ASN: USMNT preview: embracing the chilly, fixing set items, and lineup concerns

America is about for a battle within the chilly in a crucial house World Cup qualifier towards El Salvador in Columbus. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta gives up a preview. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 26, 2022
4:10 PM

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THE UNITED STATES IS looking forward to Thursday night time’s World Cup qualifier towards El Salvador in Columbus and one of the crucial often talked about subjects of dialogue was the chilly climate – which is scheduled to be beneath freezing at kick-off.

The narrative popping out of the nationwide crew camp, nevertheless, has been completely different than one may anticipate. As a substitute of the groaning you’d anticipate of enjoying in sub-freezing temperatures, gamers have been expressing pleasure.

“It’s obviously cold out here but you know something that I’ve been used to growing up in New York and playing Academy games throughout the winter on turf fields,” Tyler Adams mentioned. “You’re used to pushing this cold to the side and being able to play and enjoy it. The cold is not going to stop us from doing what we do. If anything, it’s just going to cause us to run a little bit more to stay warm.”

“I’ve definitely played in snow before I played in Colorado in a snowy game when you can’t see where out of bounds was on the field and using an orange ball,” Adams added. “I’ve undoubtedly performed in some, some undoubtedly powerful circumstances however for me, it would not matter on the finish of the day the chilly is a chilly in Germany. It is chilly not fairly as chilly as right here but but it surely’s getting there.”

Ahead Gyasi Zardes is the participant most accustomed to the environment as he performs for the Columbus Crew and is used to town, the local weather, and the crew’s stunning new stadium.

“I’m used to the cold weather now and I feel like the group we had two days to train here in Columbus and it’s actually a beautiful day. The sun is out, the snow is cleared off the field, so we’re embracing it. We’re looking forward to playing in this weather.”

Climate for kickoff is predicted to be round 28 levels with clouds. There may be the possibility of snow earlier within the day earlier than kickoff.

Central defender Walker Zimmerman took the passion to a different degree. He remembers watching basic video games which were performed within the snow – together with the “Snow Classico” when america defeated Costa Rica 1-0 in driving snow in a World Cup qualifier on March 22, 2013. There may be additionally the primary time america hosted Mexico in Columbus in 2001 which basically began the “Dos-a-Cero” theme.

This recreation is unlikely to begin such a rivalry because the U.S. and Mexico neither is it more likely to have the accumulating snow of the Snow Classico, but it surely may make for a memorable night time.

“I want it to be freezing. I want to be cold. I want snow,” Zimmerman said. “I wish to be part of one thing so iconic that I noticed and actually bear in mind rising up. So, I feel the blokes are able to embrace it, embrace the chilly.”

After all, El Salvador might be in for a impolite awakening and so they sit seventh within the eight-team Octagonal. The crew is managed by former U.S. World Cup attacker Hugo Perez and performed effectively on the Gold Cup however has struggled in World Cup qualifying.

The query over hos the circumstances will encourage their crew stays to be seen. On one hand, it may demoralize them because the crew’s World Cup hopes are distant. Alternatively, it may encourage them and awaken and underdog spirit. A number of of El Salvador’s gamers together with Eriq Zavaleta and Alex Roldan (each American born) are used to enjoying in colder environments in MLS.

One of many extra shifting tales got here from U.S. nationwide crew left again Antonee Robinson who was born and raised in England. Whereas the northern United States is usually colder, Robinson as soon as once more echoed a theme of pleasure in enjoying on this climate.

“I’m not a stranger to snow,” Robinson mentioned. “It’s kind of takes me back to when I was younger. I remember Boxing Day was a big thing in my Sunday league team. We used to play dads versus lads. So all the sons would be playing against the dads on a snowy pitch. That was some of the happiest football I’ve ever played. Taking it back to that, it’s going to be something to enjoy. I haven’t played on snow in a long time. I’m really looking forward to it. I think a lot of the lads are going to embrace the conditions.”

pic.twitter.com/E326UYixW8

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) January 27, 2022

On the flip facet, whereas the U.S. crew is embracing the chilly, there may be additionally warning that the sport won’t precisely be fairly.

“The conditions, they’re going to be difficult for both teams,” Robinson mentioned. “It might not end up being the prettiest game of football. It could end up being a grind. And that’s why you’ve got to sort of switch mentality over to – you know what? I just want to grind it and I want it more than the other team.”

Set Items

With the circumstances not conducive to enjoying a fairly recreation, it may really profit El Salvador. Whether or not or not it’s wind, mud, snow, chilly, fog, or heavy raid – antagonistic circumstances can function a technique to neutralize an enormous expertise hole.

Additionally, set items turn into an increasing number of essential. Whereas the U.S. crew thrived on set items in the summertime at each Nations League and the Gold Cup (profitable the ultimate on a set piece), the crew has been poor to date in World Cup qualifying. The crew has scored no targets through set items and has not even generated many harmful possibilities. On the flip facet, it has conceded one set piece aim within the 1-0 loss to Panama in October.

“Right now, we’re minus one on set pieces,” Gregg Beralter defined. “We’ve given up one goal and we haven’t scored any on set pieces. So, that is a concern. We want to be in the green, we want to be positive in that we think we have a strong team in the air. We think we have a strong team on an offensive set pieces. And we’ve proven that. When you think about Gold Cup or Nations League combined in the two finals, we scored four set piece goals. We know we have it in us and we just need to execute a little bit better on the offensive side. And defensively, I think we’ve been fine. We’ve been solid. We haven’t given up much.”

What are a few of the options in Columbus? Walker Zimmerman is likely one of the finest set piece targets and that might turn out to be useful. There may be additionally Weston McKennie who has been superb within the air this previous month with Juventus. The middle ahead towards El Salvador will both be Ricardo Pepi or Gyasi Zardes and both of them should be a risk. Mixed with both Miles Robinson or Chris Richards as the opposite central defender, these are the prime set piece targets.

When it comes to supply, Christian Pulisic will doubtless take his share of nook kicks and free kicks. Whereas he’s normally anticipated to be a key contributory, set piece supply will probably be an essential process for him towards El Salvador.

Lineup concerns

There are a number of concerns heading into the sport towards El Salvador. Zack Steffen was nonetheless in England as of final night time getting remedy for a lingering again damage. This places Matt Turner again into the beginning lineup. The New England goalkeeper is linked to Arsenal throughout this camp because the switch window winds down.

DeAndre Yedlin was additionally late to arriving in camp after a storm in Turkey delayed his flight. The correct again was lately launched by Galatasaray and is mulling his subsequent membership state of affairs. Along with his late arrival, it appears as if Reggie Cannon will function the backup to presumed starter Sergino Dest.

There are a number of issues. Tyler Adams is enjoying on a yellow card and if he picks up one towards El Salvador, he’s suspended for the Canada recreation. If Berhalter saves Adams for Canada, search for Kellyn Acosta to go in his place.

Central protection appears fairly opening and at this level, Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, and Chris Richards all have a very good likelihood of beginning. Provided that Zimmerman performed in December and has been sturdy with the nationwide crew and Richards is in midseason, that looks as if a very good risk.

One place that’s powerful to foretell is true wing. Assuming Pulisic begins on the left, will or not it’s Brenden Aaronson (who performs on both facet) on the left or Tim Weah? With Aaronson not having performed in over a month (not together with friendlies), Tim Weah may get the nod.

One essential consideration is that Berhalter mentioned he thought there may very well be vital turnover within the wing positions.

Up prime, Ricardo Pepi is in season and may get the nod though given a troublesome begin at Augsburg, Berhalter may flip to Gyasi Zardes in his house stadium.

Predicted lineup

GK: Matt Turner

RB: Sergino Dest

CB: Walker Zimmerman

CB: Chris Richards

LB: Antonee Robinson

CM: Tyler Adams

CM: Weston McKennie

CM: Yunus Musah

LW: Christian Pulisic

RW: Tim Weah

FW: Ricardo Pepi