Several key players will be absent from Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, and Johnny Cardoso as Mauricio Pochettino takes charge of his first games as the U.S. national team coach due to injuries. Weah has been sidelined from playing for Juventus since September 21st due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Balogun, who scored the go-ahead goal for Monaco in their recent 2-1 victory against Rennes in Ligue 1, had to leave the game in the 64th minute with what seemed to be a shoulder injury. Cardoso also faced an injury setback, leaving Real Betis’ Europa Conference League match against Legia Warsaw in the 66th minute.
In light of these absences, Brandon Vazquez, Alex Zendejas, and Tanner Tessmann have been called up to join the team. Vazquez, Zendejas, and Tessmann will have the opportunity to showcase their skills during the upcoming exhibitions. The U.S. national team is scheduled to play against Panama in Austin, Texas, on Saturday and then face Mexico in Guadalajara three days later.
These upcoming matches will provide a platform for the newly appointed coach, Mauricio Pochettino, to assess his squad and experiment with different tactics. The inclusion of Vazquez, Zendejas, and Tessmann presents an opportunity for these players to prove their worth and make a lasting impression on the national team setup. Despite the absence of some key players due to injuries, the team is gearing up for fierce competition against Panama and Mexico in the forthcoming fixtures.
