A TIME TO IMPRESS
Who knows? Pochettino just might find a hidden gem in the January friendlies
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino just might find a player or two to become regular selections for the USMNT. (Lucas Boland/Imagn Images)
To paraphrase the great Forrest Gump, the U.S. men's national team's traditional January camp is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.
Who knows? There might be a surprise or two, someone who could help the U.S. down the road.
So, the U.S. men's national team is playing Venezuela in an international friendly in Fort Lauderdale, Fla on Saturday (3 p.m. ET on TNT, Telemundo, Universo, Max, Peacock and Fútbol de Primera radio).
Yes, there's no Christian Pulisic.
Yes, there's no Weston McKennie.
Yes, there's no Antonee Robinson.
And yes, there's no Tim Weah.
Because it is not an official FIFA playing date, U.S. men's head coaches have been limited to Major League Soccer players and ones that are on national teams on extended winter breaks.
I know it hardly sounds exciting or sexy and you might yawn at the idea of a U.S. men's soccer game without the team's biggest names while the team isn't participating in such competitions as the Concacaf Nations League, World Cup qualifying and even the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Add on the fact that there are two NFL playoff games on the same day. As a sports fan, there is a limited amount of time to watch whatever is on the tube or streaming (all the European leagues).
Ah, no big deal, you might say.
But for the likes of defender George Campbell of CF Montreal and midfielder Emeka Eneli of Real Salt Lake, it is a big deal.
You've never heard of them or not familiar with them before?
Yeah, a lot of us might haven't. They're among 10 "newbies" on the roster, hoping to make their USMNT debut.
They've been in camp this month, trying to impress head coach Mauricio Pochettino with their training habits and skills.
The other eight players vying for a start on either Saturday or against Costa Rica in Orlando, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 22:
Goalkeepers Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF) and Matt Freese (New York City FC), defender Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), and forwards Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Caden Clark (CF Montreal), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire), Matko Miljevic (no team) and Indiana Vassilev (St. Louis CITY FC).
There are no trophies at stake.
It depends on how you define trophies. For these players, getting a cap and an opportunity to wear the Red, White and Blue is their trophy, so to speak.
After all, this just might be the only time they will have an opportunity to impress.
From the coaching standpoint, in international soccer, you can never have enough depth at any position, especially with so many injuries that seemly come out of nowhere.
During his first tenure as USMNT boss, Bruce Arena brought in players to see what they might be able to bring to the team and against a particular opponent.
One player that comes to mind is John Wolyniec, who was a serviceable player with the MetroStars (now the New York Red Bulls), who scored his share of important and historic goals back in the day. Woly was called into the team during the January 2004 camp. He played in two international matches and was never called into camp again. But he got that opportunity to show the national coach what he could do. That's how Arena built depth to his team. You just don't know who is going to stand out.
Pochettino might find a potential hidden gem or a diamond in the rough that can fit into his system.
With nothing at stake in these friendlies are perfect as the players won't be thrown into the deep end of the pool in their first games. Some will show promise; others might not be up the task.
Who knows? There might be a surprise or two, someone who could help the U.S. in the Nations League, Gold Cup or even the World Cup, from that box of chocolates.