ESPN FC Futbol Americas: US Men's National Team Players Lack the Basics?!?
Feb 10, 2026
Derek Rae, veteran football commentator and Bundesliga expert, drops in to grade CONCACAF players in Germany. Short takes on who’s rising or slipping in form. Quick chat about Luis Díaz’s hot streak. Lively debate over whether U.S. players lack basic fundamentals and how playing abroad affects development.
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Contradictory Take On Team Basics
- Jesús Pérez claimed the USMNT 'found a lack of basics' when they arrived and said they weren't there to teach fundamentals.
- Alejandro Moreno and Herculez Gomez argued a manager must address basic gaps, making the comment contradictory and worrying.
Address Shortcomings During Camp
- If a manager identifies shortcomings, they must address them directly in camp through instruction or practice.
- Teaching moments that improve players' ability to perform consistently are part of a national coach's job.
Coaches' Blunt Locker-Room Moments
- Moreno recalled Mauricio Pochettino previously telling Timothy Weah to 'shut up and dribble' as an example of coaches' blunt locker-room messaging.
- They expressed concern about assistants airing intimate program details publicly on podcasts.