Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros look ahead to Thursday night’s match between the United States and Panama and name the players who have the most to prove. Hear the full conversation on the “The Cooligans” podcast – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

Video Transcript

We gotta obviously chat some USMNT.

The Nation’s League match against Panama is happening tonight.

I’m still holding a little, a little something something about the way it went against Panama previous, right in the Copa America, uh-huh, a little bit of revenge on our mind.

My player to watch on this roster is Tanner Tessman.

OK.

The reason I said it is because previous generation, right under Greg Burhalter, there were a lot of questions as to what was wanted, what was needed at.

The the defensive midfielder position.

He has been much more of a pure defensive midfielder, but we’ve seen him be able to shuttle the ball forward a bit better.

We’ve seen him add stability where under Tyler Adams, that’s not necessarily his glowing point, my player to watch is Tyler Adams.

This is the first time he’s gonna be playing, uh, he’s, you know, called into a camp, not injured and playing for Mauricio Pochettino.

I think he’s gonna be excited to be on the pitch and back with his US men’s national team teammates.

So.

I, I, I’m just excited to see him play because I think he’s gonna be entertaining and fun.

And again, another player that wants to get back at Panama after that, that Copa America uh result.

What US MNT player in this roster has the most to prove?

I guess this is an easy one for me, especially when it comes to something to prove.

Gio Reina.

Not only does he have, he has this also another player, first time, uh, uh, playing, uh, for Mica Parchettino.

Something’s happening at Dortmund and it’s all up and down.

It’s just a matter of like, he needs to get.

That touches, he needs to get touches and he can’t really do that at Dortmund that much.

My choice is Matt Turner, who I think has to do exactly what you said, but on a different scale.

It’s for goalkeeper.

But also, I think the focus of his, of his, uh, what he has to prove is to not just Pochettino, but to all of us that, yo, you deserve to be the guy over as Zach Stefan was playing.

You want players to be playing at a high, at the highest level possible.

And yes, Europe right now, for the most part, the big five.

are at a higher level than MLS.

We all agree.

I think for goalkeeper, that’s not necessarily the case.

I’m OK if you’re an MLS goalkeeper and you’re really that good.

And I’m also OK with saying a European team wants them, but if you’re gonna go to Europe, you gotta start.

You gotta find a way to start.

Matt Turner hasn’t start in a very long time.

You gotta get minutes.