Westin’ away again in Margheritaville: McKennie at Juventus

The UEFA degree of difficulty is often under-appreciated.

 

Little teams world wide have improved. being able to watch more games and players from everywhere playing at the highest levels have evened things out a bit. Perhaps the coaches those teams are getting are also better and know how to structure defense which used to be a shambles for lesser teams.

 

My sense is that Serie A is a large part of the problem for Italy. The league seems happy as master of its domain and if a team occasionally performs well in UCL they tell themselves they're not falling behind.

Serie A seems more a retirment league than MLS for now, and has eschewed the athleticism whihch marks elite teams and leagues. IMHO.

The maddening part is that for the top 6 or 8 teams, it's a matter of 3 or 4 different players per squad and changing the training environment, not a wholesale overhaul.

 

The qualifying format can be pretty unforgiving as well.

Italy missed out in 2018 because they finished 2nd in their group just behind Spain, and then narrowly lost a single elimination playoff tie against Sweden, a team that reached the World Cup quarterfinals that same year.

This time around, with the expanded World Cup format, qualifying should be easier. But even then, Italy finished 2nd in their group to Norway (currently ranked 11th in the world by Elo), so now they'll have to play two more single-elimination games, including an away game against Wales or Bosnia (two teams that qualified for the 32-team World Cup out of Europe in the not-too-distant past).

Obviously that shouldn't excuse repeated qualifying failures for a team of Italy's stature, but I think it at least provides some useful context.

 

Even with the expanded 16 some pretty good teams have to stay home - and there's always a Cinderella story in there sneak a spot, but Czech Rep, Russia, Greece, Sweden, Romania, Ireland are all currently outside UEFA's Fifa top 16 and in any given cycle they are good enough to sneak in.

 

There are other places to disseminate your Euro expertise, guys.

 

Just heard the English announcer in the USMNT vs. Belgium game saying…

"Juventus right now are Weston McKennie + 10!"

I know he was quoting Pochettino but still, exaggerating much?

McKennie gets a yellow in the 19th minute.

 

... and then what happened?

 

Yeah, someone misquoted that earlier in the thread a couple weeks ago. tried saying spalletti said it...

Great goal on an otherwise poor day from the USMNT.

 

McKennie starts! Juventus (T-5th) hosting Genoa (14th).

 

Scores at 17'. A perfect counter attack from the top of Juve's box ends with Wes getting a return pass at the top of Genoa's box and slotting it home beautifully. 5th Serie A goal of the season, 9th of the campaign I think??

 

unfortunately, Wes picked up a YC in the 28'.

That means he'll miss the next match, which is away to Atalanta. The Atalanta match is more of a "must-not-lose" than a "must-win", but either way it's not ideal for Juve.

 

So looking forward to whenever he drops a memoir of his career.

 

Match ends 2-0. Wes could've had a hat-trick, but scuffed two chances that looked easy from the couch. One in the first half was much harder than it looked like on TV (Yildiz headed down a cross that bounced off the turf a little faster than Wes expected, and he couldn't keep his volley down). The other was, honestly, pretty bad: from a FK, Thuram controlled an ball over the top. He could've shot himself, but squared it to Wes, and Wes appeared to trip on the turf and couldn't get a clean shot off.

Also had a decent defensive effort in the 2nd half. Swapped to LWB around the 80'.

The YC suspension vs Atalanta will hurt. Still, today's win puts them within 1 point of a CL spot.

 

Voted MOTM:

McKennie è il Panini Player of the Match di #JuveGenoa 🏆👏 pic.twitter.com/51WX4iZKlx

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA) April 6, 2026

edit: I know its at least his 2nd this season, but I can't remember if he's earned more.

 

Juventus-Genoa, le pagelle di CM:

McKennie, goal e giallo, riecco Di Gregorio! De Rossi, inizio horror | Calciomercato




McKennie 7 - Il solito buon vecchio Weston, utile ed efficace. Può concedersi pure il lusso di sbagliare due goal a pochi centimetri dalla porta, quando però la partita era già indirizzata. Il vero problema (per la Juventus) è un altro: era diffidato ed è stato ammonito, salterà l'Atalanta.

McKennie 7 - The usual good old Weston, useful and effective. He even allows himself the luxury of missing two goals from inches away, when the game was already decided. The real problem (for Juventus) is another: he was on a booking and was booked, he will miss the Atalanta match.

 

The goal:

WESTON MCKENNIE CLASS FINISH 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/IvSkfj6VRN

— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) April 6, 2026

 

8 Goals and 5 Assists in all comps for Weston. What a season! Best season for an American Midfielder ever

 

*9 goals: today's made 5 in Serie A, and 4 in the CL.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, McKennie is having the success in Italy I'd have figured General Bradley would have had should he have remained at Roma.

 

One back of Como again for the last UCL spot. Sadly weston is out for Juve's match against Atalanta because of card accumulation.

 

Portugal assists the USA? ....................

 

I fully credit your good advice for Wes and CP's fine Italian careers to date. Maybe even Tessman, Busio and Weah. Jury still out on Musah! lol

 

What's the data set here? Because Mikey Bradley from '08-'09 Heerenveen (15 g 4 a) might disagree.

 

I was actually just thinking that McKennie goal yesterday felt a lot like a Michael Bradley at Heerenveen goal.