ASN: Six USMNT gamers to look at in opposition to El Salvador

Each participant on the present U.S. nationwide crew roster has loads to show on this camp and in opposition to El Salvador on Wednesday night time in Florida however ASN’s Brian Sciaretta provides you the six he’s maintaining a detailed eye on within the crew’s 2020 finale. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
December 07, 2020
1:10 PM

SHARE THIS STORY

THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL crew is about to tackle El Salvador on Wednesday night time in Ft. Lauderdale in a uncommon December sport. After an extended layoff as a result of COVID-19 and really busy 2021 yr forward, Gregg Berhalter and U.S. Soccer are taking benefit to guage gamers and the place they match, or if the even do match, into the plans for the nationwide crew and youth nationwide groups.

In 2021, the US may participate within the U-20 World Cup qualifying, the U-20 World Cup, U-23 Olympic qualifying, the Olympics, the CONCACAF Nations League, the Gold Cup, World Cup qualifying, and friendlies at each degree alongside the way in which. It’s attainable that every of the these tournaments may see over 80 American gamers on numerous roster.

The present 24 -player camp in Ft. Lauderdale is generally home (22 gamers coming from MLS) and is generally youth oriented with 16 gamers eligible for the 2021 U-23 Olympic crew and three are eligible for the U.S. U-20 crew in 2021 (not together with the injured David Ochoa).

All of the gamers on the roster have one thing to show, particularly the newcomers, however listed here are the gamers I’m most curious to look at – and why

Daryl Dike

Daryl Dike, 20, is just not the completed product but and it’s nonetheless too early to find out if he shall be a profitable skilled, not to mention a U.S. nationwide crew caliber participant. Younger gamers new to the skilled sport can all the time go both approach.

However Dike is fascinating on one other provided that if he does pan out, it provides the U.S. crew a unique approach to play. His measurement (6’2” and 220 kilos), energy, and skill to maneuver nicely along with his large body make him very tough to defend. If the U.S. has a high striker possibility in Josh Sargent, having the ability to combine it up with both Dike coming off the bench, or presumably taking part in with Sargent on the similar time, provides the US crew a unique look in the way it assaults.

“In terms of Daryl, we would most likely use the forward position in a different way if he was on the field because he is such a physical presence,” Berhalter mentioned. “He’s a guy you need to get the ball to. You saw what he did in the game against New England. He made it very hard for the centerbacks to play. He was very physical and very aggressive against them. I felt they just needed to get him the ball in the box more. I can imagine that when he’s on the field, we would look to get him the ball in the penalty box more – either back to goal or on the crosses to draw in defenders and perhaps lay off or take them on himself.”

Towards El Salvador, Dike wants to start out constructing a case that he can match into the U.S. crew nicely to start out this course of – and maybe with the U.S. U-23 crew the place he may very well be a distinction maker in opposition to youthful and inexperienced CONCACAF defenders.

Dike continues to be a venture, however the upsides alongside are intriguing.

Brenden Aaronson

Transferring from being a prospect to a dependable participant is hard, and most gamers don’t make that transition. Aaronson might be slightly additional alongside than a prospect, however he’s not dependable but on the U.S. nationwide crew degree.

Aaronson, 20, is coming off a season the place he helped information Philadelphia to a Supporters Protect title, was named to the league’s greatest XI, and secured a multimillion switch to Crimson Bull Salzburg in Austria. To this date, nonetheless, Aaronson’s solely cap with the U.S. nationwide crew was up to now January camp in a 1-0 win over Costa Rica. Previous to that, he was reduce from the U.S. U-20 World Cup crew in 2019 and was slated to be a part of the U-23 crew in March for Olympic qualifying earlier than the match was cancelled.

“We’re excited to see Brenden take the next step in his career,” Berhalter mentioned.”I feel he is finished a terrific job this yr by way of performing. Once I suppose again to January till now, he is had a incredible season in bettering his performances nearly weekly. What we’re on the lookout for now could be for him to validate it – validate it on the sector. It is a good opponent we play in opposition to El Salvador. It’ll be a good sport and that is the place he ought to have the ability to be very efficient. We’re actually trying ahead to him capping off a robust season with efficiency in opposition to El Salvador.”

There may be loads of causes to be excited over Aaronson however he’s new to the worldwide stage. If he’s launched to the U.S. U-23 Olympic crew in March for qualifying, can he be a distinction maker there?

On the complete crew, there are a bunch of actually good younger central attacking midfielders in Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, Richard Ledezma though accidents occur and the dedication for Musah, in addition to the event of Ledezma nonetheless give Aaronson a path for the complete crew.

Mark McKenzie

Central protection proper now could be large open for the U.S. crew. John Brooks is without doubt one of the greatest gamers within the pool and he occupies the left facet of the pairing when he’s wholesome – and that hasn’t all the time been the case. After that, there are a collection of query marks in Aaron Lengthy, Walker Zimmerman, Matt Miazga, Chris Ricahrds, Erik Palmer-Brown, and Mark Mckenzie.

This may depart the door open for every of the 4 central defenders on this camp (which incorporates Lengthy, Zimmerman, and Maurico Pindea). McKenzie has maybe a much bigger alternative on this sport for a number of causes. He’s coming being named to the league’s Greatest XI for his season with Philadelphia, he’s younger and anticipated to be a giant a part of the U.S. U-23 crew in 2021, and there are rising rumors and experiences of European groups watching him.

These elements give McKenzie a giant stage on Wednesday.

“The centerback position is pretty open,” Berhalter mentioned. “We wanted diversity in the pool in this camp. We have two experienced guys in Walker and Aron with an inexperienced guy like Mark Mckenzie but who had a fantastic season… for us it is looking to see who is going to take advantage of this opportunity. Who can have a good performance in this camp?”

McKenzie spoke to the media this week and sounded able to show himself on a unique stage, which may then set himself up for an necessary 2021.

“We all see how deep and talented the center back position is in this cycle,” McKenzie mentioned. “I see that as an opportunity to push myself. I think that internal fire is something that each of us have. Whenever we get the opportunity to come in here, we’re pushing and we’re fighting because we know Gregg Berhalter said it was an open spot. It’s a daily battle, a daily fight, both when you come into camp but also at the club level.”

Paul Arriola

Regardless of being the veteran on the roster with probably the most caps, Arriola continues to be fascinating on this camp. He’s primarily coming off a misplaced season for DC United the place he tore his ACL in preseason and solely returned for the season finale – the place DC didn’t clinch a playoff berth.

There are a bunch of inquiries to reply for Arriola. How wholesome is he proper now and what degree is he at after a tough 2020?

There are lots of good younger wingers developing by the ranks with the U.S. crew and youth groups and whereas Arriola is probably going not a begin for the U.S. crew when everyone seems to be wholesome, he does have some expertise which can be necessary. For one, he is without doubt one of the higher defensive wingers within the pool that may observe again and win the ball whereas protecting a ton of floor. Whereas not constant along with his ultimate ball, he can nonetheless make issues occur.

However that’s all assuming Arriola is well being and match – which Wednesday’s sport ought to give us barometer.

Chris Mueller

“This is a classic case of a guy getting rewarded for his play on the field,” Berhalter mentioned of Mueller’s call-up final week.

Mueller’s call-up is a feel-good story of a man who has labored extraordinarily arduous to get thus far. The Orlando Metropolis winger had 10 objectives and 7 assists in 2020 the place he earned my vote to be within the league’s Greatest XI. He was a significant motive why Orlando Metropolis earned its approach into the playoffs for the primary time ever.

However the competitors will now be tougher for Mueller however the Illinois native has many components that match the worldwide sport. He can defend and deal with the bodily facet of the sport nicely. His crossing is normally correct and he’s correct along with his passing. However is he quick sufficient? Does he play the defensive facet of the sport nicely sufficient to disrupt opponents?

Even when he’s out of the first-choice 23 proper now, Mueller is the type of participant who might need a golden alternative in 2021 as a result of congested U.S. nationwide crew schedule that can see lots of gamers get video games. If he carries his 2020 type into this camp whereas bettering in 2021 for each membership and nation, he may simply discover his approach into Berhalter’s plans on the deep facet of the roster.

Cole Bassett

Together with Julian Araujo, Bassett is only one of simply two U.S. U-20 gamers on the roster who’s eligible to play in opposition to El Salvador. Bassett put up stable numbers with Colorado this season with 5 objectives and 5 assists within the common season however was additionally barely inconsistent. That’s comprehensible given the stop-start nature of the season (particularly given Colorado missed a month as a result of COVID).

Bassett holds European ambitions and Colorado will doubtless promote in some unspecified time in the future however it’s arduous to see that taking place earlier than the U-20 World Cup. Bassett is a giant a part of the plans of Anthony Hudson, the U.S. U-20 head coach so this camp will get him again into the swing of the worldwide sport and provides him momentum heading into 2021. For American followers, the U-20 World Cup is all the time a enjoyable match and this may give us a glimpse of a key participant for qualifying and, if profitable, the World Cup crew.