Latest news with #MattTurner
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
USMNT Goalkeeping Situation, Turner Continue To Be Major Question Marks
It's no fun or easy being a U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper these days. Two keepers who were selected to the team for training camp and the Concacaf Gold Cup later this month have been sidelined with injuries. On May 24, Columbus Crew keeper Patrick Schulte suffered an oblique injury during pregame warm-ups against Charlotte FC on May 24 and will be sidelined from two to six weeks. On Wednesday, June 4, Colorado Rapids goalie Zack Steffen was sent home after suffering a knee injury in training the previous. Steffen has the second most appearances of any USMNT goalkeeper with 30, and there seemed to be signs pointing that would get an opportunity to play this month. That left veteran Matt Turner (51 caps) and a pair of international virgins in camp as the team prepares for the Concacaf Gold Cup - Matt Freese (New York City FC) and Chris Brady (Chicago). That's right. They have never played for the USMNT. For a national team program that is known for boasting such stalwart netminders as Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel and Tim Howard over the past three decades, the U.S. faces quandary these days. Once a strength in the USA arsenal, it is now considered a giant question mark, if not a potential weakness, in some quarters. With precious national team playing dates dwindling as we are on a year out to the 2026 World Cup, it sometimes feels like the goalkeeping situation will be determined by attrition. Who knows? Perhaps it will be the last one standing who could wind up backstopping the USA next year. Given his national team experience, Turner at the present time is in the driver's seat, but he has issues, as in not playing enough. While on loan from Nottingham Forest, the 31-year-old keeper did not see any action for English F.A. Cup champion Crystal Palace during the Premier League season. He did play in four cup matches - three in the F.A. Cup and one in the League Cup. That's nowhere near enough and not exactly what any national team head coach would want from his top goalie. Goalkeepers need to play regularly to keep their sharpness. Training every day will take you only so far. USMNT supporters were reminded of Turner's questionable decision making in the 1-0 loss to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in March. If he had been playing regularly for a club, perhaps Turner would have been sharper. Then again, Turner claimed he wasn't number one. "I don't see myself as the number one, number one all the time," he said during a Wednesday Zoom press conference. "I think that's my mindset going into every camp right now, is that every inch, every opportunity needs to be fought for. And every opportunity that I've had under this current staff, I've earned by my performances within training and the opportunities that I had this past season with Crystal Palace. I never think to myself, 'Oh, I'm going to come in and I'm going to play, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that. I think anybody could attest to the work that I put in to earn each opportunity that I get. "So, in terms of the pecking order, listen, there's lots of good goalkeepers in the pool right now. I think a lot of guys are performing well, especially some of the guys here in MLS. It's nice to be around them, to train with them, and to just keep pushing myself and for them, and pushing them to get better and hold the standards true to what we want to build on this national team. "And hopefully I will have some news for you, for in terms of my future this summer." It could be in Europe or could be back in MLS. "I think I'd always be open to coming back home," he said. But let's face it. It is more lucrative and more prestigious playing abroad, especially in Europe. Turner, who starred for the New England Revolution before signing with Arsenal in 2022, needs to find a team in which he will play regularly with that big tournament coming around at this time next year. Any time an American ventures to play across the pond, it is always a gamble on whether he or she will get playing time. If you're a field player, a coach will find room for you. You can play only one goalkeeper at a time. Turner said that finding the right team and situation is much easier said than done. "I've had a lot of positive talks with a lot of different clubs," Turner said, adding that "the important thing for me is finding the right situation for me to play in and to maximize what I feel is, is my potential as well. "It's not as cut and dry anymore in player movement in general. If you look around the European soccer world especially, a lot of new financial rules and regulations are in place. Clubs have to do business and get creative … in certain situations. It's not always just, I point my finger to this club. 'This is a good situation. I want to go here. Let's make that happen.' There's other factors at play. You have to weigh up the family side. You have to weigh up the personal side, and then obviously the playing side. And then what works from club to club as well." It may be a while before the USMMNT's goalkeeping puzzle will be solved. won't be solved. With friendlies with Turkey (June 7) and Switzerland (June 10) looming and then the Concacaf Gold Cup starting against Trinidad & Tobago on June 15, perhaps Mauricio Pochettino will get some answers by then. There are still plenty of questions ahead. Will he play Turner in all five matches? Will Freese or Brady get some much-needed international experience? How will any of those three keepers fare in pressure situations? Can the USMNT go deep in the tournament behind some impressive goalkeeping performances? So many questions and so few answers, at least for now
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Sergiño Dest to miss CONCACAF Gold Cup, further weakening US in last tournament before World Cup
CHICAGO (AP) — Sergiño Dest was dropped from the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup over fitness concerns, leaving the Americans heading to the tournament with just four players who started in the team's final match of the 2022 World Cup. 'The technical, medical and high performance staffs have done a series of evaluations this week on all the players in camp, and in the case of Sergiño we determined the best decision is for the player to have an individualized training program for the summer so he can focus on being fully recovered and ready to perform next season,' coach Mauricio Pochettino said in a statement Thursday. Dest, a starter at outside back, tore an ACL during training with PSV Eindhoven on April 20, 2024, and returned to action March 8. He appeared is seven matches, including four starts, but didn't play a full 90 minutes until the season finale on May 18. Trying to rebound after flops in last summer's Copa America and the CONCACAF Nations League in March, the U.S. already was missing Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna. Pulisic wanted time off, Robinson had knee surgery on May 27, Balogun has an ankle injury and Musah asked out for a reason the U.S. Soccer Federation didn't specify. Weah, McKennie and Reyna were blocked from the tournament by FIFA, which ruled team's in the Club World cup have priority to players. The only players on the 26-man roster who started in the second-round loss to the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup are goalkeeper Matt Turner, central defenders Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman, and midfielder Tyler Adams. The Americans have friendlies against Turkey on Saturday at East Hartford, Connecticut, and Switzerland three days later at Nashville, Tennessee, then meet Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Haiti in the first round of the Gold Cup. Fifteen players are from Major League Soccer and seven could make national team debuts: goalkeepers Chris Brady and Matt Freese; defenders Alex Freeman and Nathan Harriel; midfielders Sebastian Berhalter and Quinn Sullivan; and forward Damion Downs. The roster: Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace) Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus), Alex Freeman (Orlando), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville) Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego), Diego Luna (Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia); Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sergiño Dest to miss CONCACAF Gold Cup, further weakening US in last tournament before World Cup
CHICAGO (AP) — Sergiño Dest was dropped from the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup over fitness concerns, leaving the Americans heading to the tournament with just four players who started in the team's final match of the 2022 World Cup. 'The technical, medical and high performance staffs have done a series of evaluations this week on all the players in camp, and in the case of Sergiño we determined the best decision is for the player to have an individualized training program for the summer so he can focus on being fully recovered and ready to perform next season,' coach Mauricio Pochettino said in a statement Thursday. Dest, a starter at outside back, tore an ACL during training with PSV Eindhoven on April 20, 2024, and returned to action March 8. He appeared is seven matches, including four starts, but didn't play a full 90 minutes until the season finale on May 18. Trying to rebound after flops in last summer's Copa America and the CONCACAF Nations League in March, the U.S. already was missing Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna. Pulisic wanted time off, Robinson had knee surgery on May 27, Balogun has an ankle injury and Musah asked out for a reason the U.S. Soccer Federation didn't specify. Weah, McKennie and Reyna were blocked from the tournament by FIFA, which ruled team's in the Club World cup have priority to players. The only players on the 26-man roster who started in the second-round loss to the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup are goalkeeper Matt Turner, central defenders Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman, and midfielder Tyler Adams. The Americans have friendlies against Turkey on Saturday at East Hartford, Connecticut, and Switzerland three days later at Nashville, Tennessee, then meet Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Haiti in the first round of the Gold Cup. The Gold Cup will be the last competitive matches for the U.S. before it cohosts the 2026 World Cup. Fifteen players are from Major League Soccer and seven could make national team debuts: goalkeepers Chris Brady and Matt Freese; defenders Alex Freeman and Nathan Harriel; midfielders Sebastian Berhalter and Quinn Sullivan; and forward Damion Downs. The roster: Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus), Alex Freeman (Orlando), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville) Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego), Diego Luna (Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia); Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven) Forwards: Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte), Damion Downs (Cologne), Brian White (Vancouver), Haji Wright (Coventry City) ___ AP soccer:
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Sergiño Dest to miss CONCACAF Gold Cup, further weakening US in last tournament before World Cup
Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Sergiño Dest was dropped from the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup over fitness concerns, leaving the Americans heading to the tournament with just four players who started in the team's final match of the 2022 World Cup. 'The technical, medical and high performance staffs have done a series of evaluations this week on all the players in camp, and in the case of Sergiño we determined the best decision is for the player to have an individualized training program for the summer so he can focus on being fully recovered and ready to perform next season,' coach Mauricio Pochettino said in a statement Thursday. Dest, a starter at outside back, tore an ACL during training with PSV Eindhoven on April 20, 2024, and returned to action March 8. He appeared is seven matches, including four starts, but didn't play a full 90 minutes until the season finale on May 18. Trying to rebound after flops in last summer's Copa America and the CONCACAF Nations League in March, the U.S. already was missing Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna. Pulisic wanted time off, Robinson had knee surgery on May 27, Balogun has an ankle injury and Musah asked out for a reason the U.S. Soccer Federation didn't specify. Weah, McKennie and Reyna were blocked from the tournament by FIFA, which ruled team's in the Club World cup have priority to players. The only players on the 26-man roster who started in the second-round loss to the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup are goalkeeper Matt Turner, central defenders Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman, and midfielder Tyler Adams. The Americans have friendlies against Turkey on Saturday at East Hartford, Connecticut, and Switzerland three days later at Nashville, Tennessee, then meet Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Haiti in the first round of the Gold Cup. The Gold Cup will be the last competitive matches for the U.S. before it cohosts the 2026 World Cup. Fifteen players are from Major League Soccer and seven could make national team debuts: goalkeepers Chris Brady and Matt Freese; defenders Alex Freeman and Nathan Harriel; midfielders Sebastian Berhalter and Quinn Sullivan; and forward Damion Downs. The roster: Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace) Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus), Alex Freeman (Orlando), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville) Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego), Diego Luna (Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia); Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven) Forwards: Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte), Damion Downs (Cologne), Brian White (Vancouver), Haji Wright (Coventry City) ___ AP soccer: recommended
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sergiño Dest to miss CONCACAF Gold Cup, further weakening US in last tournament before World Cup
FILE - United States' Sergino Dest runs with the ball during a CONCACAF Nations League championship soccer match between Mexico and the United States, March 24, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. The U.S. won 2-0. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) CHICAGO (AP) — Sergiño Dest was dropped from the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup over fitness concerns, leaving the Americans heading to the tournament with just four players who started in the team's final match of the 2022 World Cup. 'The technical, medical and high performance staffs have done a series of evaluations this week on all the players in camp, and in the case of Sergiño we determined the best decision is for the player to have an individualized training program for the summer so he can focus on being fully recovered and ready to perform next season,' coach Mauricio Pochettino said in a statement Thursday. Advertisement Dest, a starter at outside back, tore an ACL during training with PSV Eindhoven on April 20, 2024, and returned to action March 8. He appeared is seven matches, including four starts, but didn't play a full 90 minutes until the season finale on May 18. Trying to rebound after flops in last summer's Copa America and the CONCACAF Nations League in March, the U.S. already was missing Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna. Pulisic wanted time off, Robinson had knee surgery on May 27, Balogun has an ankle injury and Musah asked out for a reason the U.S. Soccer Federation didn't specify. Weah, McKennie and Reyna were blocked from the tournament by FIFA, which ruled team's in the Club World cup have priority to players. The only players on the 26-man roster who started in the second-round loss to the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup are goalkeeper Matt Turner, central defenders Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman, and midfielder Tyler Adams. Advertisement The Americans have friendlies against Turkey on Saturday at East Hartford, Connecticut, and Switzerland three days later at Nashville, Tennessee, then meet Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Haiti in the first round of the Gold Cup. The Gold Cup will be the last competitive matches for the U.S. before it cohosts the 2026 World Cup. Fifteen players are from Major League Soccer and seven could make national team debuts: goalkeepers Chris Brady and Matt Freese; defenders Alex Freeman and Nathan Harriel; midfielders Sebastian Berhalter and Quinn Sullivan; and forward Damion Downs. The roster: Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace) Advertisement Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus), Alex Freeman (Orlando), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville) Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego), Diego Luna (Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia); Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven) Forwards: Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte), Damion Downs (Cologne), Brian White (Vancouver), Haji Wright (Coventry City) ___ AP soccer:
