ASN: Assured U.S. workforce prepares for Morocco in Olympic highlight

The US Olympic workforce is inside putting distance of the medal rounds of Paris 2024 and an opportunity to captivate the American highlight within the distinctive highlight that solely the Video games can present. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta appears to be like a the challenges of a tricky Moroccan opponent

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
August 01, 2024
8:05 AM

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PARIS, FRANCE – The US males’s workforce is thru to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympics after a convincing 3-0 win over Guinea on Tuesday in St. Etienne. On Wednesday, the U.S. workforce travelled to Paris the place they are going to face an excellent Moroccan workforce for a spot within the semifinals. They’re searching for their first medal at these video games.

The temper of the workforce following the Guinea win was one among confidence however a whole lot of respect for his or her upcoming opponent.

“We’re ready,” mentioned winger Kevin Paredes after scoring two targets within the recreation. “Straight up, we’re ready.”

“They’re going to be a good team,” echoed workforce captain Tanner Tessmann. “They won the group, with Argentina in there, so we have to prepare for them.”

With that mentioned, listed below are some ideas on the win over Guinea and the place it has the workforce shifting ahead.

Entrance three might be key

In opposition to Guinea, the massive speaking level was simply how effectively the entrance three of Griffin Yow, Paxten Aaronson, and Kevin Paredes performed. Guinea was not ready for his or her press and their relentlessness to right away get the ball ahead.

After Duncan McGuire began the primary two video games, head coach Marko Mitrovic opted to switch McGuire with a “false nine” formation as Aaronson moved from the wing to the center and Yow got here into proper wing.

The change left Guinea with out solutions as Paredes had two targets, Aaronson had an help, and Yow was essentially the most harmful participant on the sector.

“We can possibly make a lot of a lot of issue with our dynamic moments with this front three guys,” Mitrovic mentioned after the sport. “And, I mean, sometimes those ideas are good, sometimes it works, sometimes they don’t. But today it worked, and it was good.”

That leaves the massive query of how the workforce will play towards Morrocco. Morocco is a really effectively coached workforce who will now have movie to review on the 2 appears to be like the U.S. workforce has proven. Given the success of the workforce towards Guinea, it appears doubtless they are going to be making ready for it.

Mitrovic can have a tricky determination whether or not to maintain this formation intact, or change issues up barely to have the ability to present a distinct look.

The backline’s progress

One other huge takeaway is that Walker Zimmerman was terrific towards Guinea and he delivered in a method you’d anticipate an overage participant with World Cup expertise to play. From his clearances, twin successful, aerials, and passing, he was essential to the win.

However crucial story is that Miles Robinson had his greatest recreation. The second overage participant was introduced into this workforce attributable to his chemistry with Zimmerman and his huge recreation expertise. After a shaky effort towards France, he improved towards New Zealand. However towards Guinea, it appeared like Robinson was lastly beginning to hit his stride.

As for the fullbacks in John Tolkin and Nathan Harriel, the 2 have been rock regular. Tolkin will get concerned within the assault so much and is harmful – regardless of not having any aim contributions but. Harriel has merely been very regular. He had a couple of robust moments towards Guinea, however has in any other case been very constant.

Proper now, the protection seems to be rising into the event forward of their second most troublesome problem (after France) towards Morocco.

Midfield questions

Many of the largest questions and causes for concern are within the midfield. In opposition to Guinea, the U.S. workforce didn’t actually have interaction Guinea’s midfield a lot (particularly after Guinea upgraded their squad with high quality overage midfielders). As an alternative, the U.S. workforce performed extraordinarily immediately with most possessions going into the assault as quickly as attainable.

Proper now, we don’t know the well being of Gianluca Busio. The Venezia midfielder is likely one of the workforce’s higher gamers however his protection is constant. He was moved off the roster for Guinea after choosing up an harm towards New Zealand. He was then changed by Josh Atencio.

In one of many extra shocking strikes, Busio was changed by Max Dietz within the beginning lineup and never Jack McGlynn (who was efficient in subbing in for Busio towards New Zealand). McGlynn can move effectively and has an awesome imaginative and prescient, however Dietz brings protection and athleticism.

With Dietz coming into the beginning lineup, it mirrored that Mitrovic prefers defensive high quality and athleticism within the midfield when his workforce is enjoying immediately. McGlynn is a perfect participant for a possession recreation when he has defensive assist within the midfield.

In opposition to Morocco, anticipate Mitrovic to once more prioritize protection and athleticism within the midfield behind the No. 10 in Mihailovic. Morocco goes to have extra pace and extra high quality than Guinea and never having that edge within the midfield might damage.

One other risk might be Josh Atencio, who got here into the workforce. He’s additionally a candidate to begin with Tessmann as he can defend and move. However the well being and standing of Busio is a giant query mark.

One other query for this workforce might be Tessmann, who has performed each minute of those video games and was concerned within the closed-door friendlies and the June camp. That is on the heels of a virtually 4000-mintue season in Serie B the place he helped Venezia to promotion.

Trying again/wanting forward

Morocco might be a really robust take a look at for the U.S. workforce. This workforce will have the ability to deal with the U.S. workforce’s press higher they usually gained’t make the errors that Guinea made. They may even have extra high quality within the ultimate third than Guinea or New Zealand.

The situations might be onerous. The temperatures might be sizzling in Paris and the group on the Parc des Princes might be very pro-Moroccan.

With the U.S. workforce rising in confidence, it’s onerous to see Mitrovic altering up an excessive amount of. If he has a components that’s doing effectively, there’s a threat with altering issues an excessive amount of.

One space of concern with the U.S. workforce might be how they haven’t been at their greatest within the final 20 minutes in both of the three video games. The workforce has began off effectively however has discovered themselves on their heels main as much as the ultimate whistle, even within the wins over New Zealand or Guinea.

If the U.S. workforce can’t construct up a lead early, will probably be a take a look at if they are often sturdy for the total 90 or 120 minutes.

Nonetheless, these are all good issues to have proper now. The U.S. workforce is within the quarterfinal of a FIFA event after having gained two straight video games. U.S. Soccer has had a tricky yr on the boys’s aspect of this system, however this workforce has an opportunity to construct up a whole lot of enthusiasm for this system two years out from the World Cup.

The Olympics has a method of charming the American public in a singular method. Mitrovic’s workforce now has a possibility to benefit from that highlight.