"It's that time of year that only happens once every four years: when every little injury in any professional men's soccer game has the potential to affect the World Cup. We're close enough to the tournament that a serious injury is no longer required to keep a player out. And even a two-month injury carries with it all kinds of worries: Will he be fully fit come June? Will he be in form in June?"
"A less nihilistic spin on the same idea: We've reached the point in the pre-World Cup season where everything that happens in the club game starts to feel connected to the international game. If a star player falls out of favor: Will he be rusty at the World Cup? If a star player for one of the favorites starts playing poorly: Will he even make the World Cup roster?"
"Gone are the days where the USMNT had a couple of European-based guys who were locks for the roster and then a mishmash of MLS talent. Now, there are Americans starting and starring in every major league and the Champions League, and there are MLSers with legitimate claims to roster spots because of the rising quality of the domestic league."
Every club-level injury or dip in form now has immediate implications for World Cup availability and selection decisions. Even relatively short injuries create uncertainty about fitness and form by June. Club performances, playing time, and falling in or out of favor influence roster inclusion and starting roles. The U.S. men's national team features Americans starting in top European leagues and the Champions League alongside MLS players with legitimate claims. That depth creates difficult selection choices and means accomplished players may still be benched or omitted. The USMNT Player Performance Index aggregates club-level performance to assess eligible Americans ahead of the tournament.
Read at ESPN.com
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