Pre-match: USA vs Uruguay friendly 11/18/25

Uruguay won the first 4 FIFA events they entered. 1924 & 1928 Olympics (where professionals played, IIRC), and the 1930 & 1950 WCs. Four stars on that crest, just like Getmany and Italy. More than Argentina.

FWIW, there were 22 teams at the 1924 Olympics and 17 in 1928. More than any WC prior to 1982.

 

As for the match, I think we'll see some rotation. I don't think any of the Euro guys will get 2 starts. Though some of the MLS guys from eliminated teams might (Ream, Freeman, Arfsten, Roldan, etc). Though Freese could be an exception.

I think Freeman will start, but at WB or RC /RB? Also feel confident McKenzie starts somewhere. I'd start Pepi up too. No way I start Balo, Reyna, or Dest again.

Then again, Uruguay are a legit measuring stick.

 

Would love to see some AO presence. Not likely though.

 

Balo should absolutely start again, he’s on a two game suspension from a red card when he returns to club.

Freeman, Tillman, Tessman and McKenzie were made available to the press yesterday. That’s generally been an indication they are going to start.

 

We will do our best... but it will be a very heavy Uruguay crowd as well.

Big stadium, lower bowl only. May not look great for TV but it'll be a fun time as always.

 

Get 'er done brother!!! All y'all get loud and proud for our flag!
LET'S GO U.S.A.!!!

Good history lesson Professor Buckeye!
Also, someone at FIFA a few years ago went long on telling the Uruguay FA that they need to begin the process of removing two of the four stars from their crest moving forward. Which is counter to FIFA's long held stance that prior to the first FIFA World Cup there in 1930, those two Olympic Golds were legit tournaments that crowned a World Champion in the 1920's. It appears that whoever was floating this request, well, it lost any traction it had.

 

FIFA match window is Nov 10-18. Last opportunity to play is today.

International Match Calendars

 

You misread me, or I stated it ambiguously. I'm aware that this is the match window. I don't know why we couldn't have played the Paraguay friendly on Friday instead of Saturday.

 

The above is what Poch should have done. Bygones, as we won anyway, I went to the match and enjoyed myself, and who can say what would have happened had we done things differently ...

vs Paraguay

Balogun Wright
Reyna
Arfsten Berhalter Tessmann Dest
Ream Robinson Scally
Freese
​

Poch picked Aaronson (over Wright) and Roldan (over Berhalter), in a 3-4-3 that doesn't quite play as it looks on paper. I was very happy and surprised that Reyna started.

Now, I would rotate very heavily vs Uruguay - fresh legs and new faces - maybe with Berhalter wide and Roldan inside.

​

vs Uruguay

Luna Pepi Aaronson (?)
Tolkin Berhalter Morris Roldan
Trusty McKenzie Freeman
Freese
​

I have Aaronson still there, but Tillman could play - he looks willing to hustle/battle.

Not sure this needs to be said, but this lineup is not what I expect from Poch. I would rest a lot of guys who started/played full matches vs Paraguay, especially the Euros, who have plenty of season ahead of them. Poch may double down on Ream, for example, but I'm playing Trusty.

 

Does Poch value the potential momentum of a win here over learning more about his roster?

 

Very much a learn more guy during friendlies.

 

So far this seems the case.

I think it is hard to know what value to place on friendly wins. But this is the last one until the WC will be on the doorstep.

The March friendlies may be more important in this regard, but the US seems likely to benefit in the "home field advantage" category more if the next four months have a positive feel to them. It may be hard to overturn the malaise that might follow a loss.

So it could be that winning -- even a friendly -- means more to the team's success than deciding whether Berhalter can be #26. Certainly, Pochettino has expressed a desire for more support from fans and his comments about culture ring true for the fandom as well. So maybe he thinks about it.

 

Good point.
It would be wise for Poch to utilize tonight to see what the remaining players will show when given a look. Specifically in that Uruguay are a World Cup bond opponent. And a culture that always gives a good account of themselves. I.e. an opponent that provides a solid litmus test for the younger players.

 

I think Poch likes to win and expects whoever he puts out there to be capable of winning, so I don’t see winning and learning about the lower rungs of the roster as mutually exclusive.

 

Repeat after me, "It's only a friendly." Pretty much the turnover I argued for, so you can blame me.

​

 

He said that at this stage we don't have friendlies, every game is a cometitive game for him.

 

Playing without Pulisic, Weah, McKennie, Jedi, and Adams might invalidate the significance of the Uruguay match. Hope those players are not missing when we play Portugal and Belgium in March.

 

100% agreed.

 

I like either one of these... Give him half as starter, or bring him on (in a role in which he very well may be asked to play in the World Cup) as 1st attacking sub. Regardless of whether or not they're ahead or behind, would love to see him come on with the mandate to go combine midfield and attack to create something.

Wouldn't mind seeing some rotation, don't know what to expect, similarly wouldn't mind if Poch went with a similar lineup apart from a few spots. I want Luna & Freeman in to start. The likes of Scally & Aaronson, I'd like to see them come into a situation as 2nd half subs. At most.

Definitely not about the result for me, but rather seeing more cohesion in the press, a hopefully more tuned-in defense, and seeing if the intensity levels can stay where they've been recently.

Oh, and gogorath reminded me... I too wouldn't mind Pepi starting.

 

That looks a bit more 4231ish. 3421, who is the 3rd attacker with Wright & Luna? Tillman? Berhalter? Dest?

Freese & Destcthe only holdovers.

---------------------Freese---------------
----Freeman---McKenzie---Trusty-----
Dest---Berhalter---Morris---Tolkin
------------Tillman---Luna--------
-------------------Wright----------

That looks funky. 4231/433 with Dest as an attacker. Freeman & Tolkin FBs. McKenzie & Trusty CBs. Morris, Tillman, Berhalter midfield triangle.

 

NCAA basketball coaches will have a couple of times a year where they play 2 games with one day rest. The purpose is to prepare for the schedule during the tournament, when there is just one off day between games. The normal schedule in college is 2 games per week, so 2 or 3 days off.

Just throwing out a suggestion….

 

For friendlies, he should prefer a Great performance and a lousy result. If the matches matter, reverse that.

And by “great performance” I don’t just mean the play in the field. Tonight, maybe he wants to play Freeman in the Scally role and see how he does. Seeing how Freeman performs, what he does well and what needs work, is important.

 

Agreed.

If Player X has a bad match, has he learned that Player X isn’t good enough? Or just that Player X isn’t good enough to lift the 2nd raters he’s playing with?

I always make the analogy to algebra…the more variables, the harder and less clear the solution is.

 

This is like Switzerland level yikes

 

Really just a big ole switcheroo. Interesting.