A total of 12 players made their U.S. men's national team debuts this week, and that alone makes this January camp a success. Some day, we may look back at this week and reminisce about the debuts of young stars like Gaga Slonina, Paxten Aaronson, John Tolkin and Brandon Vazquez, among plenty of others.
But the actual games themselves? Pretty forgettable. And, after a 2-1 loss to Serbia that had some excitement to it, the USMNT's clash with Colombia on Saturday night provided little in the way of memorable moments.
The two sides played to a 0-0 draw in a game that was defined by disorganized chaos. This looked like a game featuring two teams hastily put together in preseason and that's because it's exactly what it was.
There were few pretty sequences and, to be fair, few standout performances. This game was an extended runout that will provide all involved with a bit of fitness and little more.
That is, except for those that made their debuts, with several newcomers offering glimpses of their potential. It wasn't enough to salvage this game, but it was enough to add a little bit of meaning to an otherwise dull January friendly.
There are brighter days ahead, and some big decisions as the USMNT prepare for a new leadership structure. This will go down as one to forget, but not for a few players that could play a part under the next regime whenever it does arrive.