The U.S. group was run off the sphere by Colombia in DC after the visitor loved a robust begin and an emphatic end en path to a 5-1. It is a end result that may create pessimism for the U.S. group forward of the Copa America and go away Gregg Berhalter looking for solutions rapidly. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta provides his ideas.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
June 09, 2024
11:00 AM
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THE UNITED STATES males’s nationwide group is in a foul place heading into internet hosting the celebrated Copa America following an embarrassing 5-1 loss to Colombia on Saturday in Landover, Md. There actually weren’t any positives to take from this sport. As an alternative, the one query is how the U.S. group will reply? Will the group dig deep after getting a wake-up name? Or, will the group enter a tailspin?
After all, Colombia is a wonderful group which hasn’t misplaced in 22 video games and has crushed some excellent groups throughout that stretch. Sadly for the U.S. group, CONCACAF can present a false sense of positivity, an issue that turns into magnified when Mexico is in a foul place as effectively.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter rolled out about as sturdy of a lineup as attainable given the damage to Josh Sargent and Sergino Dest together with the extraordinarily restricted season from Tyler Adams. However even with a robust lineup, there have been nonetheless a number of considerations.
Is Johnny Cardoso prepared for a beginning midfield job after transfer to Actual Betis? He has but to have this degree of accountability but with the USMNT. Joe Scally had an up and down season for Borussia Monchengladbach, however might he assist substitute Sergino Dest? Folarin Balogun noticed his manufacturing drop huge time in Ligue 1 at Monaco, however might he lastly develop good chemistry with the USMNT, which had been missing? Is Tim Ream nonetheless a starter as his thirty seventh birthday approaches? Gio Reyna is coming off his third straight season of lower than 650 membership minutes. Can he be the driving force of an assault towards group? Tim Weah equally solely performed 1300 minutes for Juventus. He’s been a USMNT starter for years however is he within the wanted rhythm? Then you’ve Matt Turner who Nottingham Forest was decided to interchange this season after importing two costly keepers. Now a backup at Forest, is Turner prepared?
Profitable the Nations League and having gamers hooked up to huge and prestigious golf equipment may need supplied a false sense of safety over how good this group actually is. However while you have a look at the amont of gamers who’re each snug with the USMNT and who’re in good type on the membership degree, there are too many query marks to be very assured towards a proficient group that can also be taking part in very effectively.
Regardless of all that, the end result and the efficiency was worse than anticipated – particularly the final quarter-hour when the U.S. group suffered a mix of giving up and never studying any lesson from the primary 75 minutes when it was clear the U.S. group wanted to respect Colombia extra because the U.S. pushed for an equalizer. It was throughout this time when Colombia scored their ultimate three objectives.
Indubitably, Colombia was good and in command. They scored the primary two objectives early and the ultimate three objectives late. The in-between noticed the U.S. have their probabilities and stretches the place they managed the run of play. Nevertheless it was nothing Colombia couldn’t handle earlier than discovering one other gear.
As is commonly the case with nice groups, they don’t have to be at their finest for all 90 minutes. As an alternative, they’ve stretches the place they overwhelm. And the U.S. group had been overwhelmed.
Listed here are some ideas in regards to the U.S. group’s robust outing.
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Staff (@USMNT) June 8, 2024
Whole group protection missing
The U.S. group’s protection was unhealthy. This was the worst factor that went incorrect for the People on the day. There was no sense of urgency among the many U.S. group once they didn’t have the ball. The group took pointless dangers with the ball and once they misplaced it, they weren’t ready to be in a correct defensive form.
They left approach an excessive amount of area, had been too informal with the ball and had been dispossessed, and as soon as dispossessed, didn’t get again into form defensively fast sufficient. The central defenders weren’t good, however the U.S. group misplaced this sport due to the full group protection – particularly within the midfield and on the wings. The central defenders had been typically frolicked to dry and put in unhealthy positions.
From the beginning lineup, McKennie, Reyna, and Cardoso particularly struggled on the defensive aspect whereas Malik Tillman and Yunus Musah had been supplied no enchancment defensively. There was an excessive amount of ball watching and an absence of urgency in closing down on gamers with the ball.
Offensively, the U.S. group scored as soon as, hit the put up one other time, and had just a few different probabilities. However towards excellent groups, that issues little until the defensive effort is there.
Not medical
Sure, it’s true that if the U.S. group took benefit of some shut probabilities when the sport was shut that it might have been completely different. The sport was inside attain till the 77th minute. Colombia additionally missed some excellent probabilities that would have made the rating even worse. However the U.S. group must be extra medical when confronted towards groups with extra expertise, and no one can change the very fact Colombia has extra expertise that the U.S. group proper now.
Balo slips in, and almost ranges ???? pic.twitter.com/HTgxFrTklA
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Staff (@USMNT) June 8, 2024
The U.S. group nonetheless doesn’t get sufficient manufacturing out of the No. 9 place however Balogun’s issues are linked with Monaco as effectively. It’s true that Balogun had an help and almost had a objective as effectively. However his total yr at Monaco was tormented by near-misses. His chemistry with the U.S. group stays a priority.
Nightmare for ultimate quarter-hour
The ultimate quarter-hour had been horrific from the U.S. group. The U.S. group was inside attain as much as that time (though nonetheless far behind the standard of Colombia). However the final time the U.S. had such a poor stretch was towards Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier in 2016 that led to Jurgen Klinsmann getting fired.
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 8, 2024
As Berhalter stated after the sport, it was an absence of respect for the opponent and the game. It was very sturdy phrases, and the gamers who had been on the sphere at the moment – particularly the substitutes – might be in a tricky spot for taking part in time on the Copa America.
Depth
One of many criticisms of the group on the 2022 World Cup was how little of the 26-man roster the group used. The beginning lineup modified solely barely, and the starters had been drained by the knockout stage.
Quick ahead 18 months later, how a lot completely different are issues? Accidents have compelled Tyler Adams and Sergino Dest. Chris Richards is wholesome. However the modifications to the group usually are not important. The most important additions to the group have been Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman, and Folarin Balogun and none of them have satisfied for the USMNT regardless of having membership success over the previous two seasons.
The issue for the U.S. group is that it has been largely stagnant for the reason that World Cup. It’s principally the identical gamers. Berhalter used 17 gamers towards Colombia. Of these 17, 12 had been on the 2022 World Cup group. Of the 5 that didn’t make the World Cup group, 4 had been a part of the general participant pool main as much as the World Cup (Cardoso, Pepi, and Tillman had been among the many final reduce whereas Richards didn’t make the group due to an damage). Solely Balogun has been added to the pool.
Generally change and turnover is sweet. If not, issues can grow to be stale – even with a younger group. However has the U.S. group constructed up sufficient depth for there to be turnover? Are sufficient gamers pushing by way of?
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 8, 2024
That is notably true proper now at a time when an sincere have a look at the gamers reveals that many didn’t enter this camp on the heels of excellent seasons.
Of the 17 gamers who performed on this sport, solely Pulisic, McKennie, Richards, Robinson, Cardoso (counting his 2023 season in Brazil), Tillman, Carter-Vickers, and Wright had seasons the place they performed effectively over the stability of a 2000+ season. Of these eight gamers, solely three performed greater than 45 minutes towards Colombia.
The U.S. group actually can use the Olympic group to churn out gamers who can push and supply competitors among the many broader USMNT participant pool. That may enable Berhalter to pick from a broader pool of gamers who’re taking part in effectively at a selected time versus calling up the identical group no matter type.
Scores
The starters
Matt Turner: He solely made one save, an excellent one on James Rodriguez within the second half, however was principally frolicked to dry. Ranking: 4.5
Antonee Robinson: Often one of many U.S. group’s most computerized gamers was at fault for the primary objective. He had just a few good moments the place he created probabilities for Balogun and Pulisic however defensively had a tricky sport. Ranking: 5.0
Tim Ream: The Fulham centerback had botched clearance that led to the second Colombian objective and was gradual to react different instances. However he fortunately left within the 62nd minute earlier than the group collapsed. Ranking: 5.0
Chris Richards: The Crystal Palace central defender didn’t make any obtrusive errors, however wasn’t nice both. Ranking: 4.5
Joe Scally: The Borussia Monchengladbach was invisible for a lot of the match, which was in all probability factor in contrast together with his teammates. Ranking: 4.5
Weston McKennie: The USMNT mainstay wasn’t capable of have a constructive affect on both aspect of the ball however he left within the 71st with the sport nonetheless in attain. Ranking: 4.5
Gio Reyna: The Nottingham Forest attacking mid had just a few very good moments that helped the U.S. create just a few uncommon harmful probabilities. Nevertheless it was removed from sufficient. Ranking: 5.5
Johnny Cardoso: If this begin was an audition to be an possibility to interchange Tyler Adams, it was not a constructive assertion. Regardless of a robust season with Actual Betis, Cardoso continues to be on the lookout for a breakthrough with the USMNT. On this case, he additionally struggled on the defensive aspect of the ball and was not good in possession. Ranking: 4.0
Tim Weah: the veteran winger from Juventus scored the one USMNT objective on a really spectacular play that additionally noticed him concerned within the buildup on the play. His most important blemish was when he misplaced the ball on Colombia’s fourth objective. Ranking: 6.0
Christian Pulisic: The U.S. group’s captain hit the put up off a header within the first half and had just a few good moments in his in any other case forgettable 45 minutes. Ranking: 5.0
Folarin Balogun: the U.S. attacker struggled together with his chemistry at instances as evident by him not getting almost sufficient touches (17 touches in 72 minutes), however nonetheless assisted on Weah’s objective and noticed early probability go huge. Ranking: 4.5
Substitutes
Haji Wright: The Coventry winger got here on to begin the second half and introduced a bit of little bit of life into the sport early within the half with some harmful probabilities – together with a header going simply over the crossbar. However he light later within the sport. Ranking: 5.0
Cameron Carter-Vickers: The Celtic central defender had a nightmare after coming into the sport within the 62nd minute. In his first minutes of motion, his mistake gifted Colombia an important probability. Then his unhealthy go led to Colombia’s fourth objective. Ranking: 3.5
Malik Tillman: The PSV attacker additionally got here into the sport within the 62nd minute and had a poor efficiency – particularly on the defensive finish. He was a part of the group’s defensive collapse late. Ranking: 3.5
Yunus Musah: The AC Milan midfielder was additionally lower than the velocity defensively after getting into within the 71st minute. He was additionally dispossessed twice. Ranking: 3.5
Ricardo Pepi: The PSV ahead changed Balogun within the 71st minute however couldn’t become involved. He had no pictures, one half-chance, and 7 touches in his 19 minutes. Ranking: 4.0
Luca de la Torre: The Celta Vigo midfielder got here into the sport within the 83rd minute amid the collapse however was a non-factor. Ranking: NR
Wanting ahead
I usually don’t give managers scores in friendlies since there are numerous priorities at play. Managers try to present gamers probabilities (typically with predetermined substitutes), experiment, and are sometimes not making choices to solely obtain the end result.
However Berhalter has created a state of affairs the place a pre-tournament pleasant has given rise to questions and considerations when the objective ought to have been about constructing confidence and fine-tuning the squad. Was this a confidence crusher? Are some gamers simply not prepared for a significant match just like the Copa America? Is Berhalter going to lose confidence in gamers and return to a World Cup state of affairs the place he closely depends on his starters and restricted bench gamers?
That’s not good.
Jedi + CP10 knocking ? pic.twitter.com/xygCRvxo87
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Staff (@USMNT) June 8, 2024
When you’re going to be an optimist, the one good factor is that the sport was inside attain earlier than a sequence of substitutions struggled on the defensive aspect. If the sport had mattered, gamers like McKennie, Ream, and Pulisic wouldn’t have come out. Additionally, Robinson has earned the good thing about the doubt. He made unhealthy mistake on the primary objective, however he’s been so persistently good for years that there ought to be confidence that he received’t be mistake inclined within the Copa.
The massive concern for Berhalter must be why the anticipated upgrades within the group – particularly Cardoso and Tillman – usually are not figuring out. Gamers like Balogun and Reyna got here into this camp as wild playing cards given their uneven membership seasons. However Cardoso and Tillman have been actually good the previous yr, however each have been far off their membership type with the USMNT. That turns into a problem heading into the Copa America.
Berhatler has to see how a lot he can get from wild playing cards like Reyna and Tyler Adams whereas figuring out if Cardoso and Tiillman may be trusted in huge Copa minutes. Then, are there another choices he can use?
Subsequent up for the USMNT is Brazil. Sure, it’s only a pleasant. However the group wants each solutions to questions and a efficiency that may give them momentum getting into a significant match on dwelling soil – the place Berhalter and the group can in poor health afford issues to go poorly.
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