PREVIEW: How Eric Quill Might Handle the International Break Absences vs. LAFC
World football is heading into the first-ever extended September/October international break, but in classic MLS fashion, a full slate of MLS games is scheduled during the break, with LAFC coming to Frisco to take on the Burn.
This week, with a number of absences on both sides, let’s look at a few ways Eric Quill might line up for a big Western Conference six-pointer.
The Absences
Dallas will be missing four players for international duty. The biggest, of course, is Petar Musa, who has been called back to the Croatian national team for the first international break since the World Cup. Ran Binyamin will join back up with the Israeli U21 squad as they try to qualify for the U21 Euros in 2027. Bernard Kamungo, after getting a USMNT Camp Cupcake call-up a couple of years ago, has rejoined the Tanzanian national team for some AFCON Qualifiers, and lastly, Josh Torquato will once again be part of the US U20 team as they play some friendlies in anticipation of the U20 World Cup. On top of the international break absences, Dallas captain Ramiro will also miss time due to suspension from yellow-card accumulation.
For their part, LAFC will also miss a slew of players, with superstars Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga called up for South Korea and Gabon, respectively. They will also miss Canadians Mathieu Choiniere and Jacob Shaffelburg, along with Leo Walta playing with Finland and Jude Terry joining Josh Torquato in the US U20 squad. Like Dallas, LAFC will also be missing a starter due to suspension, with former USMNT center back Aaron Long picking up a red card against San Jose.
So, with each team missing key starters and contributors, how might Eric Quill approach this one?
The Plug and Play
This is the most likely lineup I suspect Eric Quill will roll out. It maintains the back-3 formation Dallas has used since Leagues Cup started and mostly plugs gaps left by missing players with logical replacements. Daniel maintains his spot at keeper, with Osaze Urhoghide and Sebastien Ibeagha doing so as well in the backline. Binyamin had started recent games at right wing back, so with him gone, Herman Johansson gets that spot back. Cappis and Kaick are the logical midfield choices with Ramiro absent, and with Kamungo, Binyamin, and Torquato all missing, it eliminates basically every left wing-back choice besides Shaq Moore. With Shaq slid up to wing back, that brings Nolan Norris back into the backline at left center back. Up top, Joaquin Valiente keeps his spot, Santi Moreno comes back in to start with Kaick moving back into central midfield instead of attacking midfield, and Logan Farrington takes the number 9 spot with Musa gone.
This is probably the strongest lineup Dallas can deploy, talent-wise. It keeps most of the recent starters and puts most players where they are most comfortable. I’d be surprised if Eric Quill goes with anything else.
Keeping Kaick High
This is the same lineup as last time, but it keeps Kaick playing in a more attacking midfield role. Quill has deployed this a few times this season but most notably twice recently against Minnesota and again against Austin. He seems to like using Kaick to press opposing backlines and make it tough for them to build out.
I don’t think he’ll go with this, but it is possible he does so if LAFC favors a slower build-up. This would require little-used on-loan midfielder Clay Holstad to join the team, which makes it even less likely, as Holstad has hardly played since joining FCD; but if Quill wants to use Kaick higher up, this setup makes sense.
The Back 4
With Quill missing so many left wing-back options, there is a chance he could use this as a chance to, once again, try to reintroduce the back 4, something he seems to want to do but hasn’t been able to commit to. The team mostly picks itself in the back 4; this keeps Shaq Moore at center-back and returns Nolan Norris to a more proper left-back role. Santiago Moreno and Joaquin Valiente take the winger spots, with Cappis and Kaick holding down the midfield. The big question mark is that “10” or second-striker spot. Normally this would be Farrington paired with Musa, but with Musa out, Patrickson Delgado probably makes the most sense there.
He has done this role at times in 2026, but Quill has largely left him out in recent weeks, with just a brief cameo against Portland as his only appearance.
The other possibility is a start for Sam Sarver up top alongside Farrington, or possibly Sarver on the right wing with Valiente playing as a 10. Either way, I don’t think this is very likely; Quill seems pretty set on the back 3 for the rest of the season, but it’s possible based on the personnel available.
How do you think Eric Quill will set his team up for this weekend’s LAFC match during the international break?
Discover more from Dallas Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
