ASN: Evaluation: Assessing January camp after USMNT downs Costa Rica 3-0

ASN’s Brian Sciarettabreaks down the USMNT’s win over Costa Rica and places it into perspective when taking a look at this 12 months’s January camp as an entire.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 23, 2025
1:30 PM

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aTHE UNITED STATES NATIONAL workforce wrapped up an excellent January camp on Wednesday evening with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica in Orlando. The camp served its objective in that, by Maurcio Pochettino’s personal admission, it expanded the participant pool, and it continued to present the brand new supervisor an opportunity be taught extra concerning the American participant and the American side of the sport. However among the many requirements of January camp, it was sharper than most up-to-date editions.

Traditionally talking, January camp has been very worthwhile to the U.S. nationwide workforce. Among the greatest gamers within the historical past of the USMNT began in January camp. Even the present participant, has seen gamers like Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie, Tanner Tessmann, Johnny Cardoso, Gianluca Busio, Tim Ream, and Matt Turner come via the camp.

It’s true that with the U.S. nationwide workforce having had a really younger core group the previous 5 years, fewer spots have been open on the USMNT. However that may solely final for thus lengthy and regularly the workforce may have a standard age group with extra roster spots up for grabs regularly. With MLS groups now signing gamers to homegrown offers at youthful age ranges and promoting gamers commonly, extra USMNT gamers will come via MLS.

All of that makes January camp nonetheless extremely related. Managers get a have a look at newer gamers and gamers who might help add depth and gamers be taught what it’s prefer to be a global participant above the youth ranges. That’s one thing Tim Ream careworn this week when recalling his first January camp in 2011 underneath Bob Bradley.

On this camp, there was much more curiosity than lately as a result of Pochettino remains to be within the technique of charting his course for the USMNT. His first two camps have seen him not desirous to take a wrecking ball to the established order and as an alternative type via largely the squad he inherited. Nearly all of the adjustments he made to the rosters for the October and November camps have been resulting from damage.

Completely INCREDIBLE scenes on the TNT postgame desk final evening ???? pic.twitter.com/ILuHu0b1RX

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) January 23, 2025

Ultimately, he will likely be placing his personal stamp on the workforce and nobody precisely is aware of what that may seem like. In fact, the important thing core to the USMNT will stay the identical with Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Antonee Robinson all entrance and heart when wholesome. However there’s a lot up for grabs in a 26-player roster with a tactical strategy that isn’t but set.

That brings us to this January camp. Even with a profitable camp, most of those gamers gained’t be with the complete workforce in March. But it surely’s additionally straightforward to see a state of affairs the place at the least a number of will likely be there, and perhaps some others will likely be on the skin however within the combine for camps past this March. Accidents and dips in kind will occur that mandate adjustments.

5 – 5 straight #USMNT targets have been scored by gamers scoring their first worldwide objective (J. McGlynn, P. Agyemang, M. Miljevic, B. White, C. Clark) for the primary time since 1985-87 (M. Peterson, P. Caligiuri, J. Kerr, B. Murray, T. Hantak). Bunches. pic.twitter.com/WT3CIFHo3r

— OptaJack?? (@OptaJack) January 23, 2025

Listed below are some ideas about win over Costa Rica.

A greater check

The three-0 win over Costa Rica was higher than the 3-1 win over Venezuela just because Costa Rica was a greater workforce which provided a greater check. Costa Rica was aggressive with the press and compelled the U.S. workforce to be higher with its passing to get into the attacking third or attacking half.

Due to that, the U.S. workforce’s efficiency on Wednesday evening in opposition to its CONCACAF rivals was higher and the highest performers could be seen extra positively.

Three high quality targets

The three targets scored in opposition to the Ticos have been all spectacular.

Brian White received the nod in heart ahead and he opened the scoring within the twenty first minute when he made a pleasant run into house, received on the tip of a Diego Luna cross, and fired residence a low shot.

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) January 23, 2025

Caden Clark scored within the 78th minute off a very nice shot when Emeka Eneli, 25, match him a ball from the left facet of the field. Clark was standing straight out from the objective from the sting of the field and scored on a cross that was barely behind him. Even with that ball placement, he received plenty of velocity on it to beat the keeper.

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) January 23, 2025

Patrick Agyemang the capped the scoring within the ninetieth minute on a counter assault as he was performed into the field by DeJuan Jones. The Charlotte FC ahead hit a rocket into the objective for a 3-0 lead.   

Every objective confirmed fairly a little bit of ability.

McGlynn & Agyemang impressed over each video games

Over the course of each video games, essentially the most spectacular gamers have been Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang. Each began and scored in opposition to Venezuela, and each got here off the bench in efficient shifts in opposition to Costa Rica.

Agyemang, 24, scored in each video games and performed simply the ultimate quarter-hour in opposition to Costa Rica. Whereas he didn’t get on the ball terribly a lot, he was efficient most instances he did. He’s nonetheless inexperienced and he wants to return to Charlotte to construct off his 2024 season when he scored 10 targets. But when he can proceed to enhance, he might enhance his standing both with Pochettino or by way of attracting switch curiosity.

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) January 23, 2025

McGlynn, 23, backed up his MOTM efficiency in opposition to Venezuela with a very good 45 minutes in opposition to Costa Rica. In that point, he received on the ball 55 instances (in contrast with 104 instances in opposition to Venezuela in a full 90). He actually did a very good job serving to make the U.S. workforce’s possessions extra harmful.

It have to be stated about McGlynn that these video games performed to his strengths. The questions on McGlynn have all the time been about his position when his workforce has much less of the ball. Can he assist defensively? Can he win balls and spring counter assaults? These questions have been neither requested nor answered within the video games of this January camp.

As an alternative, didn’t be taught something about McGlynn that we didn’t already know – specifically that he’s actually good in a recreation the place his workforce is ball-dominant.

White, Eneli & Luna constructive vs. Costa Rica
 

Towards Costa Rica, essentially the most influential gamers have been Brian White, Emeka Eneli, and Diego Luna.

Diego Luna was the most important winner from this singular recreation. There are three factors to make from his performances.

First, he wanted to have a very good recreation after Matko Miljevic performed nicely in opposition to Venezuela in the identical No. 10 place. If Luna is seeking to set up himself someplace within the participant pool, Miljevic raised the bar considerably.

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) January 23, 2025

Second, he created a number of good possibilities together with an help on the primary objective. Miljevic wasn’t practically pretty much as good on this recreation as he was in opposition to Venezuela. However Luna did what he wanted to do and performed just like the model of himself that folks like.

Third, Luna performed harm after suffered a damaged nostril. If Pochettino charges depth and fervour, enjoying many of the first half harm gave Pochettino what he wished to see from these gamers. It helped Luna stand out. It was very telling what Pochettino stated about Luna after the sport.

 “I was surprised his nose was broken,” Pochettino stated. “I didn’t need to say something as a result of he was bleeding! I stated, ‘How do you feel?’ He stated, ‘Coach, please let me preserve enjoying as a result of at the least after halftime, I will exit.’ The physician stated, ‘Yeah, OK, you go on,’ and the primary motion, help and we scored. I stated, huge balls!”

Eeka Eneli went the gap in opposition to Coata Rica and actually did nicely to dictate the tempo of the sport. What was most spectacular wasn’t his help or 69 accomplished passes (most within the recreation), it was that he additionally added high quality protection. He was 3/3 in his tackles and 5/7 in floor duels. Eneli begins his 2025 12 months off with a very good camp. Now he should construct from this when he returns to Actual Salt Lake. However being efficient in two-way conditions was a very good showcase for him.

Brian White additionally delivered a very good efficiency and didn’t let Patrick Agyemang transfer to far forward of him within the depth chart. His numbers in MLS have been excellent and this recreation noticed that carryover. White has 16 targets in every of his final two seasons with Vancouver and is a menace near objective.

Protection/goalkeeping was nice
 

Pochettino introduced plenty of expertise in goalkeeping and the central defensive positions. Walker Zimmerman, Tim Ream, and Miles Robinson have performed central protection in huge video games for the U.S. workforce.

On this recreation, it labored and it was essential as a result of it allowed the younger and inexperienced midfielders and extensive gamers to assault aggressively figuring out there was competency behind them shielding the objective.

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) January 23, 2025

Not one of the central defenders stood out (and that’s not a foul factor for a defender) however all of them did their jobs. Zack Steffen, in the meantime, made a pair of fine saves.

Cremaschi with the U-20s
 

One of the intriguing call-ups to this camp was Benja Cremaschi who has performed nicely at instances with the superstars of Inter Miami. He additionally has shot up via the U.S. youth ranks when he made the 2024 Olympic workforce enjoying up a cycle. Within the fall, he shifted again right down to the U.S. U-20 workforce the place he featured in wins over France, Chile, and South Korea.

He stays a high teenage prospect for the US, however the very best path for him proper now’s to stay with the U.S. U-20 workforce the place he generally is a chief on the U-20 World Cup later this 12 months. He’s additionally then age-eligible for the 2028 Olympics.

There may be nice path forward for Cremaschi with U.S. Soccer and he will likely be seen within the years forward. The USMNT proper now looks as if a rushed path.

Standing shifting ahead
 

The most important query after January camp is all the time: now what?

It’s all guesswork and solely Pochettino and his workers know the course proper now. By his personal admission, there are actually extra gamers within the participant pool than earlier than camp.

“I think we now have too many players in our mind,” Pochettino stated. “When we need to pick the squad in March for sure in our mind are going to be many players that work here…. I told them from the from the beginning that they need to take these two games very seriously, because if they perform, they will have the possibility to show us in the future.”

 Here’s what I see.

I believe Cremaschi goes again to the U-20 workforce and is a frontrunner there.

Patrick Schulte and Zack Steffen are within the combine for the USMNT proper now. The goalkeeping state of affairs on the workforce is much from apparent. Matt Turner seems to be the No. 1, however his grip on the beginning job is tenuous, at greatest, till he can play commonly. By advantage of enjoying in these two video games, Steffen and Schulte are in that race. As to who’s No. 2 or No. 3, that is still to be seen.

Central protection isn’t fairly settled but. Chris Richards and Mark McKenzie are in good positions proper now. Auston Trusty is beginning essential video games for Celtic, but it surely’s untimely to say he’s a lock call-up. Cameron Carter-Vickers has plenty of expertise however hasn’t been in with Pochettino but. They labored collectively at Tottenham, however CCV didn’t play.

When taking a look at these on this camp, George Campbell might be behind the others. However Tim Ream, Miles Robinson, and Walker Zimmerman are within the combine someplace. No matter who is known as up in March, these might be the set participant pool proper now in central protection. It has been this similar group for years and it’s all the time altering. It would most likely proceed to take action relying on who’s wholesome and enjoying. This group has by no means been settled.

There isn’t any doubt Jack McGlynn helped his case for future call-ups. However he’s competing with Tanner Tessmann, Gianluca Busio, Aidan Morris, and Johnny Cardoso. There are additionally others like James Sands and presumably Lennard Maloney. It’s a troublesome checklist, however McGlynn confirmed that he might help and would possibly make it if others are injured or don’t play. It’s removed from particular, however he’s clearly is within the combine now.

The No. 10 gamers of Diego Luna and Matko Miljevic will likely be attention-grabbing to look at – particularly after neither made the Olympic workforce final 12 months (to be truthful, nobody was clamoring for Miljevic on the time). Regardless of the objective and help in opposition to Venezuela, Luna might be forward of Miljevic – who must settle into the combination rapidly at Huracan.

Legend. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/c4xsoIulNv

— Main League Soccer (@MLS) January 23, 2025

As an attacking midfielder/winger, Luna is behind plenty of established gamers like Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah (who isn’t in a set place), Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson, and Gio Reyna. However what are the chances that each one these gamers are wholesome and/or enjoying? Luna might be on the sting, but it surely’s straightforward to see Pochettino liking Luna and desirous to get extra seems to be at him.

Caden Clark is in the same boat and he performed nicely, however he most likely wants extra time with Montreal after solely reviving his profession the previous few months.

The middle ahead pool proper now’s deep however very injured (or simply getting back from damage). Ricardo Pepi looks as if the highest choice now however behind him is an injured Folarin Balogun, an injured Haji Wright, an solely not too long ago returned Josh Sargent, and a Brandon Vazquez who hasn’t been in fine condition on the membership stage since 2023. If the pool stays that banged up, perhaps White or Agyemang might sneak again into the combination for March. It would require some luck, however it’s attainable.

James Sands moved to St. Pauli earlier than January camp and John Tolkin left January camp early as he moved to Holstein Kiel. Each gamers are additionally firmly within the combine, however Tolkin has the clearest opening because the backup left again place behind Antonee Robinson is up for grabs.

It doesn’t matter what, all of the gamers must return to their golf equipment and do nicely. This camp has simply elevated their alternatives and broadened their horizons.