USMNT Stars Shine: Tillman, McKennie & More in Action Overseas – World Cup Watch
- The flow of talent across European leagues continues to provide a steady stream of performances from USMNT players as the January transfer window closes and the focus sharpens...
- Malik Tillman is enjoying a prolific run of form with Bayer Leverkusen.
- Weston McKennie continues to be a key contributor for Juventus.
The flow of talent across European leagues continues to provide a steady stream of performances from USMNT players as the transfer window closes and the focus sharpens on the upcoming international schedule. Several Americans made significant contributions for their clubs over the past week, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman and Juventus’ Weston McKennie leading the charge.
Tillman’s Continued Success with Leverkusen
Malik Tillman is enjoying a prolific run of form with Bayer Leverkusen. He recently added to his tally with a winning goal in a road victory against Eintracht Frankfurt, adding to a brace scored in a UEFA Champions League match against Villarreal CF. This recent success follows a previous brace for PSV Eindhoven in a Champions League fixture against FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Leverkusen acquired Tillman last summer for a club-record transfer fee of $41 million from PSV.
McKennie Finds the Back of the Net for Juventus
Weston McKennie continues to be a key contributor for Juventus. He scored the winning goal in Juventus’ 4-1 victory against Parma Calcio 1913 on , adding to his recent scoring form in the UEFA Champions League. McKennie went the full 90 minutes in a scoreless draw against AS Monaco FC, where he faced off against fellow USMNT teammate Folarin Balogun.
European Performances: A Rundown of USMNT Players
Beyond Tillman and McKennie, a number of other American players saw action across Europe’s top leagues. Auston Trusty scored for Celtic FC in their UEFA Europa League match against FC Utrecht, marking his second consecutive goal in the competition. Patrick Agyemang is closing in on a double-digit goal season with Derby County FC, scoring his ninth goal of the season in a dominant 5-0 win.
Folarin Balogun contributed with an assist for AS Monaco FC in a 4-0 win against Stade Rennais FC. Chris Richards played 90 minutes for Crystal Palace FC in a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest FC, but Palace’s winless streak extended to nine games, leaving them three points above the relegation zone. Brenden Aaronson featured for Leeds United FC in a heavy 4-0 defeat to league leader Arsenal FC, though Leeds maintained a six-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Antonee Robinson of Fulham was substituted during a 3-2 loss to Manchester United, and remains without an assist this season after leading Premier League defenders with 10 assists last season. Tyler Adams remains sidelined with an injury for AFC Bournemouth. Gaga Slonina did not dress for Chelsea in their match against West Ham.
League-Specific Updates
England: In the English Premier League, Richards received his second yellow card of the season. Aaronson played 74 minutes for Leeds, and Robinson featured for 71 minutes for Fulham. Sky Sports ratings for the weekend’s matches gave Richards a 6, Aaronson a 5, and Robinson a 5.
Germany: Noahkai Banks played a full 90 minutes for FC Augsburg in a 2-1 win. James Sands also saw significant minutes for FC St. Pauli, playing 77 minutes against RB Leipzig and 90 minutes against FC Augsburg. Joe Scally played 84 minutes for Borussia Mönchengladbach. Gio Reyna and Damion Downs are both currently injured.
Italy: Yunus Musah was an unused substitute for Atalanta BC. Jonathan Klinsmann played 90 minutes for Cesena FC in Serie B.
Spain: Johnny Cardoso played 26 minutes for Club Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League and 90 minutes against Levante UD. Alex Freeman was an unused substitute for Villarreal CF.
France: Tim Weah played 90 minutes for Olympique de Marseille, and Tanner Tessman featured for Olympique Lyonnais, playing 45 minutes in a Europa League match and 90 minutes in a Ligue 1 win.
Netherlands: Sergiño Dest played 90 minutes for PSV Eindhoven. Ricardo Pepi is currently injured.
Scotland: Cameron Carter-Vickers is also sidelined with an injury for Celtic FC.
Other Notable Performances
Haji Wright featured for Coventry City FC in the EFL Championship. Aidan Morris played 90 minutes for Middlesbrough FC. Mark McKenzie played a full 90 minutes for Toulouse FC. Marlon Fossey played 45 minutes for Royal Standard de Liège. Josh Sargent did not feature for Norwich City FC.
The performances of these USMNT players across Europe are crucial as the team prepares for upcoming international competitions. The continued success of players like Tillman and McKennie, along with the contributions of others, will be vital for the United States as they aim to make a strong showing on the world stage.