The Athletic is live coverage of USA vs. Netherlands during the World Cup 2022 match.
The USA will have to prove it in Qatar after a painful failure to qualify for the last World Cup in Russia four years ago. More Americans than ever before are playing for Europe’s top clubs, some even dubbing it the ‘Golden Generation’. All that’s left to do is smash the defenses of Wales, Iran and England…
manager
Former head coach of the Columbus Crew, Greg Berhalter, a two-World Cup veteran in the United States, is considered one of the best coaches in MLS, leading the Crew to an MLS Cup runner-up and eventual was adopted by US Soccer. His mission is to pull the American out of the shadow of a failed 2018 qualifying bid.
Burhalter took over the national team, hoping to replicate the 4-2-3-1 system he used in Columbus. His team played from behind and adopted a possession-oriented style. But over time, these tactics have adapted to his pool of players best suited for transition. The United States are now playing in his much less restricted 4-3-3 and are at their best when there are threats on the side.
Berhalter is a polarizing figure in American football. Some fans complained that the fact that he was the chief business officer of football when his brother Jay Verhalter was hired was a factor in getting him the job. I’m here. (US Soccer claims Jay Burhalter has declined a coaching bid.)
The United States won two trophies, the Nations League and the Gold Cup, by beating rivals Mexico in the summer of 2021. Fans have lost their composure. This means Bahalter is heading to Qatar without the support of some die-hard supporters.
To casual fans, Berhalter may soon become known for his sideline presence. He often uses behind and bounce passes to get the ball back to the player for a throw-in. He’s also garnered attention for his selection of Nike sneakers in rotation.
Greg Berhalter hangs out on the touchline in Nike sneakers (Photo: Getty)
The name of a house you’ve never heard of
19-year-old Yunus Musser seems to have come out of nowhere to go to his native America, but the former England U-18 captain has developed into one of the team’s most important players. Musser is a central midfielder who is very capable of dribbling the ball under pressure and pushing the United States into attack, and has been a key tactical adjustment by Burhalter since Worlds secured his Cup qualification. It is a part.
He has been tasked with falling into a deeper role to help the United States build its offense, and his box-to-box presence has the potential to be one of the team’s most irreplaceable. Musah is starting to become a starter for Valencia in Spanish La Liga, but he’s not as big a name as Weston McKennie or Tyler Adams. That will change after Qatar.
“For me, this kid is absolutely incredible,” said US right-back DeAndre Yedlin. athletic“On the big stage…I think he surprises a lot of people who don’t know what he can do.”
strength
The US will perform best in a fast-paced, vertical transition game that highlights strengths in both midfield and wing. The style of play highlights the strength of its roster: its athletic and physical midfield and its dynamic winger. , was most effective when it was possible to press the opponent, flip it over and get onto the field quickly.
This was most notable in the Nations League and Gold Cup final wins against Mexico, a 2–0 win in home qualifying, a win against Jamaica at home and a win against Honduras on the road. If the United States are attacking, they can beat you from many areas and also highlight the strengths of starting full-backs Anthony Robinson and Sergino Dest.
Weah, Aaronson and Musah are among the US’s impressive attack options (Photo: Getty)
weakness
The easiest way to start here is the depth chart. The US has two big problem areas for him: centre-back and striker.
The loss of Miles Robinson to a torn Achilles tendon and Chris Richards’ inability to stay healthy has forced the United States to cut its centre-back options to four, five and six heading into the World Cup. The reality is that all options have their weaknesses and it’s just a matter of choosing which one is the easiest to hide. Spots under consideration: Aaron Long, Cameron Carter Vickers, Walker Zimmerman, Tim Ream.
The United States, in ninth place, does not have a standout choice. Jesús Ferreira has scored a lot in his MLS, but he won’t be able to put up a decent game for nearly a month when the group stage match against Wales starts next Monday. Josh his sergeant was scoring again at Norwich City after being relegated from his league to the championship but has a calf injury and will need to get back in shape in time for the tournament . Ricardo Pepi is back in form in the Netherlands but has failed to make an impact in the German Bundesliga at Augsburg, while Jordan Pefok has made a lesser impact after a strong start at Union Berlin. .
From a tactical standpoint, this team struggles especially when opponents challenge the Americans to beat them with the ball. . Lacking ideas for teams defending in low blocks, Japan’s organized midblock was a major headache in his September friendly. That could be a problem against Wales, Iran, and perhaps even Gareth Southgate’s England.
local knowledge
Let’s put aside the “I believe we’ll win” chants and the applause of the “US-A” Vikings and ignore the inevitable Jason Sudeikis’ “Ted Lasso” sightings. This US team strongly represents the multiculturalism of this country. At least three of his expected starters on the team (Robinson, Moussa and Dest) grew up outside the United States. One of his potential starters, Weah is the son of football legend and Liberian President George Weah. Other representative countries include Mexico, United Kingdom, El Salvador, Ghana, Germany, Colombia, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Expectations after returning home
This is a difficult question to answer.
For some of the fan base, there are high expectations for this team.fans believe so teeth a golden age And with so many young Americans playing in the Champions League, it means they should be expected to make it past the knockout stage.
Another large portion of American viewers will watch simply because of the World Cup, much of which is remembered by the USMNT for not being able to attend the 2018 World Cup. That’s it. Those people definitely expect the US team to stick out of the group.
Somewhere in between lies perhaps the coldest expectation. So this is a talented yet incredibly young team that needs to get out of the group, but anything above that is a bonus.
Read more: See the rest of The Athletic’s 2022 World Cup team guide.
(Photo: Getty Images; Design: Sam Richardson)
