ASN: Evaluation: USMNT downs Venezuela 3-1, appears to be like forward to Costa Rica

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta appears to be like again on the united statesteam’s win over Venezuela to open 2025 and appears forward to the Costa Rica pleasant in Orlando on Wednesday. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 21, 2025
7:00 AM

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THE UNITED STATES Nationwide group opened its 2025 marketing campaign with a convincing 3-1 win over Venezuela and can proceed that with a Wednesday pleasant towards Costa Rica. We received’t have the ability to draw agency conclusions till camp is over, however the early indicators are encouraging and Mauricio Pochettino was certainly inspired.

Traditionally, January camp has been crucial. A number of the finest gamers in historical past of this system took their first nationwide group steps throughout the ensuing friendlies. With the nationwide group being exceptionally younger in beginning the second half of final cycle, there are fewer spots on the nationwide group.

However because the nationwide group finally returns to having a typical age curve amongst its participant pool, January camp will return to being crucial. Whereas a few of gamers concerned on this present camp may not be prepared for a full spot on the nationwide group now, these spots may open within the years forward.

Within the 3-1 win over Venezuela, the U.S. group was sharper than in earlier January camps. Sure, there was some rust – however that’s to be anticipated with all of the gamers having but to start out preseason. However total, issues had been a bit sharper, a bit crisper, and a bit extra intense. To make certain, Venezuela was not a very good group however the U.S. group had a good efficiency beneath its personal deserves. 

The U.S. group obtained objectives from Jack McGlynn, Patrick Agyemang, and Matko Miljevic. For every participant, it was their first worldwide aim.

However listed below are my ideas on the sport.

USMNT ideas vs. Venezuela

McGlynn helped his case probably the most: This isn’t essentially and earthshattering conclusion, but it surely must be mentioned. McGlynn obtained on the ball lots with 104 touches and he dictated the sport. He performed folks into harmful areas and he stored possession. His finest second, after all, got here when he opened the scoring with a incredible bomb of a shot from distance. He then assisted on the third and last aim.

What a shot from McGlynn.. #USMNT #DOOP pic.twitter.com/WfPxgaDgqO

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) January 18, 2025

The query for McGlynn, nevertheless, has all the time been about his skill to assist a group that isn’t dominating possession. We’ve seen this with the U.S. youth nationwide groups and the Philadelphia Union – when his group is controlling the ball, McGlynn can ship and assist flip possession into scoring possibilities.

However the larger query is available in video games the place there must be protection or when midfielders have much less time on the ball. That’s when it turns into harder for McGlynn. This recreation towards Venezuela performed to his strengths however didn’t inform us whether or not he’s reversed his weaknesses.

McGlynn may very nicely be bought this window. Hopefully he’ll discover a place that enables him to succeed in addition to work on his weaknesses as a participant.

As for future USMNT call-ups, it’s doable and it may defend on how wholesome and in-form different choices are. However he’s clearly within the combine and he’s in a greater place now than earlier than.

Jack McGlynn: #USMNT vs Venezuela in 3-1 win90 minutes104 touches86/89 passing 1 goal1 assist7/8 lengthy balls 20 passes into the ultimate 1/33/4 spherical duels0 fouls2 fouls drawn#DOOP

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) January 18, 2025

Agyemang was harmful: Charlotte ahead Patrick Agyemang had a very good recreation and this comes on the heels of a very good season the place he scored 10 objectives in MLS play. In opposition to Venezuela, he drew a penalty, scored his personal aim, and was bodily dominant.

It was a wise option to name up Agyemang and may put him extra within the highlight this yr. As for the U.S. nationwide group shifting ahead, he’s behind many others however he’s behind others which can be both injured now or have been injured for lengthy stretches this season. Ricardo Pepi looks like the best choice. However Folarin Balogun and Haji Wright are injured. Josh Sargent is just now simply returning. Brandon Vazquez shouldn’t be locked into any spot within the pecking order. If the accidents linger, Agyemang would possibly discover his manner onto the Nations League group to backup Pepi.

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) January 18, 2025

Long run, caps and objectives are necessary for constructing worth for a switch value. This didn’t harm Agyemang.

Miljevic’s down after which up efficiency: Matko Miljevic was a controversial call-up given his behavioral points. However I believe that Pochettino would possibly worth gamers who’re edgy and may be confrontational. Miljevic would possibly push issues too far (and in Montreal, it was manner too far) however he has all the time had expertise.

Miljevic, 23, was poor at the beginning of the sport and missed a penalty in addition to one other huge probability to attain. However then he settled down and finally scored the group’s third aim on a pleasant shot from simply exterior the field on a counterattack.

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) January 18, 2025

Miljevic in the end helped his case, however a lot of his profession depends on him discovering a groove together with his new membership, Huracan, and staying out of bother. If he does nicely there, Pochettino could be intrigued to take one other look.

Who else performed nicely or poorly? Other than the aim scorers, I felt that left again Max Arfsten had a very good recreation pushing the ball into the assault and stepping into house nicely. He strikes me as one of many extra underrated American gamers within the MLS pool. His breakout with Columbus got here only a bit too late for him to compete for a spot on the Olympic group final yr. Caden Clark helped his case after resurrecting his profession in Montreal final yr. Folks can neglect how gifted he was when he got here up with the Pink Bulls. Will probably be curious to see how he does over a full season. Benja Cremaschi had some good moments however in the end belongs as a pacesetter on the U.S. U-20 group.

Shaq Moore was principally at fault for the Venezuelan aim when he didn’t recover from and defend the nook kick fast sufficient. Miles Robinson tried to recover from and assist, however was a bit late however the final accountability falls on Moore.

Within the midfield, Brian Gutierrez wasn’t as dynamic as he wanted to be. He wasn’t poor, however he didn’t stand out.

Patrick Schulte was not examined. He didn’t must make any huge saves and there wasn’t a lot he may do on the aim.

Different ideas, Pre Costa-Rica

Anticipate there to be heavy turnover for the Costa Rica pleasant. Walker Zimmerman and Tim Ream ought to begin as they’re main gamers at this camp. Pochettino will doubtless additionally wish to have a look at both Zack Steffen or Matt Freese to get a transparent concept what the pecking order is of his goalkeepers.

Diego Luna got here off the bench towards Venezuela however may begin towards Costa Rica. Miljevic and Luna could be in direct competitors with one another, so Luna must be motivated to play. I additionally assume Brian White will get the possibility to showcase himself and he must be motivated after being one of many prime American scorers in MLS during the last a number of season.

On a last word, McGlynn may not begin on this recreation after working extraordinarily exhausting towards Venezuela. The truth that gamers are nonetheless simply beginning preseason doubtless makes it exhausting for them to start out twice in 4 days. However McGlynn ought to really feel motivated if he is available in a sub  figuring out he’s climbing the ladder shortly on the USMNT depth chart.

However there’s additionally the difficulty of Eire. Their nationwide group is monitoring him and whereas MCGlynn mentioned he’s solely centered on the USMNT, he would possibly solely be keen to attend so lengthy.