Call it a soft opening – a very soft opening. On Sunday night, the U.S. men’s national team started with an easy assignment of 202121 and a convincing victory, which was temporarily defeated 7-0 by the team from Trinidad and Tobago.
Combining a mix of senior athletes and Olympic optimists in the field, USA coach Greg Berhalter established his clear superiority just moments after his team’s opening whistle. After three weeks of running against each other during January camp training in Florida, the Americans clearly had an appetite for defeating an unfamiliar opponent. Or 10 minutes later at the Exploreia Stadium in Orlando City, USA were ahead by two goals and easy to win.
It will be more difficult to move forward. Berhlter hopes to secure a friendly pairing in Europe by the end of March, at which time MLS players could be locked out (if not, they will be in the preseason). At the same time, the U.S. The Under-23s will compete in the Olympic qualifiers in Mexico. Gradually more important after games. In June, there’s the Nakafe Nations League final. In July, there is the Gold Cup and then in September, the road to Qatar starts with the first three World Cup qualifiers.
It’s hard to make the case that anyone is ready for Sunday’s game, but it will certainly feel fun for the hosts, and the men who padded their national team’s state sheets enjoyed the evening. Here are three ideas for USA dress rehearsals for the crucial year.
Reinhold Matte / USA Today Sports
Berhalter sends another message that is important in the Olympics
There’s still a bit of concern that the Olympics won’t happen, but if they do, the U.S. Soccer wants to live in Japan. The American Under-23s have lost the previous two tournaments, and this year, to increase their chances, Berhalter and Under-23 coach Jason Krais held an unprecedented January camp in which the two teams saw each other. Bradenton, Fla. More than two-thirds of the athletes invited to camp in were Olympic-eligible.
Despite sending many home before Sunday’s game, Berhalter still started the team with six senior players in six under-23s. That was the clear message – it was more important to give some potential Olympic contributors some extra international season than to beat Trinidad by an extra goal or three.
Three-quarters of the back line (Miles Robinson, Aaron Herrera and Sam Wines), defensive midfielder (Jackson Euile) and the next three-thirds (Jesus Ferreira and Jonathan Lewis) were under-23s, and they had as much factor as their heavy win. In The wine on the left was particularly dynamic as the U.S.A. Taking advantage of the opportunities to advance in the first half and playing many exciting passes that broke lines or made good appearances for others. His explosive, early second-minute cross set the Americans’ first goal.
Yule was a solid organizer in front of the back four and demonstrated good discipline. And Lewis and Ferreira (see below) were particularly active and attacked with confidence. Each scored his first two senior international goals. Robinson was also extending his first goal on a close-range header early in the second half.
At halftime, new character midfielder Andres Pereira, 20, replaced senior Stalwart Sebastian Lelet. Perea recently filed for a permanent switch to the USA after representing Colombia in the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups. In the 65th minute he was whistled for a penalty on a kick kick, but goalkeeper Matt Turner saved Alvin Jones by starting the U.S.
Ferreira restored Berhalter’s faith
Jesસs, the son of former MLS MVP David Ferreira, looked good on his way to stardom a year ago as he took an eight-goal rookie season with FC Dallas with the first senior cap of the win against Costa Rica last February. But 2020 was a rough year for many, and it was difficult for the young attacker. He managed just one goal and will help 20 appearances for an FCD.
Still, Berhalter continued to see something in the 20-year-old and invited him to camp this month. On Saturday, Berhalter announced that Jozi Altidor, the third-ranked scorer in USMNT history, would be cautiously withdrawn from the Trinidad match, indicating that it was possible for the man to walk away from Toronto FC. That left the front door open for Ferrari.
“Jesus made his debut in January last year and we feel he has done an excellent job,” Berhalter said this week. “It simply came to our notice then. He’s done well, so we know what Jesse brings – which comes down very, very well to join, really good initial defensive pressure and then in the penalty box he’s very quiet and can meet his chances. Is. “
Ferreira featured all of the Berhalters listed in the Ber historical performance that ended with two goals and three assists. On Lewis ‘second-minute opener, Ferreira ran to Wines’ cross and after he cut his own shooting angle, he had the awareness to put the ball on for Lewis for an easy end. In the ninth, Ferreira opened her U.S. account with the first-ever completion of a cut-back by Wines.
After DC United veteran Paul Ariola scored his first goal on the night of the 22nd, Ferreira passed it into the penalty area, pulled the goalkeeper and a defender slipped the ball out and headed back to Ariola. Ferreira rearranged Ariola with a well-placed header in st1, then made his second game in the 61st match, as Ariola turned the favor around and Ferreira was awarded a penalty. Ferreira’s Adorite left foot touch and right foot finish made for a full cap for her performance.
“Ever since we started working with him last January, we have had a really good feeling for him and a really good impression and idea about what he can do in our system. We cannot control what happens at the club level. We really can’t. For us, he still has faith in the player, confidence in the player, and we are excited to bring him back to camp this January, ”said Berhalter. “It gives us a lot of options and a lot of flexibility, and we really like how it performs for us in the next position.”
Ferreira settled in 64, paving the way for Relando’s Chris Mueller. He made the impression that he was still in the U.S. To be precarious, make good decisions in the field of fines, involve themselves in build-up and meet many opportunities. He should be in the frame to help the Under-23s in March.
“I think Coach Greg had an idea for us for this game. We had a long camp trying new things, trying to get to know each other, and seeing what you can do in the game,” Ferreira told Fox below the game. “We all put it together today.”
Reinhold Matte / USA Today Sports
Once the games resumed, the epidemic continued to wreak havoc
Trinidad did not consider Sunday an opponent. The original plan was to bring on Serbia, whose junior university (this friendly was not fought during the FIFA window) will still present a very tough challenge. But visa and travel issues prevented Serbia from coming, and so the Soka Warriors were in last-minute positions.
Berhalter’s team had already endured sub-par opposition in December, while El Salvador’s barely ad-hoc friendly favor ended in a 6-0 decision for the Americans. Trinidad was also bad. But there was an excuse for that – nothing more than the devastation that has befallen the Trincomalee soccer, as much as the epidemic that has plagued Berhelter.
The national team under new coach Terry Fenwick has not played a game of any kind in 14 months. The national league has been shut down since the epidemic broke out in March. Some players have no clubs, and many have not played a game of any kind in almost a year. Fenwick brought 13 unpaid men to Unclando, and only three reached double digits. It showed, and it was hard on both sides. The game breaks water in the middle of both parts, a step which was held in respect for visitors. Trinidad made no threats and was hit, and the US was stuck with an exercise that took less tax than most of its practice sessions in Florida. Visitors had no protective chemistry, but no interest in playing and packing deep.
“I feel bad for Trinidad. … These are all things, all these epidemics and things we result in and which we have to get used to and adapt to, ”Brahalter said ahead of the game. “It would be good for them to get out of the game. I expect they will have some fitness questions. I think that’s normal, based on their not playing, not even the domestic league being active. “
It’s hard to argue with Berhalter’s calculations – a game is better than no game at all. But it’s also hard to imagine anything other than goal-celebrating practice that got Americans on Sunday night.
“You can only play against an opponent on the field,” Berhalter said. And the ones I really liked from were the attention and intensity. After three weeks of training, a relatively new group, a young group, it is good to be able to see those elements in the field of play against a real opponent.
“We know that [Trinidad] They were not a World Cup qualifying-caliber team based on who was available, ”he added. “But, nonetheless, it was good to keep the team focused.”
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