ORLANDO, Fla. — They’ve been ruled out for just about all the reasons an athlete can be ruled out: injury, illness and suspension.
Sergiño Dest hurt his hamstring while playing recently for Barcelona. Reggie Cannon tested positive for COVID-19 in Mexico. And DeAndre Yedlin was cautioned during the first half of Thursday’s 0-0 draw at the Estadio Azteca. As a result, the most experienced player on this U.S. men’s national team roster now faces a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation (just two in Yedlin’s eight World Cup qualifiers, but that’s the terrible rule).
U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter named three right backs to his roster for this climatic qualifying window on March 17. Nine days and 90 minutes of action later, they’re all unavailable.
