The time for experimentation is over: USMNT squad sees Pochettino's World Cup vision come into focus

The U.S. men's nationalist team roster for the October planetary window has a overmuch much acquainted consciousness to it than immoderate squad since past March's Concacaf Nations League team. As such, it looks similar Mauricio Pochettino's FIFA World Cup plans are coming into focus.

Granted, portion of the situation that Pochettino has faced since taking implicit past twelvemonth is owed to circumstances beyond his control. He couldn't wholly dictate subordinate availability during past summer's Club World Cup, erstwhile the nine commitments of Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Giovanni Reyna took precedence. Injuries to performers specified arsenic Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest and Folarin Balogun constricted their availability.

But Pochettino has besides been going astir instituting a civilization change, which tin beryllium neatly summarized by the phrase: execute oregon else. The past -- and the reputations that travel with it -- doesn't substance to Pochettino. Only contiguous matters.

"It's truthful breathtaking to [go] successful each azygous campy due to the fact that erstwhile you conscionable the player, ever it's astir to truly springiness the assurance and the anticipation to combat for a place, and that is simply a happening that is truly important that we are feeling now," Pochettino said connected Thursday successful a league telephone with reporters. "That is not due to the fact that your sanction is 1 oregon another, you are going to person the spot [for] definite successful the roster for the World Cup. That I deliberation is an thought that we were warring successful the past twelvemonth to effort to fix, that changed the culture, changed the vision, changed the thought of, 'OK due to the fact that successful the past I performed successful immoderate mode oregon due to the fact that I did good 4 years ago, present I americium close to travel and to usage my spot due to the fact that that is my place.' I deliberation that is changed a lot."

This roster is sprinkled with players who person heeded that message. Lyon's Tanner Tessmann has been successful stellar signifier since the commencement of the Ligue 1 season. The aforesaid is existent for Middlesbrough's Aidan Morris. Both are successful the squad.

"Tessmann and Morris are playing successful a regular mode each azygous week, and are players that they request to person the continuity and with continuity, they tin assistance america to get and to perform," Pochettino said.

It besides helps that immoderate players similar Robinson -- who hasn't played for the U.S. since past twelvemonth owed to a genu contented that yet required country past May -- person returned to health. Robinson has yet to reclaim his starting spot successful the Fulham lineup, but for Pochettino, he's played capable to bring him backmost into the fold, adjacent arsenic the U.S. manager said helium would negociate the near back's concern successful conjunction with his club.

"Antonee is not playing excessively much, but I deliberation the situation is to assistance him to germinate and to commencement to consciousness the assurance again, and to travel backmost and to play successful a regular mode successful his squad that t...