But the former Chicago Fire FC and Houston Dynamo FC star feels the competition goes far beyond those making a late push for a roster spot, with Beasley noting how some key players are missing through injury.
“I think Berhalter has a real problem on his hands when Gio Reyna gets healthy because how are you going to fit [Yunus] Musah, Reyna, [Timothy] Weah, [Brenden] Aaronson, Pulisic – I would even throw Christian in there, I know he’s the captain,” said Beasley, who earned 126 caps. “All those guys, there’s only, what, three spots? Four spots really? Where [are] you going to put them?”
That’s perhaps a good problem to have, with form and fitness two driving forces for what’ll reportedly become a 26-man roster for the USMNT in Qatar (usually 23 players). During Wednesday night’s broadcast, ESPN commentator Taylor Twellman referenced a conversation where Berhalter said he felt about 19-20 spots were already locked up.
It leaves places to be earned, and starter and substitute roles will be sorted among those who already have the inside track.
“Understand that none of these guys played like know that they’re the starter,” Beasley hit home. “They all played with something to prove and you saw it today I think with their goals, their movement. How they played with each other, with purpose.”
USMNT players have three more chances to impress this window, facing World Cup-bound Uruguay on Sunday before having two Concacaf Nations League games June 10 (home to Grenada) and June 14 (at El Salvador). They’ll also play twice overseas during the September window, offering limited opportunities to stake their claim.
Some key questions continue to surround the goalkeeper spot, a center back partnership and a lead-the-line No. 9
