USMNT-Panama: How Gregg Berhalter's strategy of heavy rotation could pay off as World Cup qualification looms

Berhalter's rotation means the USMNT's fourth-string right back is no stranger to big moments

During World Cup qualifying it's rare that a team has their entire squad available all the time. This cycle, the final round stretched across almost seven months in five different international windows, which means every team in Concacaf has to deal with fluctuating form, injuries and the staggered offseason schedules between Europe and the Americas. That's a key reason why United States men's team manager Gregg Berhalter has driven home his next-man-up mentality across the entire player pool and ensured that every player, on the roster or not, is aware of their standing within the program. He's reached deep into the player pool at times and everybody knows they could be called in at a moment's notice.

Rotation is something that the team is prepared for as 38 players have featured so far during World Cup qualifying with 21 of them playing 90 or more minutes. Berhalter spoke of how two-time former USMNT manager (and current New England Revolution boss) Bruce Arena's best piece of advice was that you'll never have your top team so he ensured that his roster can at least fill 1.5 squads to compensate.

That policy has turned out to be important. Ahead of the USMNT's critical home qualifier against Panama on Sunday in Orlando, Berhalter finds himself in need of a roster change. With Sergino Dest, Reggie Cannon and DeAndre Yedlin all out of the squad because of injury or suspension, Berhalter has called in Shaq Moore to fill the gap. Moore traveled to meet up with the squad despite the fact his club team Tenerife is battling for promotion in Spain's second division during this window.