Diretor financeiro do Corinthians, Rozallah Santoro comentou sobre a atual situação das finanças do clube. Segundo o profissional, a equipe paulista não tem fluxo de caixa suficiente para arcar com seus pagamentos mensais e assumiu que se a instituição fosse uma empresa, já teria falido.
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Ainda de acordo com Rozallah, o Timão precisa de, no mínimo, três gestões para acertar as contas do clube, que foram sucateadas nos últimos anos.
➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians
– Em qualquer empresa que não tivesse isenção tributária que um clube tem, nosso arcabouço ou as regras que a gente tem para operar, qualquer empresa do mercado teria falido. É uma foto falimentar. Ou seja, é pior do que a pior crise – afirmou Rozallah, em entrevista ao uol.
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➡️ ANÁLISE: Três problemas do Corinthians e três possíveis soluções para fugir da crise
O problema financeiro afeta diretamente o rendimento do time em campo. Segundo apuração do Lance!, a escassez de caixa, que faz com que o clube não possa realizar pagamentos à vista, dificulta a chegada de jogadores badalados no mercado de transferências.
As contratações anunciadas nesta janela, como o zagueiro Félix Torres e o meio-campista Rodrigo Garro, serão quitadas de maneira parcelada, assim como Pedro Raul, sétimo reforço do Corinthians para 2024.
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Este foi o método que a nova gestão do clube encontrou para encorpar o elenco do time, que passou por grande reformulação após o término da última temporada.
Shubman Gill has missed the 2025-26 season-opening Duleep Trophy encounter against East Zone, which began on August 28 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.Gill was named captain of the North Zone team, but it is learnt that an illness has forced him to miss the quarter-final. He is expected to be in Bengaluru later in the week before departing for the Asia Cup, which begins on September 9 in Abu Dhabi. In his absence, Haryana top-order batter Ankit Kumar is captaining the North Zone side, while Services batter Shubham Rohilla has replaced Gill in the squad.Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who was named the Central Zone captain in their quarter-final against North East Zone, has also been ruled out after he complained of a groin niggle. Rajat Patidar, who was initially named the vice-captain, is now leading the side. Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar and Kuldeep Yadav are all part of the Central XI facing North East.There was a setback for the East Zone side as well, with regular captain Abhimanyu Easwaran ruled out due to fever. Allrounder Riyan Parag is leading East Zone in the Duleep Trophy opener.Gill had a sensational tour of England in his maiden series as captain, where he amassed 754 runs in five Tests at 75.40. He has also been named vice-captain of the Indian T20I side for the Asia Cup.Apart from Gill, there are two more Asia Cup-bound members in the North Zone side: Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, who will be in action with the ball later in the game.The two semi-finals will be played at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence ground from September 4, while the final will be staged from September 11 at the same venue.
It is an excellent time to be an Arsenal fan at the moment.
Mikel Arteta’s side still have a long way to go, but after another practically perfect weekend, they remain atop the Premier League table, now six points clear of Manchester City and seven clear of Liverpool.
Moreover, while the North Londoners could still improve in some areas, such as scoring from open play, they currently look the best they have been in a very long time.
Arsenal’s recent form
Competition
Opponent
Result
EPL
C. Palace
1-0 (W)
UCL
Atlético
4-0 (W)
EPL
Fulham
1-0 (W)
EPL
West Ham
2-0 (W)
UCL
Olympicacos
2-0 (W)
As if that isn’t enough, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to deny that more than a handful of Arteta’s players now rank among the very best in the league, including one who is becoming even more influential than Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
Arteta's Arsenal leaders
During the final years of Arsène Wenger’s reign, and even under Unai Emery and early in Arteta’s time at the club, it wasn’t uncommon to hear fans and pundits alike lambast Arsenal for a lack of leaders in the team.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, over the last few years, such accusations have become far less prevalent, so much so, in fact, that to say such a thing today would be considered by many to be patently incorrect.
Arteta has helped turn the Gunners from a soft side that opposition teams loved playing against into a monstrous side that few, if any, teams look forward to playing.
From front to back, there are now leaders and mentality monsters all over.
For example, while he had a poor season last year, Martin Odegaard has been the club captain since the summer of 2022 and has been Norway’s captain for even longer.
Often alongside him, Declan Rice was the captain of West Ham United before his move, has now captained England on occasion and is often seen as the most vocal and ‘old-school’ leader in the squad.
Even Saka, who is still just 24 years old, has become a real leader in recent years, wearing the armband in Odegaard’s absence and keeping the side’s attack competitive when his fellow forwards have underwhelmed.
With all that said, there is another star of this Arsenal team who is not just becoming one of the most influential players at the Emirates, but within the entire league.
Arsenal's most influential player
When it comes to other leaders in this Arsenal team, it is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook the utterly superb Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Brazilian international first joined the team in the summer of 2020 for a fee of around £27m, and for the first couple of years, was seen as something of a liability at times.
However, over the last few years, the former LOSC Lille gem has managed to rid his game of the silly mistakes that were holding him back and transformed into one of the very best centre-backs in the Premier League, if not the world.
That might sound somewhat hyperbolic, but the facts suggest otherwise: since the 23/24 season, the Gunners have had the best defence in the Premier League, and over those campaigns, the 27-year-old has made 36, 28, and nine appearances, respectively.
Moreover, as things stand, the North Londoners have conceded just three goals across all competitions this year, one of which was Dominik Szoboszlai’s outrageous free-kick at Anfield.
So, there is a very real chance that the Sao Paulo-born titan could play a crucial role in breaking Chelsea’s record of conceding just 15 goals in a Premier League season this year.
Finally, while the 6 foot 3 wall’s most important job is keeping other teams from scoring, he has also become a serious threat in the opposition’s box over the years, and has been a massive reason why the Gunners are now the best set-piece team in the world.
For example, since moving to the Emirates, the towering “colossus,” as dubbed by Arsenal writer Adam Keys, has scored 22 goals and provided seven assists in 223 games, and as things stand, is now the 100th top scorer in the club’s history.
Ultimately, when you take into account his incredible defending, outrageous goalscoring threat and sensational leadership qualities, it’s impossible to disagree with Jamie Carragher’s claim that he’s “the most influential player in the Premier League right now.”
Forget Eze: Arsenal's 8/10 star is becoming Arteta's most important player
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
It wouldn’t be hyperbole to suggest West Ham United are already in something of a crisis this season.
The fans staged a sizable and understandable protest outside the ground on Saturday afternoon, and the team are in freefall.
Graham Potter has overseen six games so far, losing five and winning just one, which has left them out of the League Cup and near the bottom of the Premier League.
In short, the club need to find a replacement for the manager, and fortunately, it looks like they have someone who could be perfect for Lucas Paqueta.
West Ham target Potter upgrade
With how badly they have been performing, it’s not been a surprise to see West Ham linked with a host of managers in recent weeks.
Manager Focus
One of the less inspiring names touted for the role has been Gary O’Neil, who has been out of work since being fired by Wolverhampton Wanderers last year.
Likewise, former Everton manager Sean Dyche, who has also been out of work for a while, has been linked with the club.
However, there is yet another free manager who has been linked with the job, someone who now looks to be one of the frontrunners.
At least that is according to a recent report by journalist Jacob Steinberg, who claims West Ham are still interested in Slaven Bilic.
In fact, he goes further, revealing that those near to David Sullivan are urging him to hire the Croatian and that.
However, Steinberg also makes it clear that the club’s former manager would only join on an interim basis as Nuno Espírito Santo remains their primary target.
In all, while some might be underwhelmed, we believe this would be a great short-term hire and a move that could unlock more from attacking players like Paqueta.
Why Bilic would be good for West Ham and Paqueta
So, the first thing to say is that even if some would be unimpressed by this appointment, Bilic would undoubtedly be an improvement on Potter.
After all, the Croatian’s record of 1.43 points per game when he was in charge of the club is far better than the Englishman’s current average of just 0.92 points per game.
However, when we dig a little deeper, we can see some of the other reasons he would be better than the former Chelsea boss, such as the attacking output of the club.
Games
109
25
Wins
42
6
Draws
30
5
Losses
37
14
Points per Game
1.43
0.92
Goals Scored
160
30
Goals Conceded
167
41
During his tenure in East London, the Croatian coach’s squad scored 160 goals in 109 games, which averages out to 1.46 goals per game.
For comparison’s sake, Potter’s side have scored just 30 goals in 25 games, which is a far less impressive average of 1.2 per game.
In other words, the “absolutely immense” Split-born manager, as dubbed by former professional Lee Hendrie, set up to entertain as well as win, and in the process, supercharged the offensive players in his side, notably, Dimitri Payet.
During his time in the capital, the Frenchman scored 15 goals and provided 22 assists in 60 games, working out to a goal involvement every 1.62 games.
Yet, it wasn’t just the output with the dynamic ace, as his overall play was a sight to behold, and even earned him a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2017.
Now, we are not saying Paqueta would reach quite those levels, but he’s clearly not playing at his best under Potter, and as the former Hammers boss’s side was so much more entertaining, there is every chance the Brazilian would step it up a level under him.
Ultimately, West Ham need to make a change fast, and while he wouldn’t be a great long-term choice, Bilic would be a brilliant interim hire to steady the ship this season.
Allardyce 2.0: "Remarkable" coach desperate to join West Ham after contact
The vastly experienced manager would be a massive upgrade on Potter and is just what West Ham need.
Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Pedro Miguel Pauleta has labelled Vitinha a "phenomenon," comparing the midfielder to Barcelona's Pedri and the legendary Andres Iniesta. The praise comes after the Portuguese star scored in PSG's 7-2 Champions League demolition of Bayer Leverkusen, with Pauleta hailing his compatriot's technique and positioning.
Pauleta hails 'Iniesta-like' phenomenon
The comprehensive victory at the BayArena on Tuesday saw PSG maintain their perfect start to the new Champions League league phase. Vitinha capped off the dominant display by scoring the seventh goal in the 90th minute, adding to a scoresheet that included an own goal from Willian Pacho, a brace from Desire Doue, and strikes from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes and Ousmane Dembele.
Ex-Portugal international Pauleta, who scored 109 goals for the Parisian club during his career, was unequivocal in his admiration for the midfielder and his development under Luis Enrique.
"It's a huge pleasure to watch players of this quality," Pauleta said on . "Is he the best midfielder in the world? He's at a huge level, like Pedri at Barca. They remind me of Iniesta. Vitinha, he doesn't lose the ball, he's always well positioned. He knows how to do everything with the ball. He doesn't make a mistake and doesn't miss a pass. He has the confidence of his club. He's a phenomenon."
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Leverkusen rout cements PSG's European dominance
Pauleta's comments were triggered by Vitinha's commanding performance against Bayer Leverkusen, a match that cemented PSG's control of their Champions League destiny. The 7-2 victory was a statistical mismatch, with PSG registering eight shots on target from 22 total attempts and commanding 67 per cent of the possession away from home.
The German side, who managed only two goals from Aleix García penalties, were reduced to 10 men after Robert Andrich's red card and could not cope with the relentless Parisian attack. The win gives PSG nine points from three matches, placing them firmly at the top of the 36-team table. They are one of only five teams, alongside Bayern Munich, Inter, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, to maintain a 100% winning record at this stage of the new format.
Vitinha's growing influence this season
The 25-year-old has been central to PSG's strong start to the 2025-26 campaign. In the Champions League, he has started all three fixtures, contributing one goal and one assist over 270 minutes of play.
His domestic form has been equally impressive. In seven Ligue 1 appearances, Vitinha has already scored one goal and provided three assists, helping his side remain unbeaten. His versatility across defensive, central, and attacking midfield roles has made him indispensable to Luis Enrique's tactical setup. The confidence mentioned by Pauleta is evident in his play, as he has become a primary link between the defence and the club's formidable attack.
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Praise for Mendes and Neves
Vitinha was not the only Portuguese player to draw praise from Pauleta. The 52-year-old also highlighted the exceptional technical ability of wing-back Nuno Mendes, who also found the scoresheet in the 50th minute.
"Nuno Mendes? It's not normal for a defender to have this technique!" Pauleta said. He also singled out 21-year-old midfielder Joao Neves for his maturity: "Joao Neves, given his age, it's not normal either to have such quality, such confidence. He's a treat. It's good for Portugal and for PSG!"
While his compatriots flourished, striker Goncalo Ramos has had a challenging start to the season, finding opportunities limited. Pauleta offered a lenient perspective on the forward's situation, attributing his struggles to a mismatch in tactical systems. "He's a striker who stays in the box. And that's not how PSG plays," Pauleta explained. "But every minute he plays, he takes advantage of it to help the team."
Shreyas Iyer is “probably the best six-hitter” among current Indian batters. This was Wasim Jaffer’s assessment after Iyer led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Chepauk in their IPL 2025 contest on Wednesday.Iyer could always take down spin. Recently, he has upped his game against pace, too. With PBKS chasing 191 on Wednesday, he scored 72 off 41 balls with five fours and four sixes. It was his back-to-back sixes against Matheesha Pathirana that shut the door down on CSK. In ten matches so far this season, Iyer has hit 25 sixes, second only to Nicholas Pooran’s 34.”I am really impressed with the way Shreyas Iyer has been hitting sixes,” Jaffer said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show. “We have seen since the 50-over World Cup [in 2023]. [He is] probably the best six-hitter across spin bowling as well as fast bowling.Related
Shreyas, Prabhsimran and Chahal eliminate CSK
Ponting: Iyer 'understands the game better than before'
Hat-trickster Chahal is still making batters look silly
“How easily he dispatches the ball into the crowds – it’s absolutely amazing. He is never in two minds. You hardly see him mistime it. It doesn’t just carry over the boundary, it goes really long. Looks like he has worked really hard at that. Across all the Indian batters, he is somebody who you feel can hit sixes with ease.”Iyer came out to bat in the fifth over of the chase and added 72 off 50 balls with Prabhsimran Singh for the second wicket. When Iyer got out, PBKS needed just three from eight balls.”For me, his mentality when chasing a total stood out,” Daren Ganga, Jaffer’s co-panellist on the show, said. “He has dispelled that notion of taking the game deep. He is someone who will not leave a lot of runs for other batters, which is a critical thing in the modern T20 game.”He really put his team into a commanding position. When it’s two required in the last over, he’s done the heavy lifting that makes it very, very easy for the other batters. Once he’s at the crease, he’s sort of committed to walk the hard yards.”The other thing I’d like to say is when you look at Prabhsimran batting in the powerplay, going deep into the middle phase. And then you have Shreyas Iyer batting all the way into the third phase. You look at the teams that have been successful this season, like a Gujarat Titans (GT), batters are transcending the different phases of the innings. That to me is an essential goal to set internally.”
Leeds United are pushing to complete some late deals in the window and could now be set to up the ante in pursuit of an exciting attacker who has been made available by his club, according to a report.
Leeds United looking to complete one or two more deals
Daniel Farke hasn’t been shy about emphasising that his side need to improve their squad to stand a chance of staying in the Premier League, and the German coach has let slip that there could be one or two more incomings at Elland Road before the close of play.
Speaking before his side take on Newcastle United, he stated when asked about further additions and outgoings: “I can confirm Largie (Ramazani) and Isaac (Schmidt) have been allowed to travel to talk with other clubs. Not confirmed yet but we expect this to happen.
Leeds United's Daniel James, manager DanielFarkeand Mateo Joseph
“It makes no sense to give you a percentage right now (on the amount of potential new arrivals), if one or two, we will see.”
With Kalvin Phillips potentially rejoining Leeds United, cover in midfield may now be on the horizon following injuries to Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu.
Vowing to find ‘solutions’ rather than wallowing over missing individuals, Getafe star Christantus Uche is also on the Whites’ radar after his move to Wolverhampton Wanderers stalled.
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2 ByDan Emery Aug 27, 2025
One victory in the top-flight coupled with a heavy defeat to Arsenal has left supporters feeling there is work still to be done, hammered home again by Leeds’ midweek EFL Cup exit to Sheffield Wednesday on penalties.
Nevertheless, help could be on the way in the next few days if reports are to be believed, which suggest that Farke could be presented with a golden chance to land a talented attacker.
Leeds United could look to secure Emiliano Buendia
According to Football Insider, Leeds are keen on Aston Villa star Emiliano Buendia after he was put up for sale to help the Villans balance their books in light of recent PSR concerns.
Pete O’Rourke stated on his situation: “Aston Villa would be willing to let [Buendia] move on, just to help their cash flow and balance the books.
Five similar players to Emiliano Buendia (FBRef)
Facundo Buonanotte
Brighton & Hove Albion
Kamory Doumbia
Brest
Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
Ernest Nuamah
Lyon
“Let’s wait and see – Leeds United are in the market for a number 10, and Buendia would tick a lot of boxes. There’s also been interest from Stuttgart in Germany, and there will be a number of clubs looking at Buendia as a potential signing right up to the deadline.”
Intriguingly, Buendia and Leeds target Facundo Buonanotte, who now looks to be heading to Chelsea, are cited for their similarities as players. Both rank in the 99th percentile for wingers across Europe’s top five leagues in tackles per 90, suggesting Farke is keen to get a playmaker who can lead his press from the front.
Last term, the Argentina international spent time on loan at Bayer Leverkusen and registered two goals in 14 appearances, albeit he didn’t manage to produce his best form.
Labelled “fantastic” by Rio Ferdinand, Buendia, who earns £75,000 per week at Aston Villa, is someone who has shown his quality in the top-flight before and could provide the creative fusion needed to spice up Farke’s attacking areas.
Glasgow Rangers were no strangers to signing players from Barcelona in the early 2000s, paying big money for Mikel Arteta and Ronald de Boer.
However, those at Ibrox nearly brought in Lionel Messi from the Catalan giants before he broke into the first-team picture at the Nou Camp.
The Argentina icon is rightly recognised as one of the best footballers to ever play the game and hasn’t looked back since making his senior Barcelona debut at the age of 17 in 2004. He spent 17 years with Barcelona before signing for Paris Saint-Germain and then Inter Miami.
Messi has won everything there is to win in the game, including eight Ballon d’Or awards, and he finally claimed World Cup glory with his country in 2022.
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However, things could have been so different for the magician, if those in Glasgow got their way.
How Rangers nearly signed Messi from Barcelona
As per a report from Goal, Rangers actually made enquiries to sign Messi on loan from Barcelona prior to his senior debut. Unfortunately, those efforts were turned down by those at the Nou Camp, but it was Alex McLeish’s son, Jon, who found Messi.
Talking on Graham Hunter’s The Big Interview podcast in 2017, McLeish went into detail on how his son’s love of Football Manager alerted him to Messi in 2003, with Rangers on the search for a replacement for Barry Ferguson.
Jon’s prediction of Messi becoming the greatest in the world was accurate, showing the powers Football Manager can have in real life.
Tottenham are in glaring need of a new number 10 and an alternative to James Maddison after the Englishman’s fresh injury nightmare, and Thomas Frank will be ruing their missed opportunities to bring one in this summer.
Spurs’ emotional Seoul farewell to club legend Son Heung‑min soured last Sunday when Maddison was forced off on a stretcher late into their 1-1 pre-season draw with Newcastle.
Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025
Average match rating
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
The former Leicester City star – having just recovered from a knee injury which sidelined him at the end of 2024/2025 – came on in the 75th minute and lasted barely ten minutes before collapsing in agony, clutching that same knee. Frank didn’t sugarcoat it.
The Dane confirmed it was “bad” and the same knee that sidelined Maddison in May, ruling him out of Europa League final glory, with the 28-year-old now expected to face yet another lengthy lay-off in a major headache for Frank.
Maddison was poised to be the creative heartbeat of Frank’s new-look Spurs side this season – especially with Son waving goodbye to the club after 10 years and fellow chief creator, Dejan Kulusevski, also out injured.
Daniel Levy has already splashed £117 million on the signings of Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Kevin Danso and a loan deal for Joao Palhinha, but losing Maddison leaves the attack dangerously thin.
FFC Spurs – James Maddison
Tottenham were on the verge of signing Morgan Gibbs-White this time last month, which would’ve solved this problem.
They even scheduled a medical for the 25-year-old ahead of a £60 million move (BBC), but Nottingham Forest blocked the transfer, wrote a letter to Spurs threatening legal action and, to rub salt in the wound, tied Gibbs-White down with a club-record new deal.
Spurs are still in hot pursuit of a new playmaker, listing it as one of their chief priorities before deadline day on September 1 (Alasdair Gold), and there are a few Gibbs-White alternatives to keep aware of.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitecelebrates scoring their first goal with a shirt in support of their injured teammate Taiwo Awoniyi
Despite RB Leipzig’s approach for Liverpool star Harvey Elliott, talkSPORT’s Alex Crook suggests that the England Under-21 sensation could emerge as a target for Spurs, while Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has also been linked with a move to N17.
Tottenham favourites to sign Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid
Another outside-the-box option could be former Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher.
While more traditionally used as a defensive anchor, the Englishman can play further forward in a traditional centre-midfield role and, more importantly, as a CAM.
According to Football Espana, Tottenham are seen as the most likely destination for Gallagher this summer, following reports that Atlético Madrid will let him go for a fee of up to £44 million.
FE report that Levy is considering a bid for the 25-year-old, so this could be one to watch as Spurs ponder offering Gallagher a route back to London after just over 12 months in the Spanish capital.
“Conor Gallagher is a hardworking player, with quality, a good presence, recovers balls, and always gives his maximum in every situation,” said Atlético boss Diego Simeone.
“He came with a lot of enthusiasm, and we need that kind of player in the midfield because he makes us better.”
During his final season at Stamford Bridge, Gallagher averaged their second-highest average of key passes per 90 in the top flight behind Cole Palmer (WhoScored) – bagging nine assists in all competitions to boot.
Mauricio Pochettino used him in an attacking midfield role regularly during that time too, and Gallagher would also help to fill Spurs’ ‘locally trained’ Champions League quota.
Some players moved closer to Mauricio Pochettino's World Cup squad in September friendlies, but others now challenged
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mauricio Pochettino said it several times throughout the course of this international break: the focus is on the World Cup. From the start, the U.S. men's national team head coach said that this would be the last meaningful opportunity to experiment before narrowing down the players he wants to bring with him on this road to next summer.
A mixed bag of results followed. There was the 2-0 loss to South Korea, a game in which the USMNT were underwhelming. There was the 2-0 win over Japan, a game in which the USMNT played up to their level. By Pochettino's own logic, though, that matters little – per the plan, what matters is how the individuals fared.
Some players clearly boosted their World Cup stock, putting in performances that show why they can contribute to this team next summer. Others have some work to do, although the chances will seemingly be harder to come by going forward as Pochettino welcomes back key regulars and settles on a more structured roster for October friendlies.
"We need to call the players that can perform," Pochettino said. "If the players, for different reasons, are not performing, why are we going to call them? We aren't going to just call players who performed four years ago unless they perform better than another player. That is, for me, the most important thing. I was telling the players that the door is always open. It's not closed. You all have the possibility to stay on, and then it's going to be our decision."
The USMNT will play both Ecuador and Australia in October, and then close the year against Paraguay and Uruguay in November, with the World Cup on the horizon.
Some players moved closer to being a part of that squad with their performances in these games. Others will be left wondering if they did enough. Who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.
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STOCK UP: Alejandro Zendejas
Mauricio Pochettino admitted that Alex Zendejas had given him reason to "doubt" his prior assessment. As a player, what else can you do?
After coming on and providing a jolt of energy against South Korea, Zendejas provided more of the same against Japan while adding a goal for good measure. The goal was classy as can be: a truly perfect left-footed volley that left the goalkeeper with no chance. It was a goal that required technical ability, quality and timing. It also required confidence.
"I like to float around in that pocket, and I feel like Coach Pochettino, for sure, gives me that freedom to roam around, get on the ball and feel free," Zendejas said. "I feel like myself on the ball. He really gives us that confidence to not be nervous, to get on the ball and do what we do with our clubs. It gives us that creativity that players like us need."
Zendejas, too, might provide the creativity that the USMNT needs. At the very least, he's earned another chance.
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STOCK DOWN: Tristan Blackmon
Full credit to Tristan Blackmon for bouncing back. Given the events of Saturday, in his USMNT debut, it couldn't have been easy to get ready for the Japan match. Despite a few small hiccups, Blackmon was much improved against Japan, showing a performance more like the ones that earned this initial USMNT opportunity.
Unfortunately, the road to a World Cup is cutthroat, and first impressions are hard to shake. That applies double to a centerback picture this crowded, even if there could be three, not two, starting in that position each game.
Blackmon has proven to be a quality MLS defender, no doubt, but his mistakes against South Korea certainly hurt his USMNT chances. Chalk them up to nerves, and that's likely the cause. But at this level, those types of mistakes carry consequences.
It's unfortunate, because Blackmon could certainly grow into a role with more reps. Unfortunately, it's hard to see why he should get those reps over the likes of Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Truty, none of whom were included in this camp.
This may not be the last we see of Blackmon. Unfortunately, though, that first impression could dash his World Cup hopes.
Getty Images
STOCK UP: Folarin Balogun
In some ways, we didn't learn anything we didn't already know about Folarin Balogun. He is, in fact, a very dangerous striker. Realistically, though, that's why the USMNT recruited him two years ago. Nothing has changed there.
Call it a reminder, then. In this camp, Balogun showed everyone that he still has the ability to be this team's No. 1 striker, even after missing so much time due to injury.
Coming on against South Korea, Balogun was lively, adding the right speed and timing to an attack that needed a jolt. Against Japan, he was given the start, and he proceeded to make life hell for Japan's defense. Time and time again, he put Japan's backline in uncomfortable spots, not just with his pace but with his mind.
"What I've noticed most about Balo that is really good for the team is that he gives an outlet," Christian Pulisic said after the win over Japan. "Whether that's coming into pockets and laying off the ball or runs in behind that relieve the team, when we're under pressure, he gives that. When I turn, I feel like I can look and he's making those short runs across the backline. That's what he's really good at."
We'll see what happens when Ricardo Pepi is fit but, right now, Balogun has the look of a World Cup starter.
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STOCK DOWN: Josh Sargent
Harsh on Josh Sargent, to be sure. He played in only one game and, in that match against South Korea, he was largely deprived of service. The USMNT was largely disorganized and looked to play long. The system didn't suit him.
That said, Balogun looks like a man for any system. Pepi, too, has shown the ability to score goals in a variety of ways. Sargent, for whatever reason, still hasn't shown that in a USMNT shirt – his infamous national team scoring drought dates back to 2019 – and it's why he may be on the outside looking in at the moment.
The Norwich striker is a hell of a forward, one that scores goals for fun on the club level. His lack of goals with the USMNT comes down to a variety of factors. But if other strikers are scoring, those factors become harder to overlook. With Balogun now fit and Pepi seemingly on his way back, it seems that there will be fewer chances for him to step up, which is what will make the path forward even harder, regardless of what Sargent does for his club.