Key occasions
USA lineup
With Timothy Weah suspended for his expensive act of petulance towards Panama, Yunus Musah comes into the beginning lineup to reunite the “MMA” midfield (Musah, McKennie, Adams) whereas Gio Reyna scoots as much as the entrance line. Every thing else is identical, together with the goalkeeper spot, the place Matt Turner has recovered effectively sufficient to play once more.
1-Turner; 5-A. Robinson, 13-Ream, 3-Richards, 22-Scally; 4-Adams, 6-Musah, 8-McKennie; 10-Pulisic, 20-Balogun, 7-Reyna
Preamble
Welcome to essentially the most pivotal recreation the US males have performed in practically seven years.
In October 2017 … no, let’s not discuss that. Everyone knows what occurred. If not, Google “Couva” and a bunch of swear phrases.
The final World Cup qualifying cycle was a bit simpler. The US weren’t in important hazard on the final matchday.
Tonight in Kansas Metropolis, the USA might be enjoying for his or her coach’s future and for their very own popularity. That is, we’re so typically instructed, a golden technology of US gamers. All of them ply their commerce with glittering groups in Europe – Milan, Juventus, Monaco … um … PSV? Fulham? Cardiff Metropolis?
Wait – this is the USA’s golden technology?
Possibly, perhaps not. However expectations have been excessive for some time now.
The expectation on this Copa America on residence soil was definitely a date within the knockout rounds. However now that path goes by way of an excellent Uruguay crew – until Bolivia all of the sudden determine the game and get a outcome towards Panama.
To invoke the nice American thinker Robert Johnson: We’re happening to the crossroads. Fall down on our knees? Flag a experience? We’ll discover out.
Beau shall be right here shortly. Within the meantime, right here’s Tom Dart of Gregg Berhalter at a crossroads:
It could appear harsh that Gregg Berhalter’s job as USMNT head coach is in acute jeopardy as a result of considered one of his gamers determined to smack an opponent within the head.
Then once more, within the US’s final huge match check earlier than it co-hosts the 2026 World Cup, a coach anticipated to achieve at the very least the quarter-finals is looking at a group-stage exit within the Copa América, barring what appears an inconceivable triumph towards one of many favorites, Uruguay, in Kansas Metropolis on Monday.
Good man, Berhalter. Well-liked with gamers, respectful to the media, hard-working, considerate, honest and caring. However the core situation for the reason that spherical of 16 exit to the Netherlands at Qatar 2022 World Cup is ruthless in its readability and ease: is the person who admirably resuscitated this system and nurtured a gifted group of kids in direction of maturity after the failure to achieve the 2018 World Cup additionally the best man to take the US to the subsequent degree? Will he do higher in 2026, the largest single alternative to develop the game within the US since 1994?
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