Former USA international Alexi Lalas has slammed Gregg Berhalter’s squad for the World Cup, with one selection leaving him “p****d off”.
USA are in Group B alongside England, Wales and Iran at the World Cup, which kicks off in Qatar on November 20. Ranked 16th in the world by FIFA, the Stars and Stripes are hopeful of making an impact in Doha, where they begin their tournament against Wales on November 21.
Berhalter named his 26-man squad on Wednesday, with Arsenal ’s Matt Turner, Fulham ’s Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream, Leeds United’s Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson and Chelsea ’s Christian Pulisic among those selected. But it was the decision to call up Antalyaspor striker Haji Wright which infuriated Lalas, who made 96 appearances for the USA.
Wright has nine goals in 12 goals for the Turkish side this season and scored on his USA debut against Morocco in June. But Lalas would have preferred Ricardo Pepi, Jordan Pefok and Brandon Vazquez to be selected.
“The big, big question, the main talking point is...who is it? Haji Wright,” Lalas said on Fox Soccer after the announcement. “Haji Wrong.
“Are you kidding me?! Are you kidding me?! Haji Wright! See, this is the one that gets me p****d off. I do not understand how Haji Wright is going to the World Cup over Pepi, over Pefok.”
Wright is a 24-year-old striker who has lived a nomadic life across Europe in his early career. He has played for Schalke, Dutch side VVV-Venlo, Danish team SonderjyskE before winding up at Antalyaspor. At 6ft 2in he will provide the USA with a different angle of attack.
“I think Haji Wright, is ultimately, a break-glass-in-case-of-an-emergency type player with his big, physical frame,” said former Bolton midfielder and USA international Stuart Holden. “His size. A guy who's in form, scoring goals, left and right is a guy you're going to throw on in the last 15-20 minutes.
“I don't think you see him starting a game. I think it would have to get pretty deep down the line and Gregg's gameplan isn't to see Haji Wright start.”
Full USA squad
Goalkeepers : Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Sean Johnson (New York City), Matt Turner (Arsenal)
Defenders : Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Sergino Dest (AC Milan), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (Nashville), Tim Ream (Fulham)
Midfielders : Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie ( Juventus ), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC), Tyler Adams (Leeds), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
Forwards : Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas), Tim Weah (Lille), Haji Wright (Antalyspor), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Sargent (Norwich City)
