You’re at the bar. One of the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup games is playing on the big screen.
The person next to you makes a comment about Christian Pulisic as he dribbles down the left wing. “Pulisic was better when he played as a pure No. 10,” they mutter. The Almighty Rules of Conversation that were established before the dawn of time dictate that you now have to respond with a USMNT take of your own. But what do you say, other than “you’re wrong about Pulisic” (which they are, of course)?
I’m here to help. Today, I’m setting the table for you ahead of the United States’ run at the World Cup.
This tournament will see the best nations from every continent battle each other – the real battle, though, is the one between your clever observations and the clever observations of those around you. The person with the most smart points at the end of the tournament wins. Those are the rules. I don’t make them. I just enforce them.
To give you a head start, here’s one useful remark about every player on the USMNT’s World Cup roster.
The World Cup is here. So is our biggest discount ever.
Matt Freese, Goalkeeper
What to say when the camera pans to him: “That dude did a Harvard research project on penalty kicks, and it paid off.”
Freese, a Harvard graduate, is likely to start in net for the United States this summer. The New York City FC goalkeeper’s best asset might be his penalty prowess. After putting together a research project in college on penalty kicks, Freese has won three of the five shootouts he’s participated in as an MLS or USMNT player. Two of those came with New York City and one came with the United States, where he saved three out of six penalties to help the U.S. to victory over Costa Rica in the Gold Cup.
Matt Turner, Goalkeeper
What to say when the camera pans to him: ”After his Premier League stint, Turner is back to being the best shot-stopper in MLS.”
So far this year, Turner has saved 8.8 goals more than expected for the New England Revolution, as per American Soccer Analysis. The 31-year-old started for the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup and will be ready to go if called upon this summer.
