solid, consistent improvement since then. I thought his play looked pretty good against Ecuador. At the very least, he looked like he could be relied upon to play the role he was in if that is the option decided.

 

Whatever tournament it was that he played poorly in and left early due to personal reasons then.

 

He wasn’t bad, but he did have some bad giveaways, and an overall performance that was, imo, average little below what passes for decent. It was an improvement on his gold cup performance, but nowhere near enough to really move into the midfield conversation on its own imo. He needs to play more and perform well before we can really see what his level is.

Tessmann has a similarly sketchy track record with the national team, but A) he is playing well at a higher level with his club and B) he played a lot better against Ecuador. I could be wrong, but I’m inclined to believe that Tessmann is much more likely to be a reliable difference maker in midfield.

 

Sure, that's where all the CMs are now--which is great. There are lots of reasonable options depending on the day and game state. I feel good about where the team is with the choices available.

 

Only now got to see a regularly interrupted replay on a phone. So… provide your own grain of salt.

I thought the team did significantly better at trying to attack quickly. Not clear how much of that was the way Ecuador played (pressing— more straight up), but it was nice to see.

Contrary to most, I thought the two half’s were much more similar than the comments suggested.

I was about to ask which of two players would be worse to lose with an injury, but I will keep that to myself.

 

I don't disagree, though I must point out that Pulisic's little knock was probably the major reason that was the case. With everyone who is in camp good to go (and I don't know if that's actually the case), then in that system Pulisic plays the Tillman,Tillman plays the McKennie, and McKennie probably plays alongside Tessman.

Pulisic probably plays that role more as an underneath SS or trequartista than like a real midfielder, though. Tillman and McKennie played more like midfielders in a box midfield.

Also, we're going to be playing Australia, not Ecuador. We can probably commit a bit more strongly to the attack, and we will probably want to do so, and not fall into the trap that Canada fell into failing to finish.

 

I have never seen Cardoso have a good USMNT game.

Morris literally almost scored last game. If Weah does not get in the way...

Yeah, he turns it over a bit. But that is usually trying to play it forward. I can live with that. He's a guy who tries to turn and go forward rather than always keep it and go back/sideways. There is a place for both, of course.

 

Would someone care to start a pre-match thread for Australia?

 

I think that only happens if we score early as Australia supposedly plays a bunker / counter system and we have a very hard time breaking those down (most teams do). I think Pepi may be better for those than Balo but I'm starting to worry about Pepi getting healthy and in game shape. Pepi is quicker to react to stuff in the box and is more accurate. Having both would be great but this team is never very healthy.

 

too nervous to do so yourself? It’s okay, nobody’s going to punish you.

 

Too busy, unfortunately. I can do it this afternoon, but it's past due.

 

Pulisic doesn’t need to play out of position with the current personnel.

 

I do wonder how much of the defense takes a hit putting Christian in there. You aren't NOT going to play him, but Morris-Tessman-Tillman-McKennie is TOUGH to play again and a really good counterpressing crew.

It showed.