ไทย
English
中國人
It was a flawless autumn for the U.S. men's national team, who secured four wins as head coach Mauricio Pochettino effectively built on the momentum generated from a strong World Cup campaign on home turf.
The rising American youth talent reminded veterans that their places in Pochettino's setup are far from secure. As a result, there was considerable excitement as European club soccer resumed following a three-week break.
There is no shortage of American interest in top-flight soccer across the Atlantic, and much of this weekend's spotlight fell on the Santiago Bernabéu, where Alex Freeman's Villarreal squared off against powerhouse Real Madrid.
Amid the drama and milestones unfolding in Spain's capital, USMNT fans would have been greatly heartened by Freeman's display for the Yellow Submarine. Yet the fullback was just one of several standout USMNT performers across Europe this weekend.
Alex Freeman Is an Emerging La Liga Star
Ligero como una moto, potente como un camión.
Gran carrera y rectificación de Alex Freeman para evitar el tiro de Diomandé.#RealMadridVillarreal | #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/0DvzTqvX4E
Orlando City sold homegrown talent Freeman to Villarreal for a club-record fee in January, and the 22-year-old, despite limited La Liga appearances in the back half of last season, earned a spot on Pochettino's 26-man World Cup squad over the summer.
Freeman featured in all but one of the USMNT's matches at the tournament — the exception being the dead-rubber group stage clash against Türkiye — and netted in the Matchday 2 win over Australia. He has become an essential piece for the Argentine coach, who has spoken highly of the dynamic fullback throughout his time leading U.S. Soccer.
During the World Cup, the USMNT boss went so far as to suggest Freeman could develop into "one of the best players at his position in the world."
To achieve such recognition, Freeman must first cement his place at Villarreal, and it appears the 22-year-old is hitting his stride. Under newly appointed manager Iñigo Pérez — formerly Andoni Iraola's trusted assistant at Rayo Vallecano — Freeman has started four of Villarreal's last five La Liga fixtures, and his outing against Real Madrid drew high praise from Spanish publication Marca, which claimed Freeman "dominated" Los Blancos on Saturday.
Despite ending up on the losing side, Freeman was awarded FotMob's Man of the Match honor thanks to an outstanding statistical performance. He finished the game with the most defensive actions (18), the most touches (93), a 75% ground-duel success rate, and a 60% aerial-duel success rate.
Freeman showcased his exceptional athleticism and remarkable recovery pace during a first-half moment in which a slight error was initially exploited by Real Madrid's Yan Diomande. Freeman regrouped, however, and executed a perfectly timed sweeping slide tackle to neutralize the threat.
As the son of former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman, it comes as little surprise that Freeman possesses elite athletic ability; nonetheless, the 22-year-old has also drawn praise for his tactical intelligence and composure in the build-up phase.
Given the strength of Pochettino's backing and Freeman's recent form, the young star looks set to remain a fixture on the USMNT's right flank. The World Cup, paired with the autumn's youth resurgence, offered a tantalizing glimpse into a bright future for Pochettino's squad, with Freeman among its central figures.
USMNT's Other Standout Performers in Europe This Week
Joe Scally was part of Pochettino's World Cup squad but was absent during this fall's camp. Eager to force his way back into contention, the defender got on the scoresheet in Borussia Mönchengladbach's derby loss to FC Köln in the Bundesliga. It was just the eighth goal of the 23-year-old's senior career, but his second of the current campaign.
Atlético Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso was also left out of Pochettino's latest roster and has yet to fully establish himself in Diego Simeone's midfield. Nevertheless, Cardoso put in a composed performance in La Liga on Saturday, as Atléti struck late to edge past Alavés 2–1.
Bryan Reynolds has been absent from the USMNT scene for three years, but the 25-year-old delivered a surprise standout showing at the weekend. The Rennes fullback registered two assists in a 4–1 triumph over Auxerre in what was his first Ligue 1 start. Reynolds is unlikely to feature in Pochettino's plans anytime soon, but what a memorable return to form it was.