America U-20 crew had the perfect World Cup group stage in crew historical past with 9 factors and three cleansheets. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta gives up his ideas on the crew after Friday’s 2-0 win over Slovakia.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
Might 26, 2023
9:30 PM
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THE UNITED STATES completed group play on the 2023 World Cup with an ideal 9 factors and nil targets conceded after a 2-0 win over Slovakia on Friday.
The U.S crew wanted solely a draw to win Group B whereas Slovakia entered the sport with simply three factors from the primary two video games and certain needing a minimum of a draw to safe passage into the knockouts.
U.S U-20 head coach Mikey Varas returned to the 3-5-2 formation he used within the 1-0 win over Ecuador within the opener. Brandan Craig, Josh Wynder, and Justin Che have been the three central defenders. Michael Halliday and Caleb Wiley have been the wingbacks.
The three-man midfield was captain Daniel Edelman, Obed Vargas, and Owen Wolff. Up prime, Cade Cowell and Diego Luna spearheaded the assault.
Whereas the U.S crew was wasteful within the assault, they have been in a position to rating within the opening half to assist dictate the tempo of the sport. The objective got here from an excellent particular person effort from Cowell who dribbled by Slovakia’s protection earlier than beating goalkeeper Adam Hrdina with a low shot.
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) Might 26, 2023
From there, the U.S crew managed the sport whereas Slovakia appeared to expire of concepts to create probabilities. The U.S crew scored its second deep into stoppage time by substitute Niko Tsakiris.
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) Might 26, 2023
The U.S crew’s spherical of 16 opponent shouldn’t be but identified – however it will likely be quite a lot of potential third place finishers. That sport will happen on Tuesday, Might thirtieth.
“I mentioned before the start of the tournament that we were going to lean on our team culture and fighting spirit,” Varas stated afterward. “I’m really proud of how many players have played an important role in helping us get that – that included the two goalkeepers who haven’t played but who have trained amazing to help our team.”
Listed below are some ideas on the sport:
Craig has been immense
The perfect U.S participant within the group stage has been central defender Brandan Craig who has performed each minute of the three video games and has been crucial in three areas.
First, defensively he has been a giant motive why the crew hasn’t conceded. He has received his duels and has been in the best place always. His greatest space of concern is his foot pace, however he has been taking part in sensible and placing himself in the best place to neutralize this weak point.
Second, his passing out of the again correct with an unimaginable vary. He’s hitting efficient lengthy distance passes which can be altering the sport.
Third, Craig is the crew’s greatest set piece taker. He’s placing free kicks and nook kicks into harmful areas that provides the U.S crew a transparent scoring possibility. Generally he takes the shot straight. However his lifeless ball strikes are efficient.
“Team chemistry has helped a lot,” Craig stated. “Obviously we don’t play very often with each other but it’s just relying on each other and knowing what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are. That gets the job done. It’s really special to not concede a goal and we take real pride in that.”
“I thought I’ve been playing well,” he added. “Keeping clean sheets is my main job. that’s always a really nice feeling. I’m just really proud of this group.”
Ending woes proceed
In addition to the U.S crew has performed total, the crew can be probably the most wasteful crew to date on the World Cup. In each sport they missed a number of excessive share probabilities.
On this sport towards Slovakia, Luna ought to have scored and Cowell ought to have had a minimum of yet one more.
Cowell’s objective was unbelievable. However as he strikes ahead on this event and past, he must be constantly efficient. What is obvious on this event is that opponents spend loads of time and vitality making an attempt to comprise him. That’s spectacular. If he can constantly put away his greatest probabilities, he’d discover his means into the total nationwide crew usually.
The U.S crew is passing effectively and creating sufficient probabilities, however placing them away wants to begin now for the crew to make a run within the knockouts.
Midfield is robust
Other than ending, this crew is great. If Paxten Aaronson was right here, they would actually be feared. And the crew deserves credit score whereas studying to play with out Aaronson, who has been the crew’s greatest participant all cycle. He’s been such a focus at each camp and event over the previous two years, it’s no small process to regulate with out him. However the crew has adjusted effectively.
A whole lot of that has been the crew’s midfield. The contingent of Edelman, Vargas, Wolff, and Jack McGlynn has been efficient in profitable free balls, defensively shielding the backline whereas not permitting the opposing midfield to have prolonged possession, and rapidly transitioning the ball into the assault.
This midfield group is at all times on the lookout for the quickest solution to assault, and it’s at all times placing opponents on their heels.
Nice form for knockouts
Every little thing has labored out brilliantly for Varas along with the crew having 9 factors from three video games.
Wanting into the spherical of 16, the U.S crew is in nice form. For one, there are not any accidents. Second, there are not any suspensions. Third, he has largely rotated his squad to keep away from fatigue. Fourth, the crew will now welcome prime gamers Kevin Paredes and Rokas Pukstas into the crew as Varas has been holding roster spots open for them to affix the crew within the knockouts.
Paredes will probably be an enormous presence on the wing and may solely open up the assault extra to stretch opposing defenses. Pukstas may also give Varas one other wanted possibility within the midfield as Wolff has began all three video games.
One concern, nonetheless, is that Craig has been the crew’s greatest participant however has additionally performed each minute to date. Is he able to taking part in each minute of a deep run within the knockouts too?
However dealing with the stress shouldn’t be one thing Varas sees as an issue with this group and he cites the knockout performances final yr on the CONCACAF Championships which included a win over hosts Honduras because the crew secured spots in each this World Cup and subsequent yr’s Olympics.
“When you go into the knockout stages, everything changes because it’s one and done,” Varas stated. “The boys will be prepared and we’ll work on the things we need to tighten-up a bit and also accentuate the things we’ve been doing well.”
“The boys have handled the pressure and the boys will handle the pressure moving forward.”
It’s laborious to say what the U.S crew’s greatest lineup can be at this level however a superb guess can be a return to the 4-3-3 given the additions of Pukstas and Paredes.
One robust lineup for the spherical of 16 might be Slonina in objective, Gomez at proper again, Craig and Wynder in central protection, Wiley at left again. Edelman, McGlynn, and Pukstas in midfield. Paredes and Cowell on the wings with Darren Yapi at middle ahead.
That might be the crew’s most harmful potential lineup and one with a superb likelihood of constructing the quarterfinals.
