The US opened its 2022 World Cup marketing campaign with a really hard-fought however finally disappointing 1-1 draw with Wales. The U.S. opened the sport with an aesthetic purpose from Tim Weah however pale within the second half and had been the victims of a Gareth Bale equalizer from the spot. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks all of it down.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
November 21, 2022
3:30 AM
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THE UNITED STATES opened its 2022 World Cup with a irritating 1-1 draw in opposition to Wales in Qatar. The U.S. workforce began robust to take the lead, however it was Wales that managed the second half, put the U.S. workforce below strain for lengthy stretches, and earned the equalizer.
The consequence felt like two factors squandered and units the U.S. workforce up with its hardest group stage in opposition to England on Friday. With one level now, merely incomes a draw in opposition to England can be large and would put the workforce on a much-improved path in direction of advancing.
By now everybody has seen the sport. The U.S. workforce took the lead within the thirty sixth minute through Tim Weah off a good looking move from Christian Pulisic. However Wales lastly obtained its equalizer within the 82nd minute when Gareth Bale drew a penalty on a foul from Walker Zimmerman after which transformed.
Listed here are some ideas on the sport.
Maturity examined
The most important takeaway I had from this sport is that you can inform that america workforce was each proficient however nonetheless very younger. The primary half revealed their expertise. There was some nice mixture play in midfield and with their fullbacks who had been urgent into the assault. Whereas it was true that their execution or ultimate product was lacking, the US nonetheless managed the sport and was dwelling as much as its sport plan.
After america took the lead, it was clear that it was going to be a really completely different sport. Wales was going to come back out of their shell, and it was going to be a check to see how the younger American workforce would reply.
The response from the US workforce confirmed that the workforce remains to be studying on the excessive ranges of the worldwide sport – which might be very completely different from the membership sport. This appeared to be the kind of sport the place a U.S. workforce with the identical group of gamers, however who’re perhaps solely only a few years older, would discover a approach to win. A bit extra expertise would possibly train them the best way to not concede a lot possession from Wales and the best way to maintain the ball somewhat bit extra and take strain off the again line.
As an alternative, we noticed some inexperience in these kinds of environments on show. With the way in which the US workforce allowed Wales to fully reverse the course of the sport, it was solely a matter of time earlier than their skilled forwards would discover a approach to even the sport.
The most important space of concern was within the midfield within the second half. McKennie clearly was fading and presumably combating an harm. Musah was drained. The depth of the sport was carrying on a variety of gamers.
The U.S. workforce was clearly saved from a loss by the truth that groups had 5 substitutions. The U.S. substitutes all made optimistic impacts on the sport. Brenden Aaronson sprung a number of counterattacks. Kellyn Acosta made an enormous tactical foul that stopped a late Bale purpose from distance with Matt Turner out of place. DeAndre Yedlin pushed into the assault at proper again.
On a optimistic observe, this was a superb studying expertise. A number of these American gamers have performed in big membership video games, however the worldwide sport might be soccer at its most determined when groups have their backs in opposition to the wall. Closing out a World Cup sport is remarkably exhausting and its even more durable for a younger workforce however studying the robust classes of the best way to do it’s the easiest way to be taught.
The U.S. workforce has taken a variety of delight with its youthful look, however there are penalties in missing a important provide of prime-age gamers.
Adams was stellar
Shortly after being named the U.S. workforce’s World Cup captain, Tyler Adams put forth an amazing effort in opposition to Wales. He was phenomenal all sport lengthy and in all areas of the sport. He coated defensively for teammates who had been out of place, he intercepted passes, he sprung counterattacks, he received duels, his tackles had been on level, and his passing was correct.
Adams accomplished 62/69 of his passes, together with 4/5 in lengthy balls. He was profitable in 5/6 of his tackles, 6/9 of his floor duels, and a pair of/3 of his aerials.
Above all of it, he coated 13.13 km within the sport and continued to be sharp later within the sport. He’s most likely the workforce’s most indispensable participant as there is no such thing as a one else who can replicate what he can do on the No. 6.
Want extra offensive chunk
The U.S. workforce completed the sport with one shot. For all of the possession and slick passing the U.S. workforce placed on show within the first half after which on counterattacks within the second half, it by no means put almost sufficient strain on the Wales purpose and Wayne Hennessey didn’t should make one save.
When the U.S. workforce was deep within the half, the ultimate ball was sorely missing. Too many crosses weren’t capable of finding supposed targets, photographs from distance sailed over the bar, by balls had been a fraction too late and had been intercepted. Counterattacks usually needed to be pulled up as a result of runs had been missed.
Set items weaknesses
All all through World Cup qualifying, the U.S. workforce was not getting sufficient out of set items. Corners not often yielded something harmful and free kicks weren’t significantly better.
The explanations for this drawback are on each ends. For as essential as Christian Pulisic is to this workforce, his nook kicks have solely seldomly been harmful. Too usually, it doesn’t get previous the primary defender or it doesn’t discover probably the most harmful targets within the field.
However Pulisic’s job isn’t simple. The workforce has only a few set piece targets who’re actual threats to complete. Within the workforce’s beginning lineup, solely Walker Zimmerman and Weston McKennie are harmful aerial threats near the purpose. If McKennie can’t go, there isn’t one other good goal within the field.
The U.S. continues to be at an obstacle in tight video games with out being harmful on set-pieces. To make it much more of a priority, set piece defending can also be an enormous potential drawback and England might be a workforce with the power to take benefit.
Looking forward to England
There may be not a variety of time till the second sport as England awaits after simply three full days of relaxation. Gregg Berhalter goes to should face some robust questions.
For one, Gio Reyna sat out this sport for precautionary causes attributable to muscle tightness. We don’t but know his availability for Friday however Berhalter clearly can be boosted if he returns.
The primary massive query will come right down to McKennie and his well being. He missed the final three weeks with Juventus earlier than the World Cup and after beginning this sport, he took some robust knocks and pale considerably within the second half. It looks as if there’s a good chance he received’t be capable of begin on Friday.
If McKennie can’t begin, it’s going to come down more likely to Brenden Aaronson or Reyna, if he’s wholesome. Aaronson was very sharp off the bench he very a lot seems like a midfielder versus a winger today.
Pulisic and Weah are seemingly going to proceed to begin on the wings however heart ahead may change. Josh Sargent obtained the nod on this sport and Sargent had a blended sport. Sargent missed a superb likelihood within the first half when his header went simply large however Sargent additionally confirmed a powerful dedication to protection.
It wouldn’t be a shock, nonetheless, if Berhalter makes a change from Sargent in opposition to England and goes with both Haji Wright or Jesus Ferreira. Wright got here off the bench and he strikes effectively however he may need extra success in opposition to Iran. Ferreira is likely to be seen as a participant who can drift again into the midfield and play by the workforce’s wingers.
The identical comes right down to the gamers who picked up yellow playing cards and threat suspensions in opposition to Iran in the event that they decide up a yellow in opposition to Iran – McKennie, Ream, Dest, and Acosta.
Tuesday and Wednesday are going to be telling for Berhalter in who he desires to begin in opposition to England. The U.S. workforce left every thing out on the sphere in opposition to Wales and you can see how exhausted the gamers had been. Pulisic and Musah additionally had been among the many lengthy record of gamers who struggled to stand up within the second half. We’ll know extra about their restoration within the days forward.
But it surely may very effectively depart Berhalter with robust choices about how a lot does he begin a prime potential lineup in opposition to England versus attempting to make sure he has all of his greatest gamers at the absolute best kind for Iran – the place it look an increasing number of seemingly the workforce will want a win to advance.
