U.S. Men’s National Team coach Mauricio Pochettino unveiled his 26-man roster Tuesday for a potentially generational World Cup. The team features veterans, fresh faces and more than a few surprises.
But who made the cut for the U.S., which opens in the World Cup on June 12 against Paraguay? How did they get there? And what are they known for? Here’s a breakdown of the forwards leading the USMNT into the tournament:
Folarin Balogun: The Triple Threat
London | Age: 24 | Team: AS Monaco (France)
National team appearances: 25 | Known for: The Decision, soccer-style
Soccer players don’t usually have much of a choice when it comes to which national team they’ll represent. Most are citizens of one nation, so the choice is made for them; some are dual nationals, but even then, one country tends to offer more security and promise than the other.
Balogun plays as a striker, but it’s important to note that he grew up training as a winger. He’s excellent at seeking out space and often feints out of position to confuse defenses.
“I’ve always said that I’m an unorthodox sort of striker, because naturally it wasn’t where I grew up playing, so I would always look to exploit spaces,” Balogun said, per The Guardian. “I know when the timing is right, it’s essentially not possible to defend it. So it’s just a case of continuously getting the person on the ball and me in sync so the timing is good.”