Mark McKenzie responded to his U.S. national team snub with one of the oldest memes in the book.
Despite a standout campaign in Belgium with Genk, McKenzie was not on the 24-player squad for the USMNT’s CONCACAF Nations League matches later this month.
Interim USMNT coach B.J. Callaghan selected Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman and Auston Trusty as his four center backs, with McKenzie barely missing the cut.
In response to missing the roster, McKenzie posted an image on his Instagram stories that any terminally online person would recognize. We’ll call it the “bemused guy surrounded by question marks.”
Callaghan: McKenzie was not happy
Callaghan, who coached McKenzie during his time with the Philadelphia Union, said he called the defender personally to deliver the news.
“This is a guy that I’ve known since he was 12 years old,” Callaghan said on a conference call with reporters. “So it’s a hard, hard conversation to have with him. I explained the reasons. I can tell you that he was understanding, he was professional but at the same time, what I would expect is that he wasn’t happy.”
McKenzie was also named to the USMNT’s 60-man Gold Cup preliminary roster on Thursday, and he appears more likely to make the final cut for that tournament.
“I reassured him that I think there’s a pathway for him to continue with the men’s national team,” Callaghan continued. “This is in no way a door shut for him. And I outlined some different ideas and options for him. I know he’s coming off an unbelievable club season that he had with Genk, and he’s going to have way more men’s national team opportunities.”
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