U.S. Soccer is going through a bit of turmoil right now. Presidential elections are about a week away, the contracts of the USMNT coaching staff are about to expire and one of the country’s young rising stars switched nationalities to Mexico. Perhaps most alarming right now: There are no March friendlies currently slated on the USMNT schedule.
Geoff Cameron doesn’t hold back. Whether on or off the pitch, he’s not afraid to get stuck in. He’s not shy about supporting unpopular Trump policies or calling out a former USMNT coach. In a recent interview, he straight up said the U.S. would have qualified for the World Cup had Jurgen Klinsmann remained as coach, but the Geoff Cameron Bruce Arena comments stood out the most.
No event defines an athlete’s career quite like the World Cup. It’s why people still look at Lionel Messi like he’s got something to prove (he doesn’t) and why the name Chris Wondolowski still brings a tear to the eye of many Americans. The 2014 World Cup made Mario Gotze an international icon, turned James Rodriguez into the hero of Colombians everywhere and earned DeAndre Yedlin a Spurs contract.
As if the Jonathan Gonzalez Mexico debut wasn’t bad enough for U.S. fans, the California native completed his switch to El Tri on U.S. soil. Gonzalez came on as a 57th-minute substitute for Elias Hernandez and didn’t look out of place as Mexico played Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday evening at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Hector Moreno made a big move from PSV in the Dutch Eredivisie to AS Roma in Italy’s Serie A over the summer. The veteran of two World Cups with Mexico appeared to be preparing for the 2018 World Cup by moving to one of the top leagues for defenders in the world. However, after appearing just six times in the first half of the season, a Hector Moreno Real Sociedad move was completed on Wednesday on transfer deadline day.
Remember before Gyasi Zardes received his 38th international cap, before the shocking incompetencies revealed by the Jonathan Gonzalez switch and before the catastrophe in Couva, when the only real question facing U.S.
After weeks of speculation linking Mexican international Miguel Layun with La Liga side Real Betis — where international compatriot Andres Guardado currently plays — derby rival Sevilla has announced the capture of the 29-year-old right back on loan with an option to buy in the summer, pending a medical scheduled for Tuesday.
The U.S. Men’s National Team opened the 2018 season with a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a pair of teams who failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The USMNT vs Bosnia match itself was a relatively drab 0-0 draw, but with about 15 minutes left U.S. forward Jordan Morris had his shirt ripped, by far the highlight of the match.
Morris, the Seattle Sounders product, was involved in a tussle on the left sideline when his shirt tore just enough to bare his smooth abdomen, which the cameras didn’t shy away from showing.
There's something tragic about each of Mexico's six-straight World Cup Round of 16 eliminations — being unable to reach the quarterfinals has become a haunting nightmare for El Tri. However, it doesn't detract from the country's long and rich history of playing in the world's greatest competition.
In fact, Mexico is one of the national teams with the most World Cup appearances. El Tri have been present at 15 World Cups, only trailing Argentina (16), Italy and Germany (17), and Brazil (20).
Jonathan Gonzalez, the 18-year-old wonderkind midfielder for Monterrey in Liga MX and the USMNT's next great midfield boss, has officially received clearance from FIFA to switch national teams and become Mexico's next great midfield boss.