Unless there's something going on behind the scenes that we don't know about, Callaghan's decision NOT to start Gaga in the second group match versus St. Kitts & Nevis and instead throw another lifetime achievement award to a 34-year-old Sean Johnson was monumentally stupid, short-sighted and irresponsible.
Though Gaga has played for the US at every level and has refused callups from his ancestral Poland, he is not cap tied as his only appearance for the senior men's team was a friendly back in January against Serbia.
I'm also not willing to forgive some of Callaghan's starting lineups for this tournament and the roster as a whole. Why not include more juniors instead of so many old vets who absolutely won't be involved in 2026? Why so many minutes for Zendejas, Sonora and Gressel?
Maybe he's toeing the line someone else set for him, but he should've done better. It's not like the USSF would fire and replace him for a few matches with Berhalter, Part Deux already announced and waiting in the wings.