ASN: USMNT questions and observations from Uruguay & Morocco friendlies plus US U-19 & U-20 notes

The U.S. group’s two hardest video games from the four-game June run are actually over and ASN’s Brian Sciaretta appears on the massive takeaways and questions remaining after these two video games. Plus, Sciaretta additionally appears on the U.S. youth groups together with the U-19 group’s win over England on Monday and the U-20 group preparing for qualifying.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 07, 2022
1:25 PM

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THE UNITED STATES nationwide group is 2 video games by its four-game June run however the first two video games provided one of the best alternative to study given the World Cup-quality opponents. There nonetheless will probably be a possibility to construct up chemistry and work on ways, however there are some vital questions raised and classes realized from the primary two video games of the summer season.

The U.S. group has proven some positives from the primary two video games, however the group stays a piece in progress. Listed below are some observations from the primary two video games.

Striker stays open

After first two video games, the query over the striker place isn’t any clearer. The present scenario is that the participant pool consists of many gamers who’ve produced on the membership degree however who haven’t but made a huge impact for the nationwide group. Haji Wright and Jesus Ferreira are on this camp whereas the prolonged pool has Jordan Pefok and Daryl Dike – who was nice on the membership degree for 18 months previous to his newest damage. There are additionally gamers like Josh Sargent and Ricardo Pepi who’re in a funk on the membership degree.

It made sense that Berhalter took Ferreira and Wright to this camp. They’re the 2 most in-form forwards who’re wholesome in the mean time. Whereas Wright buried a penalty within the win over Morocco (given to him by Pulisic, who earned  the penalty), neither had scored from the run of play or from a set piece both has earned.

The query for Berhalter then turns into will he proceed to experience the recent hand and call-up whoever is scorching? Or will he decide on his choices now and work with them to build-up chemistry.

Ferreira and Wright nonetheless each are in a position to assist the group even when they’re not scoring. Usually that wouldn’t be adequate, but it surely’s higher than merely disappearing. Ferreira has an excellent soccer sense and will get into harmful positions. He additionally combines effectively along with his wingers. Wright is robust and bodily. He can also make runs into the attacking half that open the sport up.

While you examine that with Pefok, it’s completely different. Pefok can end, but when he’s not ending effectively or the service isn’t there, he disappears.

Something can occur however at this level, I wouldn’t be stunned if Berhalter sticks with Ferreira and Wright.

Central protection associate

Berhalter introduced in 4 central defenders to this camp: Walker Zimmerman, Aaron Lengthy, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Erik Palmer-Brown. With the 2 hardest video games in June already accomplished, it’s secure to say that Walker Zimmerman will depart this camp in robust competition. He’s not merely a lock to make the World Cup group, he’s possible a starter and an vital a part of the group. His distribution out of the again along with his protection has been excellent.

The opposite three are nonetheless in a battle. Lengthy has performed pretty effectively with some good moments and a few powerful moments. Carter-Vickers additionally was fairly good in his one half towards Morocco. Palmer-Brown struggled towards Uruguay within the second half however continues to be within the combine.

Most certainly, Berhalter will take 4 central defenders, even with a roster elevated to 26 gamers as a result of it’s uncommon that the fourth central defender performs. The one manner he would possibly take a fifth central defender is that if the three-man backline turns into extra of a most popular formation.

Should you take into account that Chris Richards is more likely to make the World Cup group if wholesome, that makes one from the present camp more likely to be reduce. If John Brooks continues to be actually in competition, then two from the present camp might get reduce. Different choices like Mark McKenzie, James Sands, and Tim Ream are all most likely on the “outside looking in” proper now.

For the remaining two video games, Berhalter will most likely give alternatives to Carter-Vickers and Palmer-Brown – together with Lengthy. The standard of opponents most likely makes it powerful to attract conclusions however it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how they play tactically.

My guess is that that leaving this camp, the entrance runners to be the 4 central defenders on the World Cup are Zimmerman, Richards, Carter-Vickers, and Lengthy. Heading into September, I can see Berhalter wanting to make use of that camp to check the chemistry of a Zimmerman-Richards pairing.

Backup fullbacks

Few would argue that if everyone seems to be wholesome, the beginning U.S. nationwide group fullbacks are Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest. Whether or not or not it’s in a three-man backline or a four-man backline, these two have been first-choice gamers for effectively over a 12 months now and each are nonetheless going robust.

However there’s a query of backups. This is a crucial query two provided that Dest and Robinson have each had accidents of their previous and few would assume that the U.S. group will probably be 100% wholesome come the World Cup for the reason that U.S. group has solely very not often ever been 100% wholesome.

On the best facet, there’s Reggie Cannon and DeAndre Yedlin backing up Dest.

On the left facet, there was George Bello and Sam Vines having stints as Robinson’s backup.

In the meantime, Berhalter has used Sergino Dest additionally as a backup left again (whereas then opting to play his backup proper again). There’s additionally Joe Scally who can play each the left and the best.

The backup proper and left again conditions are each unsettled however are each completely different. Berhalter appears as if he’s snug with both Yedlin or Cannon. On the flip facet, Berhalter is probably going uncomfortable with any of the backup left again choices proper now.

Scally battled exhausting towards Uruguay however finally didn’t make a strong case he’s prepared proper now – albeit is actually one for the longer term. George Bello has had a bunch of possibilities however actually struggled positionally with Arminia Bielefeld the second half of the season and has by no means seemed compelling with the total group.

As of now, the place hasn’t actually addressed itself effectively throughout this camp. If that doesn’t change within the remaining two video games, maybe Berhalter will callup completely different faces in September.

There are all the time gamers who emerge late within the cycle to earn a spot and the truth that the U.S. group is worried over a back-up left again, versus a beginning one, is a giant signal of progress. Membership type may very well be key however two names to observe can be DeJuan Jones and John Tolkin. Neither of those gamers are capped however Berhalter indicated Tolkin was in consideration for this camp whereas he additionally had Jones in camp with the group in January.

As for Vines and Bello, they’re each within the image. Bello would possibly get minutes within the remaining two video games albeit now towards groups who wrestle in CONCACAF. For these gamers, it is going to come all the way down to the beginning of the Belgian season for Vines and the two.Bundesliga for Bello.

Midfield competitors

Proper now, the midfield positions look strong for the U.S. group. If the U.S. group rolls with the standard 4-3-3 formation with a wholesome roster, Adams and McKennie are starters. Musah has sometimes been a starter but it surely’s not as a lot of a lock to begin as the opposite two. That’s as a result of Brenden Aaronson has been given an opportunity to begin centrally within the midfield – the place he’s most snug. Up to now, Aaronson has performed effectively and Aaronson might need extra of a deadly remaining ball than Musah proper now.

Berhalter needs to be snug the midfield proper now. He has choices he’s snug beginning and the backups are in good place too. Kellyn Acosta may not be a fantastic No. 8 with the U.S. group proper now, however he has proven to be an excellent backup for Tyler Adams on the No. 6. The extra superior “dual No. 8” roles can go to 2 of McKennie, Musah, or Aaronson.

Assuming there will probably be a 26 participant roster, Berhalter will most likely take 6-8 midfielders. Adams, Acosta, McKennie, Musah, and Aaronson are 5.

The remaining backup choices for the No. 8 or No. 10 positions might see just a little little bit of competitors. At this camp there are Luca de la Torre and Christian Roldan, who’re reliable. By way of different listed below are additionally gamers like Gianluca Busio, Djordje Mihailovic, Richard Ledezma, and probably others knocking on the door who’re extra distant choices – akin to Cole Bassett, Paxton Pomykal, or Alan Sonora.

Gio’s return

One massive query to contemplate is Gio Reyna and the way he would possibly slot in as soon as he returns. Because the Nations League final 12 months, Reyna’s appearances with the nationwide group have been few and much between. He’s coming off what was basically a misplaced season with Borussia Dortmund.

Reyna, 19, is a good expertise however the U.S. group has been progressing with out him. If he will get wholesome in time for Qatar, he’ll go to the World Cup – however what’s his position? It’s unattainable to say as you possibly can by no means actually inform with a participant who had a misplaced season. Generally they rebound robust however different time it may possibly take awhile to get again in that rhythm.

For Reyna, is he going to begin within the midfield over both Aaronson or Musah? If he’s a winger, does he unseat Pulisic or Weah? He’s not able now the place he appears like a lock starter. Probably he might get that again if he hits the bottom operating at Dortmund in preseason and the early components of the season whereas then wanting sharp in September with the U.S. group.

However that’s a variety of “ifs” and it’s too early to venture when he wasn’t even wholesome sufficient to make this camp. Proper now, he’s wanting like a spot starter or a super-sub.  

Goalkeeper appears secure

With this present camp, one place that has given itself just a little extra readability is goalkeeper. The primary two video games have seen Matt Turner and Sean Johnson put in actually strong shifts to spice up their resumes.

Turner is a lock to make the World Cup group however is he the starter? If the World Cup was proper now, he would most likely begin. All of it comes all the way down to the enjoying time in August in September. Zack Steffen would possibly push for a mortgage and that might assist his case if he begins and performs effectively.

As for Johnson, he made a robust case to be the group’s third goalkeeper. He’s been across the group all the cycle and has been, and will probably be enjoying common minutes this complete 12 months.

It appears more than likely that proper now, the three goalkeepers heading to Qatar are Turner, Steffen, and Johnson with Turner proper now having the strongest case to begin.

YNT updates

Turning away from the senior U.S. nationwide group and shifting all the way down to the youth nationwide groups, that are going to have an especially busy month.

On Monday, the USA U-19 group defeated England 2-1 in Marbella, Spain. The U.S. group had a slight benefit in age as England opted to discipline a roster totally of its 2005 delivery 12 months. The US had a 20-player roster with six gamers born in 2004 and 14 born in 2005.

Within the win over England, the U.S. targets had been scored by Atletico Madrid B’s Rodrigo Neri and Orange County’s Korede Osudina. Neri’s objective (seen under) got here simply minutes after he was subbed on. England performed with a person down after the sixtieth minute.

Vídeo del gol de Rodrigo Neri hoy, con el que el #USMNT Sub-19 remontó a Inglaterra. La jugada inicia con un muy buen pase largo de Kobi Henry. Tras una serie de rebotes, alguien centra al área y Neri (At. Madrid) remata a gol… ¡a los 2 minutes de entrar! ?????????? #USYNT pic.twitter.com/7EHMs9HpG5

— Jaime Ojeda (@jaimeor96) June 6, 2022

The U.S. U-19 group (just like the U.S. U-18 group) exists virtually as a second group to the USA U-20 group. Most of the gamers are eligible for the next cycle however are too younger for the U.S. U-17 group. This can be a manner of maintaining these gamers concerned with this system between youth cycles.

It additionally provides gamers a platform to probably compete for the USA U-20 group this cycle. The present U.S. U-20 group will try to qualify for each the 2023 U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics but when the group qualifies for the U-20 World Cup, the cycle will proceed for nearly one other 12 months to arrange for the that event.

Should you have a look at the U-20 cycles, there was all the time heavy turnover between qualifying and the World Cup. With such an extended hole between the 2, this cycle there may very well be extra over a turnover. It might very effectively begin with this U-19 group.

Two gamers to pay shut consideration to are Joshua Wynder and Brooklyn Raines. Wynder was the U-19 captain towards England and he performs central protection – which is a large place of want for the present U-20 cycle. Wynder was truly a stunning omission for the U-20 group for qualifying given the way in which he has been enjoying Louisville Metropolis and the actual fact he (together with gamers like Obed Vargas) is among the many prime 2005-born gamers in the USA. If the U.S. U-20 group qualifies for the World Cup, Wynder has a great opportunity of creating a fast rise by the group.

Now there’s the U.S. U-20 group which is ready to journey to Honduras later within the week forward of its opening group stage recreation towards St. Kitts and Nevis on June 18.

That roster continues to be not introduced however there are just a few nuggets. Sounder At Coronary heart reported that U.S. Soccer reached a cope with the Sounders for the discharge of Obed Vargas and so they reported that Vargas will be part of the group after the group phases.

Releases are a large difficulty with this group and ASN understands that Kevin Paredes, Justin Che, Caleb Wiley, Gaga Slonina, and Bryan Gutierrez. As soon as thought-about a prime prospect, Malick Sonogo will not be on the group though it’s unclear if he was both reduce or this was a coach’s selection. The identical for Dante Sealey who can also be not included.

On the flip facet, head coach Mikey Varas can have the three Philadelphia Union core of Jack McGlynn, Paxten Aaronson, and Quinn Sullivan – the latter of whom scored 4 targets within the two March video games in Argentina. Cade Cowell is probably going going to take part together with the New York Pink Bull duo of Caden Clark and Daniel Edelman. From overseas, Varas might have midfielders Rokas Pukstas from Hadjuk Cut up and Alejandro Alvarado from FC Vizela.