Last Sunday, during a friendly match against Senegal, the US men’s national team initiated a remarkable 20-pass sequence that showcased their possession skills. This sequence commenced with a throw-in along the left sideline, just beyond the halfway line. Despite their efforts to penetrate Senegal’s defense, the World Cup co-hosts ultimately returned to their center-backs to reassess their attacking options.
Throughout this build-up, Sergiño Dest positioned himself further up the field, ready to exploit any opportunity for a breakthrough. Even when he was assigned as a defender—having primarily played as a right-back or right wing-back in his 38 international appearances—Dest consistently proved to be a threat with his dynamic dribbling and willingness to support the offense.
Dest views his function within Mauricio Pochettino’s tactical setup as that of a wing-back, though the current formation often sees him advancing further than in previous strategies.
“You have a whole pitch,” Dest explained to the media during a USMNT training session on Wednesday. “Sometimes when we start too high with the buildup, or whatever, it’s a waste, because we can still use the part in behind to create space for somebody else in the field. That’s what I’m trying to do sometimes. If I can go low, try to create space for other ones.”
The 16th pass of that intricate sequence marked a retreat in play. Tim Ream intercepted a short pass to his right and, upon looking upfield, noticed Dest signaling for a pass behind Senegal’s defense.
Ream, the US captain, disagrees with Dest’s self-identification as a wing-back, but he frequently seeks him out as an attacking option under Pochettino’s strategy.
“Serg was a right winger,” Ream remarked with a straight face. “In fact, we went over video, and in some moments, he was playing like a wing-back, but really should have been higher.”
A seasoned progressive passer at Fulham, the 38-year-old Ream is currently playing for Charlotte FC in MLS. With 500 games at the club level and 81 international caps, Ream has accumulated extensive experience analyzing opposing defenses.
Determining when to deliver that diagonal pass necessitates a keen awareness of the action unfolding in front of him.
“A lot of times for me personally, I’m not looking at where our guys are. I’m looking at where the opposition are kind of set up,” Ream stated. “There’s so many times, especially at this level, where as the ball shifts around, teams shift really hard to where the ball is going, and you can catch a lot of teams out by just clipping balls back the other way.”
In this particular instance against Senegal, Ream recognized that Dest was closely marked and decided to redirect the ball to the US’s left flank. He passed possession to Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, his former Fulham teammate, while encouraging Dest to continue providing that outlet.
Dest quickly reaped the rewards of his advanced positioning. Just four passes later, the US had orchestrated a swift sequence on the right flank, slicing through Senegal’s defense. This extended play compelled the visitors to adopt a more aggressive stance in their attempts to regain possession.
“Ultimately, I decided a ball out to Jed was the right option, because Christian [Pulisic] was inside and [Ricardo] Pepi was over,” Ream explained. “Their defenders were starting to jump to Jed, so that’s a play he and I have done hundreds of times from our time playing together.”
Pulisic capped off the sequence with a precise cross that Dest finished with flair, giving the US a lead in what ended as a 3-2 victory. More significantly, it demonstrated the remarkable cohesion the team is capable of achieving.
Dest’s creativity has become increasingly beneficial, particularly due to the defensive setup behind him. His trademark runs have been evident even in a back-four formation under both Pochettino and Gregg Berhalter. However, they previously left openings for opponents to counterattack following a turnover. Against Senegal, Pochettino opted to deploy Alex Freeman as a right center-back within a three-man defense.
A product of Orlando City’s academy, Freeman has gained experience in MLS and La Liga playing various defensive roles. His versatility makes him an essential partner for Dest, despite their limited time playing together.
“I think we have a good combination on the right side,” Dest commented regarding the Villarreal defender. “I like to play with him as well. He’s strong, he’s tall, he’s fast and a good defender. Also, we can switch sometimes, so that makes it even better if I’m on that side because I can also go low and just change with him. It’s harder for opponents to defend us because we’re more dynamic.”
Dest has rebounded impressively during his time at PSV Eindhoven, surpassing 2,000 league minutes for the second consecutive season after spending the majority of 2024/25 recovering from an ACL injury. Having previously played for Ajax and Barcelona, he is once again attracting attention from prestigious clubs, with Bayern Munich reportedly interested. This marks the second time the Champions League semi-finalists have pursued Dest, having attempted to sign him in the summer of 2020 before he chose to join Barcelona. A successful tournament performance, like the one displayed against Senegal, could significantly enhance his chances of joining a continental powerhouse.
“I think [it’s] really important,” Dest remarked about the tournament’s potential to influence transfer opportunities. “We all want to have a great run and want to come as far as possible in this tournament. I feel like whenever you do that as a team, all the individuals, they will grow as well, and I think this is a really important tournament for everybody to make the next step in their career.”
