Led by a stout central protection pairing, a assured goalkeeper, and a slew of central midfielders, Andi Herzog’s U.S. U-23 group will start its last Olympics qualifying push in Kansas Metropolis.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
September 30, 2015
10:50 PM
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KANSAS CITY, KAN.—In 2012 america U-23 group dropped a 2-0 choice to Canada that set the stage for an unbelievable elimination from Olympic qualifying within the group phases. Now, because the Individuals kicks off qualifying on Thursday for Rio 2016 (9pm ET, NBC Universo), the upset-minded Canadians as soon as once more stand of their approach.
America will seemingly be anchored by a well-known defensive unit, with the New York Purple Bulls’ Matt Miazga and Tottenham’s Cameron Carter-Vickers in central protection and Zack Steffen in web for what will probably be their third event collectively in 2015. This standout trio conceded simply three targets for the U.S. within the U-20 World Cup qualifying event and the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Steffen is the No. 1 keeper by default. U.S. head coach Andi Herzog introduced that Molde’s beginning keeper, Ethan Horvath, wouldn’t be a part of the U.S. group till after the second group stage sport, when the worldwide break opens.
Miazga, in the meantime, is likely one of the fastest-rising gamers in American soccer, and Herzog predicted the New Jersey native will probably be on the senior nationwide group in “months, not years.” Carter-Vickers is one other extremely regarded younger participant, having just lately been named captain of Tottenham’s U-21 aspect. The 17-year-old is the youngest participant on this U.S. squad—so younger, actually, that he’s additionally eligible for the 2020 Olympics.
In central midfield, Herzog will select from quite a lot of versatile choices together with Luis Gil, Wil Trapp, Marc Pelosi, Matt Polster, Fatai Alashe, Gedion Zelalem, and Emerson Hyndman.
The ahead place is equally simple because of Stanford’s Jordan Morris, who has frolicked with the complete nationwide group this yr regardless of his novice standing. Morris has not performed with the U-23 group since this summer time’s Toulon Match, and since then has undergone surgical procedure on his leg to alleviate a stress fracture.
Probably the most important space for concern on the U.S. is an absence of pure large gamers in each the again and in midfield. Colorado’s Dillon Serna maybe epitomizes the purpose: Anticipate to see him at proper again, despite the fact that he has primarily performed as a winger all through his skilled profession.
The absences on the U.S. group are important. Hertha Berlin’s John Brooks and Sunderland’s DeAndre Yedlin are with the complete nationwide group as an alternative of the U-23 group. Rubio Rubin was not launched by Utrecht, and central defender Shane O’Neill suffered an sickness this month that compelled him off the group.
The Individuals’ strategy on this event should not shock anybody. Many of the assault will undergo the center. If it is ready to discover efficient large choices regardless of the awful look on paper, the group will seemingly have a really efficient event; if not, the U.S. can have face issues as opponents concede area out large and clog the center.
When Canada defeated america in Nashville again in 2012, it got here out in a really defensive 4-3-2-1 formation that gave the U.S. group loads of possession however little in the best way of significant probabilities. Canada then capitalized by itself restricted probabilities and got here away with a surprising victory.
Almost 4 years later, the gamers could also be totally different however the Canadians seemingly will use an analogous technique—particularly contemplating that ahead Cyle Larin, the runaway rookie of the yr in MLS, goes to be with Canada’s senior group as an alternative.
The underside line? The Individuals possess extra particular person expertise than Canada or any of its different group stage opponents. The query is whether or not Herzog has assembled a squad that may assault utilizing the entire subject and keep away from a direct, one-dimensional strategy.
Qualifying for the Olympics is a high precedence for Jurgen Klinsmann, and the coach and technical director hand-picked Herzog to guide this group. This event will probably be a significant measuring stick for Klinsmann in his function because the federation’s technical director.
