ASN: Potential last USMNT – Mexico qualifier comes at a essential time for each groups

The USMNT and Mexico may be taking part in the ultimate World Cup qualifier of their storied rivalry and it comes at a time when the U.S. wants a outcome and Mexico wants a win at Azteca to make sure qualification for Qatar. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta previews the sport. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
March 23, 2022
4:05 PM

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THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL group takes on Mexico in an essential World Cup qualifier at Azteca stadium. The standings stay tight heading into the ultimate three video games of the Octagonal qualifying spherical and Gregg Berhalter’s group is taking a look at a scenario the place it in all probability wants 4 factors from the approaching three video games to make sure qualification. Something much less would require numerous assist.

There are numerous points for the U.S. group heading into these video games and the largest two are: 1) the accidents to key gamers corresponding to Matt Turner, Brenden Aaronson, Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, and Weston McKennie and a pair of) the restricted minutes to different gamers on the roster over the previous month. This would come with Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams, and Tim Weah.

For Mexico, it comes into the sport in third place within the Octagon – trailing Canada by 4 factors and trailing the USMNT on purpose differential. It has a good schedule however a slip up agianst the U.S. group might severely complicate their effort. 

There are numerous points Berhalter should cope with to make sure that the group will get the required factors. The largest check is that two of the video games this window would require ends in Azteca and San Jose – two locations it has by no means received.

For Berhalter, this requires not simply managing one sport, however taking an strategy with all three video games in thoughts.

Here’s a take a look at some points heading into the sport in opposition to Mexico, how I believe the strategy will probably be, and the way I believe the group will line up.

Will the USMNT play its finest XI in Azteca?

The large query heading into the sport in opposition to Azteca is whether or not the U.S. group will area its strongest group in Azteca figuring out {that a} win over Panama within the second sport is probably much more essential.

Berhalter gave an fascinating quote about this.

“I heard that argument: we should play a B team,” Berhalter stated. “What I did is I took it to the staff, and we debated it, and we looked at all sides of it. We said: does this have merit? I think it was an important exercise to do for us to be able to do that. We came out with our answer, and you’ll see tomorrow.”

For anybody being attentive to the U.S. group below Berhalter, this was a really “un-Berhalter” factor to say. He not often likes to name something a “B-team.” He by no means actually known as the 2021 Gold Cup group the “B-team” regardless of it being solely totally different from the Nations League profitable group.

Additionally, and even perhaps extra importantly, there actually isn’t a “B-team” at this stage. With these three-game home windows and accidents affecting most groups, there’s at all times going to be squad rotation built-in. For a wide range of causes, nearly each sport is a mix of the highest 15-18 gamers. It’s two tough to begin the perfect XI each sport.

This isn’t only for the USMNT both. Canada is atop the Octagon and elite gamers like Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan, and Cyle Larin have all had essential moments off the bench. Christian Pulisic has scored two targets to date within the Octagon and each have been when he got here off the bench.

Underneath the format of the Octagon, most lineups are a mix of A/B gamers and that’s in all probability what we’ll see within the USMNT lineup on Thursday evening. It can in all probability have many of the accessible core collectively together with some consideration of yellow playing cards given plus just a few “coin-flip” choices being made with consideration of future video games.

Berhalter’s unpredictable feedback

Berhalter addressed the media on Wednesday and didn’t actually reveal a lot of something substantive. He refused to tip his hand in any questions over who he would begin.

Along with leaving it open whether or not he would begin a “B-team” regardless of his reluctance to make use of that time period prior to now, Berhalter additionally made feedback which have been fairly atypical of him.

“Our record here is horrendous,” Berhalter stated about taking part in in Azteca. “The odds are against us getting something out of this game, right? We know that. We realize that, and that’s just how it is. We’re focused on going in and being difficult to play against. But we certainly do have confidence from you know from how we grew as a team in those three games [in 2021 where the U.S. defeated Mexico three times].”

The U.S. group has certainly by no means received a World Cup qualifier in Azteca however it has walked away with attracts in its final two qualifiers to the storied Mexico Metropolis venue (1-1 in 2017 and 0-0 in 2013). If the USMNT walks away from Azteca with a draw on Thursday evening, it will likely be an enormous step ahead within the qualifying marketing campaign and any U.S. fan would gladly take that outcome.

So as a substitute of publicly saying that momentum is on the aspect of the U.S. group in Azteca (which might be anticipated of him), Berhalter is channeling the underdog position.

Berhalter’s feedback are learn not simply by U.S. followers and media, but in addition by Mexico gamers, followers, and media.

Berhalter has been fairly unpredictable along with his feedback and it has yielded no clues about his strategy or the group’s true mindset heading into this qualifier.

Predicted Lineup

How will Berhalter lineup his group? It won’t be the “first choice” beginning XI, however it’s actually not going to be solely backups. Per ordinary, it’s in all probability going to be a hybrid mixture.

Here’s what I’m going with:

Goalkeeper: Zack Steffen
Proper again: Reggie Cannon
Central protection: Miles Robinson
Central protection: Walker Zimmerman
Left again: Antonee Robinson
Midfielder: Tyler Adams
Midfielder: Kellyn Acosta
Midfielder: Yunus Musah
Winger: Christian Pulisic
Winger: Jordan Morris
Ahead: Jesus Ferreira

A couple of notes about this.

First, I believe with Zack Steffen again, Berhalter will wish to go along with one in all his two high goalkeepers. Steffen may solely now simply be returning to well being, however he has a component of belief and luxury with the group. If it isn’t Steffen, it will likely be Horvath.

At proper again, Reggie Cannon gave the impression to be forward of DeAndre Yedlin in conditions when Dest wasn’t beginning or was subbed off. It’s arduous to see that pecking order being disrupted.

In midfielder there are numerous robust choices. Beginning Tyler Adams on a yellow card is dangerous however Acosta is sweet sufficient to get the job finished in Orlando in opposition to Panama ought to Adams be suspended. This manner, you’ll have Adams for each of the street video games – the place he’s most wanted.

Beginning Acosta and Adams collectively isn’t going to be nice in possession, however the U.S. by no means has numerous possession in Azteca. Changing McKennie is extraordinarily tough, however Acosta and Adams does present some protection. Towards Panama, an Adams-Luca de la Torre pairing could be extra prudent (or Acosta – de la Torre within the occasion of an Adams suspension).

Within the different midfield place, Yunus Musah is an aggressive dribble who might work properly in opposition to Mexico and having two extra defensive midfielders behind him would restrict how expensive his turnovers might be.

Up high, Jesus Ferreira in all probability will get the nod over Jordan Pefok on this sport on condition that the wanted service for Pefok to be efficient in all probability isn’t going to be there. He might doubtlessly be invisible for lengthy stretches the place Ferreira can even drift again into the midfield to make performs for his wingers.

As for the wingers, Pulisic is in type and is match. He’s the perfect U.S. participant on this roster and also needs to be match for the Panama sport as properly. The opposite wing place might fall to Jordan Morris, who usually likes to play as a left winger however might change with Pulisic throughout the sport. Morris isn’t an ideal match each sort of sport, however this sport in opposition to Mexico ought to provide him some area to run on counter assaults. Tim Weah isn’t going to have the ability to begin all three video games this window and he may be higher match for a sport the place the U.S. goes to be on the entrance foot extra. Morris is a straight counter-attacker.

There may be some speak about Gio Reyna’s position and whereas his return is huge for the U.S. group, it is arduous to see him beginning in Azteca. He appeared drained over the weekend in a begin in opposition to Koln. He performed properly and went 90 minutes, however was drained the ultimate 20. At Azteca, he would in all probability be drained sooner. It’s miles simpler to see him coming off the bench in opposition to Mexico. 

The Mexico WCQ finale

One last word, and a little bit of a bittersweet story, is that this very properly might be the ultimate installment of this nice rivalry in a World Cup qualifying setting. Neither group will participate in World Cup qualifying for the 2026 cycle. After that, CONCACAF will transfer ahead with six spots in a 48-team World Cup area.

Nothing has been decided but, however it is extremely simple to see CONCACAF altering its format to deal with that variety of spots and a single desk (the Hex, now the Octagon) may now not make sense. If it goes into a number of tables, the U.S. and Mexico will virtually certainly be seeded in numerous tables.

It’s unhappy in a manner as a result of whereas the Gold Cup (and most not too long ago the nascent Nations League) has given some nice installments in rivalry, the World Cup qualifiers have been the center of USA-Mexico. Sure, there have been some nice friendlies and a very powerful installment occurred on the 2002 World Cup (with out forgetting the knockout win on the 1995 Copa America the place the united statesadvanced in a shootout), the common installments in Ohio and Azteca have been probably the most defining chapters.

This rivalry has by no means been extra essential than it’s now, and now it’s coming at a time when its future is fairly unsure.