Why Did Gregg Berhalter Not Call Up Sergino Dest and Giovanni Reyna in the Latest USMNT Squad?

The USMNT have a good thing going right now. Manager Gregg Berhalter has found the right blend in his squad, and almost everything is perfect at the team. Superstars like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Giovanni Reyna have performed well in Europe and show a lot of promise for the future.

However, they still have a long way to go before the World Cup in Qatar and there are several questions that Berhalter will have to answer. One of them is the striker’s spot as the USMNT have struggled to find a suitable number nine who has been able to score consistently for them.

In the latest squad that the USMNT released for the friendlies in June and the Nations League, there were several surprises. However, it also made a few things clearer.

Giovanni Reyna and Sergino Dest are injured

The biggest surprise in the squad was the omission of Giovanni Reyna and Sergino Dest. Both of them are struggling with injuries this season, especially Reyna. He has missed five months of Borussia Dortmund’s season and is currently dealing with a hamstring injury.

Eerily, Sergino Dest came off with a similar injury while playing for FC Barcelona. He’ll miss these friendlies and would try to come back stronger next season. In their place, newbies, Malik Tillman and Joe Scally, have made it to the senior squad.

Gregg Berhalter talks about his squad

The USMNT coach spoke about his team selection in a release. Berhalter showed his excitement for the two friendlies against Uruguay and Morocco, and wants his team to defend their CONCACAF Nations League title.

Moreover, he also revealed that he’ll definitely keep an eye on the World Cup and is banking on the home support for these games.

“With the World Cup six months away, we aim to maximize these opportunities and continue to progress as a team. We are looking forward to experiencing the incredible support of our home fans for the last time before we represent them in Qatar in November,” Berhalter said.

How far do you think the USMNT will go in the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Read More: Who is Malik Tillman? The Bayern Munich Sensation Who Can Be USMNT’s Biggest Prospect at Qatar World Cup