Dest's starting spot with the USMNT doesn't look as secure as it once did

1 week ago 4
  • Jeff CarlisleSep 25, 2025, 10:05 AM ET

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      Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. nationalist squad for ESPN FC.

The archetypal play pursuing the extremity of the October planetary model was alternatively subdued for members of the U.S. men's nationalist team. The wounded database is getting long, with the likes of AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, Bayer Leverkusen's Malik Tillman and Fulham's Antonee Robinson among those near disconnected gameday rosters for their respective clubs.

On apical of that, the immense bulk of U.S. players who emerged from the planetary interruption unscathed recovered themselves reduced to substitute roles, leaving conscionable a fewer players to beryllium connected the tract from the opening whistle. The UEFA Champions League fixtures saw much minutes logged by American players, though not each of the stints were positive.

Throughout the season, ESPN volition beryllium monitoring the advancement of the subordinate pool, delivering insights into those whose signifier oregon fittingness has made them peculiarly intriguing. We telephone it the USMNT's countdown to the World Cup.

ESPN volition number down to June 11 each week truthful that way, erstwhile the U.S. squad is announced for this highly anticipated World Cup connected location soil, nary names connected that 26-man roster volition travel arsenic a surprise. Only 232 days to go.

Sergiño Dest | Fullback | PSV Eindhoven

2025-26 minutes: 860
2025-26 FotMob rating: 7.5

Dest's starting spot not looking arsenic harmless arsenic it erstwhile was

Dest's endowment is undeniable, but sometimes the U.S. planetary can't get retired of his ain way. Following past weekend's 2-1 triumph against Go Ahead Eagles, 1 that featured Dest's accustomed assortment of marauding runs forward, helium was each acceptable to play successful the Champions League against Napoli, lone to amusement up precocious to the stadium. Manager Peter Bosz wasn't amused, and removed Dest from the starting lineup.

In the expansive strategy of things, it looks similar Dest won't incur immoderate further penalties. Bosz did sub him connected precocious successful the match. That said, Dest's timing wasn't the greatest. He was near disconnected the U.S. roster for the October model owed to an injury, which allowed U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino to look astatine different options to play connected the close broadside of the U.S. defense. Tim Weah spent immoderate clip astatine some close helping and near wingback, portion Alex Freeman logged immoderate minutes arsenic well.

One present gets the consciousness that fixed Dest's antiaircraft shortcomings, he's not rather the fastener to beryllium successful the U.S. lineup that helium erstwhile was, particularly if Weah continues to beryllium looked astatine arsenic an enactment astatine wingback. Dest tin hole this of course, and it's not wide wherefore helium was late, but a subordinate who hasn't ever been the astir disciplined needs to cleanable up his behaviour if he's to unafraid a spot successful Pochettino's starting XI.

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