I remember the mix of nerves and pure excitement buzzing through our camp when U.S. Soccer finally announced the 18-man squad heading to Paris. It felt monumental – our first men’s Olympic appearance since 2008. Coach Marko Mitrovic had navigated a real minefield to get us here, wrestling with clubs reluctant to release players outside a FIFA window and balancing the tricky U-23 rules with those vital three overage spots. Seeing my name alongside guys like Miles Robinson and Tanner Tessmann? Yeah, that was special. We knew the challenges ahead, especially facing the hosts right out the gate, but the belief was tangible.

The Backbone: Experience Anchoring Youth

Looking back, those three overage picks were absolutely crucial. Walker Zimmerman? A rock. His calmness, his World Cup experience, his sheer presence – it filtered down. I remember him organizing us during training, that quiet authority. He wasn't fully fit earlier in the year, but by July? He was back to being the two-time MLS Defender of the Year we needed. And Miles Robinson... man, what a warrior. Coming straight from Copa America, with Cincy screaming for him back home amidst their own injury crisis? Yet there he was, giving everything. That partnership with Zimmerman in central defense felt instantly solid, like they'd been playing together for years, not just reuniting. Then there was Djordje Mihailovic pulling the strings further up. His vision, those 10 goals and 6 assists for Colorado before the tournament? He was the creative spark we leaned on.

Building the Squad: Triumphs and Tough Calls

Putting this group together was a saga in itself. The federation fought hard, but some doors stayed shut:

• Brandon Vazquez (CF Monterrey): Wanted, but not released. 😕

• Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders): Also blocked by his club. 😕

• Aidan Morris, Ricardo Pepi, Malik Tillman, Rokas Pukstas, Bryan Reynolds: All unavailable due to club commitments. 😕

Mitrovic had to dig deep into the U-23 pool and make some brutal choices. The exclusion of Diego Luna still stings. Five goals and eight assists for RSL, a key U-20 World Cup player... and not even in the pre-roster camp? His coach Pablo Mastroeni called it "poking the bear," and honestly, watching Luna light up MLS after the snub, you could feel that fire. Cole Bassett dominating in Colorado midfield? No room. Cade Cowell? Another U-20 stalwart left out. With Zimmerman and Robinson taking the overage CB spots, even a talent like Jalen Neal missed the cut. It was a constant juggling act.

Key Players Stepping Up

While the vets led, the younger guys had to deliver. Tanner Tessmann captaining us from midfield? He owned that role. You could see why Serie A clubs were circling – his composure on the ball, his work rate. He ran Venezia's promotion push, and he ran our midfield here. Out wide, Kevin Paredes brought that Bundesliga edge. Three goals for Wolfsburg, growing confidence with every minute – he became a nightmare for fullbacks on our right flank. And then there was Caleb Wiley. Fresh off that big $11 million move to Chelsea, buzzing with potential. He didn't start every game (John Tolkin got the nod at left back early on), but his energy off the bench was electric. You just knew he was knocking on the senior team door, especially with the backup situation behind Antonee Robinson looking thin.

Between the Sticks

Goalkeeping was another interesting call. Gaga Slonina (Chelsea) is the future, no doubt. Big talent. But Patrick Schulte? He just had that aura of a guy who'd been there, done it. Winning the MLS Cup with Columbus Crew in 2023, that winning mentality... Coach Mitrovic trusted him, and Pat repaid that faith. Solid, commanding, a proper last line.

The Rollercoaster: Group Stage & Beyond

Man, that opening game against France... in Marseille, hosts buzzing. It was brutal. A 3-0 loss that could have shattered us. The atmosphere was intense, maybe too intense for some of the younger lads initially. But the response? That’s what I’ll remember. Four days later, against New Zealand:

• Sat, July 27: USA 4-1 New Zealand 🔥

• Tue, July 30: USA 3-0 Guinea ✅

We found our rhythm. The pressure lifted, the passes connected, the goals flowed. Beating Guinea sealed our spot in the quarters. The relief, the joy in the locker room... it washed away that France defeat. Suddenly, we were contenders.

The Alternates: Ready When Called

You can't forget the guys waiting in the wings, the four alternates:

Atencio actually got his moment when Gianluca Busio went down injured. Stepped in without missing a beat. That’s the Olympic spirit right there – always ready.

Quarterfinal Focus: Morocco Awaits

So there we were, August 2nd, facing Morocco in the quarterfinals. All the build-up, the squad battles, the group stage drama... it boiled down to this one game. Could our blend of veteran savvy and youthful exuberant energy carry us through? The defense, marshalled by Zimmerman and Robinson, felt impenetrable at times. Mihailovic was itching to unlock them. Tessmann was ready to lead the charge from the middle. Paredes and Yow offered pace out wide. McGuire and Aaronson hunted goals. Schulte stood tall. We believed. The whole journey to get there, the players present and the ones painfully absent, it all fueled us for that night under the Parisian lights. What happened next? Well, that’s a story of its own, filled with moments that made you gasp and others that made you roar... a proper Olympic battle. 🇺🇸⚽️