Reyna embodies USMNT squad: Fully fit and ready to go

AL-RAYYAN, Qatar -- As helium dealt with a bid of wounded setbacks implicit the past twelvemonth that importantly constricted his availability for the United States men's nationalist squad and his club, Borussia Dortmund, Giovanni Reyna insists his World Cup availability was ne'er successful doubt.

"I ever knew I was going to beryllium acceptable for this moment," helium said connected Wednesday. "I deliberation it was ever successful the backmost of my caput to marque definite I was acceptable for the World Cup. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling strong. Obviously, inactive managing a fewer things. It's going to instrumentality time, but I'm acceptable to assistance the team."

Reyna, past 18 years old, figured to play a large relation erstwhile the U.S. started World Cup qualifying successful September 2021. He had established himself arsenic cardinal subordinate for Dortmund aft breaking done successful January 2020 -- playing 69 competitory matches for the nine successful that span -- and had already been capped 8 times by U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter.

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But successful the archetypal crippled of qualifying -- a 0-0 gully with El Salvador -- Reyna suffered a close hamstring wounded that derailed his accelerated way to stardom. He played conscionable 220 minutes successful the Bundesliga for Dortmund the remainder of the play arsenic helium was dilatory to regain afloat health, and was constricted to conscionable 3 much appearances for the U.S. successful qualifying. It was a frustrating roadworthy back.

"You effort to look for these small steps that you effort to marque on the rehab process that you tin effort to physique connected to the adjacent step," Reyna said.

The astir caller steps person been encouraging. Although Dortmund person exercised a cautious attack with him this season, Reyna has made 16 appearances -- including 5 successful the Champions League -- with 4 of those coming successful a nine-day span starring into the World Cup break.

Reyna's availability represents the biggest root of optimism for the U.S. successful attempting to lick the attacking issues that person plagued the squad for overmuch of the past year. For arsenic overmuch young endowment that this squad has, they person not played unneurotic capable to make a existent consciousness of what to expect.

Since Reyna made his nationalist squad debut successful a affable against Wales successful 2020, the U.S. person played 37 games successful each competitions. In those games, Reyna and Christian Pulisic -- 2 of the team's astir talented attacking players -- person appeared unneurotic conscionable 8 times. The 371 minutes they've spent connected the tract astatine the aforesaid clip accounts for lone astir 11% of the full minutes the squad person played successful that span.

"We haven't been capable to beryllium connected the tract arsenic overmuch arsenic we'd similar the past twelvemonth due to the fact that evidently injuries, but earlier that we had immoderate truly bully games wherever we combined beauteous good together," Pulisic said. "We're looking guardant to getting connected the tract unneurotic and not lone us. Obviously, it's 9 much of the guys connected the tract who we're each gonna request to assistance out."

As the squad hole for their archetypal crippled against Wales connected Monday, Berhalter has immoderate absorbing lineup decisions to make. By unit of luck, this is arsenic steadfast arsenic the squad person been successful his full tenure -- particularly successful the midfield and attack.

Looking astatine the beforehand six, determination figures to beryllium conscionable 2 players -- Pulisic and antiaircraft midfielder Tyler Adams -- who are guaranteed to commencement against Wales. After that, Berhalter has immoderate absorbing decisions to make.

With Pulisic connected the near wing, it volition beryllium either Reyna oregon Timothy Weah connected the close to commencement (with whoever starts connected the seat arsenic the archetypal sub). It's a bully occupation to have. At times, Weah was the team's astir unsafe subordinate successful qualifying, and his quality to agelong the tract into the close country and nonstop successful crosses is simply a invaluable asset. Reyna is stronger connected the shot and much apt to get wrong and support possession.

In the midfield, Valencia's Yunus Musah, Juventus' Weston McKennie and Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson are each beardown options. Musah is adjacent to a fastener starter and ordinarily McKennie would apt beryllium penciled in, too. However, since a insignificant wounded has ruled McKennie retired since Oct. 29, the anticipation of Aaronson starting has increased. Independent of McKennie's injury, the Philadelphia Union academy graduate's signifier for Leeds has been awesome capable to warrant starting consideration. Reyna could besides played centrally, but Berhalter has strictly utilized him connected the wing.

Up front, thing is possible. There is simply a lawsuit for each 3 strikers -- Josh Sargent, Jesus Ferreira and Haji Wright -- with nary of them having done capable to found himself arsenic the de facto starter.

"You've seen immoderate teams struggling with [injury] and to person a batch of the guys steadfast is great," Pulisic said. "It astir feels similar we haven't had this full radical of guys successful steadfast astatine 1 clip a batch of the time. For definite bully timing and we person a bully capable squad to bash good here."

The convergence of wellness prevents 1 evident issue: familiarity. Had determination been a afloat grooming campy to pb up to the World Cup, it would person been little of an issue, but this radical has fundamentally 1 week -- without a affable -- to get connected the aforesaid page.

"I deliberation successful the extremity we person capable time," Reyna said. "At slightest from erstwhile I got present was Saturday night, truthful that is nine, 10 days starring up until the archetypal game. I consciousness similar each of america benignant of person capable clip to get utilized to the vigor and everything here. We can't truly fto that excuse trickle successful for us."