As a football newsletter dedicated to sending emails that recipients eagerly anticipate, Football Daily fully supports Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian coach has adopted a similar approach by using email to inform players whether they have been selected for the USMNT at this summer's Geopolitics World Cup. His method has faced criticism for lacking a personal touch, especially for those left out. Some American journalists argue that omitted players deserve at least an explanatory phone call. However, Pochettino defended his decision, stating that as a player, he would not have wanted to speak with a manager who had just cut him from the squad. He said, "What are you going to say? Am I going to lie? I understand the player, that didn't make the roster, they don't want to hear me say: 'Oh, apologise, oh, whatever.' I care. Do you know why I care? Because during [the last] two weeks I didn't sleep. And today, still I cannot enjoy the 26 guys that are in front of me, because I am thinking of players that are out."
Notable Omissions and Inclusions
Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna and Lyon's Tanner Tessmann are among the notable players still searching their spam folders for a call-up. Middlesbrough's Aidan Morris, who endured a rollercoaster fortnight, was also omitted. The 24-year-old midfielder hopes for a late reprieve, even if it means a teammate's injury opens a spot. Meanwhile, Donald Trump might be wondering why his email inbox remains silent, having recovered from a heel injury that previously kept him from participating in conflicts.
Gio Reyna's inclusion was a surprise, given his limited playing time this year—fewer than 150 minutes for Borussia Mönchengladbach. Reyna was a disruptive influence at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but he has since apologized for his behavior. Pochettino seems willing to give him a chance, though Reyna's parents, Claudio and Danielle, have a reputation for being protective. Football Daily suspects Pochettino will manage the situation effectively.
Other News
In other football news, Crystal Palace defeated Rayo Vallecano 3-0 in the Tin Pot final, with coverage by Dominic Booth. Additionally, Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych criticized Italian legends Andrea Pirlo and Marco Materazzi for attending a football event in Moscow organized by Fonbet, Russia's largest betting company. Heraskevych expressed disappointment, saying, "Italian football legend Andrea Pirlo was spotted in Moscow next to Russian footballer Dzyuba, who openly supports the Kremlin's policy and the killing of Ukrainians. It's sad to see childhood legends turn into moral bankrupts for whom nothing is more valuable than Russian roubles. Shame." Pirlo defended his appearance, stating, "We came here exclusively for sport and for the children. Football has the unique power to bring people together."
Letters to the Editor
Readers shared their thoughts: Krishna Moorthy noted Cesc Fàbregas's success at Como, while Noble Francis pointed out that Víctor Muñoz, though playing for Osasuna, is 50% owned by Real Madrid, so technically Madrid has 0.5 players in Spain's squad. Justin Kavanagh suggested Pirlo should visit Kyiv to promote unity. Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com.
