On Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Mauricio Pochettino leads the United States in his fifth match in charge of the aspirational co-hosts of the next World Cup. All of his star players are absent. But the mandate remains the same: prepare the program for a history-making run when the US launch their cause in Inglewood.
Given the present timing – the US are set to host friendlies with Venezuela and Costa Rica outside of an official Fifa window – Pochettino’s third camp is a youth-driven affair, defined by hopeful talents with an outside chance of making the World Cup team. Potentially, a few could break in. A handful of positions in particular need are worth studying closely: center-back, goalkeeper, an understudy at full-back or two. In light of the team’s needs, not to mention the laudable staying power of one particular veteran, a pivotal figure to observe in this off-window affair is that of 37-year-old center-back: Tim Ream.
