With the September window earmarked for two friendlies in Europe, Friday’s duel at Q2 Stadium will be the Yanks’ final match on US soil before they jet to Qatar to take on Wales, England and Iran in November. Though it might not quite feel like it yet due to this year’s unconventional World Cup calendar, there’s precious little time left to make a last, best impression on Gregg Berhalter and his staff before they complete their roster.
“I don’t think this camp has been different than any other camps,” said Cannon’s teammate Kellyn Acosta as he set next to his fellow FC Dallas alum. “As players we come in to national camps ready to make an imprint of ourselves and having that competitive drive that’s already within us, that kind of translates on the field, I think for all of us, we’re all competitive, we’re all winners. And so when it comes to training sessions, we all bring it.”
All this makes every workout, every minute on the pitch a zero-sum game in some ways, where you’re either improving your prospects of making that cut, or torpedoing them. The USMNT strive to approach their team culture as a brotherhood, but there’s also a “frenemies” vibe, to use Acosta’s term.
“When we go on to the field, I think everyone just, kind of changes the whole vibe,” said the LAFC midfielder. “We’re friends off the field, but on the field, we’re competing, and I’m bringing it, you’re bringing it. And I think that’s positive and essential and helps us all to grow. Because when I know that he’s bring his A game, that means I need to bring my A game too if I want to compete.
“When I’m going against Reggie, I’m trying to tackle the mess out of him, run at him, score goals, all the above, right?” he added with a smile. “That’s huge for the group and I think each camp has been like that, because we’re all fighting to play in each and every game.”