The United States men’s national team is getting ready for the Concacaf Nations League semifinals against Panama at SoFi stadium on Thursday. Coach Mauricio Pochettino will need to manage without some players for this match. Antonee Robinson, Johnny Cardoso, and Auston Trusty are injured and can’t play, even though they were initially on the team list. Additionally, Folarin Balogun and Sergino Dest are also absent from the squad.
Sergino Dest recently returned to playing for PSV in early March after recovering from an ACL injury that had kept him out since April 2024. He played his first game back on March 8, coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 win against Heerenveen. He also started in another game for PSV against RKC Waalwijk, playing for 62 minutes.
The Reason for Dest’s USMNT Absence
Even though Dest is playing again for PSV, he wasn’t included in the USMNT team roster, which makes sense. Having only played a little over an hour of soccer in the past year, it’s better for his fitness to stay with PSV during this international break rather than rush back to play for the USMNT too soon. Dest has always been a key player for the team, and his playing style suits Pochettino’s approach. However, it’s crucial not to push him back too quickly after his injury.
Joe Scally has filled in well at right back while Dest has been out and still gives the USMNT a good chance to win this tournament. Similar to managing Tyler Adams’ recovery from injury at Bournemouth, the USMNT is taking a careful approach with Dest’s return. Adams is now fit and ready to play for Pochettino again, and the situation with Dest is being handled similarly.
Coach Pochettino has emphasized the importance of maintaining good relationships with club teams, which could be beneficial in the long run. With the Gold Cup coming up in the summer, there will be another opportunity to see Dest play in a competitive setting before the World Cup. While the 2026 World Cup is approaching, there is still time to decide on the best team roster.
