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Gregg Berhalter named his 26-player U.S. men’s national team roster for June international window on Monday, and as expected, several worthy candidates were not included for upcoming friendlies vs. Colombia and Brazil.
The growing depth of the USMNT player pool meant there were always going to be good candidates left out, which led to at least a few surprises among those excluded.
Alex Zendejas was one of the more productive attackers during the 2023-24 season, but his absence was a worrying sign for his long-term future with the program.
Lennard Maloney helped Heidenheim to an eighth-place finish in the Bundesliga, serving a key member in the squad. Despite his impact though, Maloney remains behind several midfielders in the current pool.
Defender Auston Trusty enjoyed a consistent role for Sheffield United this season, but the center back’s eligibility for the Olympic Team could’ve been what cost him a chance with the senior squad.
Gabriel Slonina and Bryan Reynolds are also options for Olympic head coach Marko Mitrovic, but could’ve earned senior call-ups after their respective league seasons.
Here is a closer look at some of the most surprising omissions from the USMNT June roster:
Alex Zendejas
A 14-goal, eight-assist season would’ve gotten a lot of players a look at an international call-up, but not for Alex Zendejas.
Zendejas, 26, has been a consistent performers for Club America this season, registering double-digit goals for the second-straight season. The versatile winger made 48 combined appearances for the Liga MX side, scoring in three different competitions, including the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Zendejas has seven career caps with the USMNT, but none since the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Lennard Maloney
24-year-old Lennard Maloney made his USMNT debut last fall and proceeded to help Heidenheim to an impressive campaign in the Bundesliga.
Maloney scored two goals, added…
Source link : https://sbisoccer.com/2024/05/zendejas-maloney-among-omissions-for-usmnts-june-roster
Author : Larry Henry Jr
Publish date : 2024-05-22 22:32:00
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