The USMNT face England on Friday in a crucial Group B clash, and they have a trick up their sleeves as they look to thwart the Three Lions.
England are sitting pretty at the top of their World Cup group after thrashing Iran 6-2, while the USMNT settled for a 1-1 draw with Wales. With only two games to go, the clash is of major importance as the USMNT know that they'll need to avoid defeat if they want a realistic chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.
The USMNT looked bright against Wales until Gareth Bale silenced them with a late penalty, but one of their most talented stars was a spectator from the bench. Giovanni Reyna did not get a kick against Wales, but head coach Gregg Berhalter has confirmed that he is fit and ready to face England.
The USMNT proved on Monday that they're a team that cannot be underestimated, and they only drew the game as a result of not taking their earlier chances. Timothy Weah scored their only goal as Christian Pulisic played him through, but Reyna is expected to be a part of proceedings against England and bolster their attack.
Like Pulisic, Reyna has made a name for himself at Borussia Dortmund. Pulisic remains one of the poster boys for American soccer, and earned a move to Chelsea after starring for the Bundesliga side as a youngster.
Reyna has already scored 12 goals for Dortmund by the age of just 20, and looks like one of the biggest future stars in Europe, let alone for the USMNT. Berhalter justified his decision not to play Reyna against Wales as he said the star was suffering from "a little bit of tightness," but has confirmed "he'll be available for tomorrow's (Friday's) match."
And that won't come as welcome news to Gareth Southgate, as it'll only add more youth and fearlessness to the USMNT's front line. Reyna has scored four goals for the national team in just 14 appearances, and seems to have an eye for goal on the international stage.
The expectation surrounding Reyna is high, but there's been pressure on the youngster throughout his entire career, so he's used to being under the spotlight. Gio is the son of former USMNT star Claudio Reyna, who is widely considered as one of their greatest ever players.
Claudio enjoyed a fantastic career with the USMNT and domestically, making 112 appearances for his country. He also played for teams such as Bayer Leverkusen, Rangers, Sunderland and Manchester City, and later became a technical director.
Gio was born in England while his father was at Sunderland, and following his retirement, his son later joined the New York City FC academy upon moving back to the United States. And after four years in New York, he was then picked up by Dortmund, who have an eye for American talent after taking a chance on Pulisic back in 2015.
And like it has for so many other young stars, it's worked out exceptionally well for Reyna, who was a deserved inclusion on the 2022 Golden Boy shortlist. Reyna's most recent season was dominated by injury, but he's since bounced back in 2022, and is eager to make his World Cup bow.
Reyna has already set American records this season, becoming the first from his homeland to make two Champions League assists in one match - a 3-0 win over Copenhagen. Reyna scored on his debut for the USMNT back in 2020, and will be hoping to replicate that triumph should he be given his first World Cup action.
