The United States Men’s National Team is on a bit of a roll. It beat Japan 2-0 in stunning fashion while debuting a new three-defender system and then drew 1-1 with Ecuador, one of South America’s finest teams, without some of its best players. Coach Mauricio Pochettino was right: changing the team’s structure and attitude took time, but the results have certainly been worth the effort.
While plenty of USMNT regulars have contributed to the team’s newfound run of form, it’s a trio of France-based athletes—striker Folarin Balogun, utility man Tim Weah and midfielder Tanner Tessmann—who have really shined in the USMNT spotlight. They’re thriving in France’s increasingly competitive Ligue 1 and proving that excellent development opportunities can be found outside of Europe’s traditional powerhouse leagues.
Folarin Balogun, AS Monaco
Monaco may be its own country, but its star-studded soccer team plies its trade in France’s Ligue 1 all the same.
“A part of me wanting to play for Monaco is the prestige of the club, what they’ve been able to do in Europe, what they’ve been able to do against huge opponents,” Balogun said, via The Guardian.
He and his teammates added to that prestige this season in the Champions League when they held Manchester City to a shock 2-2 draw.
