IRVINE, Calif. — Ever since the 2022 World Cup, Timothy Weah’s status as a starter for the U.S. men’s national team has rarely been in question. Except now.
Reading the tea leaves is always a dangerous game, but they seem to be pointing toward the Marseille wingback transitioning to a role off the bench for the USMNT during the World Cup, which Team USA opens Friday against Paraguay.
Weah came off the bench in both warm-up games during this camp, replacing Sergiño Dest against both Senegal and Germany.
Moreover, in the 3-4-2-1 base that Pochettino went with in both games — an indication that it’ll be the plan for the World Cup — it would be tough to get Dest and Weah on the field together.
Ideally, both would be at the right wingback spot in that system.
Weah could play attacking midfield or on the left, but Antonee “Jedi” Robinson looks locked in at left wingback, Christian Pulisic is all but assured to take one of two attacking midfield spots and Weston McKennie lined up alongside Pulisic in Chicago against Germany.
Dest was one of the USMNT’s better players in both friendlies, and it would be a surprise if he didn’t start.
“Completely fine with it,” Weah said of the possibility he comes off the bench. “Coach’s decision, obviously. We respect it. I’m here to support my teammates. I think a lot of players in this moment would think selfishly. But I’m OK with being a player that comes off the bench to add that bit of energy to my team.
“I’m here to support my team. Bigger picture isn’t just who’s starting. I think the bigger picture of this team is as a group and making history, taking it as far as we can.”
While it’s not a role he’s played in some time — the Queens native started 26 of 29 games in Ligue 1 for Marseille this season — coming on against a tired defense is the sort of situation Weah could take advantage of.
Granted, Dest has similar qualities. Between those two and Robinson, the USMNT looks well set at wingback on either side of the field, plus Alex Freeman — who’s been lining up as the right centerback in the USMNT’s back three — could slide up and play there too.
More so than its offensive potential, the biggest question for the USMNT seems to be whether its defense can stay intact. Weah, who was picked on by Belgium’s Jeremy Doku in his last start for the national team in March, sounded an optimistic note on that front.
“The attacking side of things are amazing,” he said. “I think the defensive side of things are amazing as well. We just have to fine-tune a bit of those last-minute things.”
Pochettino conducted a sideline interview with Grover from Sesame Street during practice.