Doug McIntyre
Soccer Journalist
MINNEAPOLIS — Now the true take a look at begins for this model of the U.S. males’s nationwide staff.
It’s already been an attention-grabbing summer season for the Individuals, who’re lacking greater than a dozen regulars — together with stars like Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson — for numerous causes throughout this Concacaf Gold Cup, which continues for the match hosts right here on Sunday with a do-or-die quarterfinal in opposition to Costa Rica at U.S. Financial institution Stadium (kickoff at 7 p.m. ET on FOX).
After dropping its two pre-Gold Cup friendlies to European foes Türkiye and Switzerland and coming into the regional championship with 4 straight losses, the USMNT reeled off three group stage wins over Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti and visitor nation Saudi Arabia.
None of which means something on Sunday. Simply ask Panama, the staff Canada coach Jesse March referred to as the title favourite earlier than Los Canaleros have been shocked on penalties on Saturday by Honduras — a squad the Canadians trounced 6-0 of their first-round opener simply 11 days prior.
“It may be loads harder,” U.S. ahead Malik Tillman stated of the problem posed by Costa Rica. “However all of us wish to win this match. If you wish to win, you need to win in opposition to anybody.”
You additionally want to attain. Doing that received’t be straightforward in opposition to all-planet Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas. A 3-time UEFA Champions League titlist with Actual Madrid, Navas is now 38. However he’s appeared as stout as ever at this Gold Cup, serving to his nation attain the final eight by making numerous key saves, together with a number of of the spectacular selection in a scoreless tie with Mexico in either side’ final match in group play.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino coached Navas at Paris Saint-Germain through the 2021-22 season. “My recollections with Keylor are superb,” Pochettino stated throughout Saturday’s pre-game press convention. “At all times we admire him, his mentality and his high quality as a keeper. It’s a implausible second to share tomorrow with him. He is an important participant. He’s an important keeper, probably the greatest on the earth.”
Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas stays a formidable goalkeeper. (Picture by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
Not that the Individuals are fazed.
“His profession speaks for itself,” U.S. veteran Tyler Adams stated. “He is clearly the chief of that staff, and I believe his capacity to prepare is clearly going make it troublesome. His shot stopping is unbelievable. However, , I’ve confidence in my strikers.”
Patrick Agyemang figures to spearhead the U.S. assault for the fourth recreation operating. “It is good to have the ability to compete in opposition to the highest gamers,” Agyemang stated on Saturday.
The towering Charlotte FC ahead is amongst a handful of Individuals who’re coping with the opportunity of a membership switch throughout this Gold Cup. Ageymang has been linked to a transfer to England’s second tier Championship. Tillman, who performs for Dutch champs PSV Eindhoven and leads the USMNT with three targets to date at this Gold Cup, is a rumored goal of Germany’s Bayern Leverkusen.
Midfielder Johnny Cardoso, questionable for Sunday due to an ankle damage, was visited by Atlético Madrid’s physician in Minnesota forward of what’s anticipated to be a switch price greater than $30 million from Spain’s Actual Betis. Even Pochettino has been within the information; the Argentine instructed me on Saturday that he’s absolutely dedicated to the USMNT by way of subsequent summer season’s World Cup and scoffed at a report that he’d lately been interviewed by English Premier League membership Brentford.
“It isn’t a distraction in any respect,” defender Walker Zimmerman, who’s searching for his first begin at this Gold Cup, stated of the surface noise. “Those that have been in these talks, they know that the higher they play right here, and the persevering with success of the staff, is gonna assist them with their particular person profession and their strikes.”
Contained in the camp, the precedence is evident. “The nationwide staff,” Agyemang stated, “is all we’re targeted on proper now.”
It needs to be that approach in opposition to an opponent the Individuals know can damage them if given the prospect
“Now we have to know that they are most likely most harmful when we’ve the ball, as a result of one mistake they usually’re able to pounce,” Adams stated. “We will not get informal, as a result of they’ll lure you right into a recreation the place you will have quite a lot of possession.
“That is precisely what they need,” Adams continued. “One alternative they usually’re going the opposite approach.”
Nonetheless, the U.S. likes their probabilities. Even with lots of the regulars lacking, there’s been a quiet confidence constructing inside the ranks this month.
“Now we have the expertise, we’ve the power. Nevertheless it’s about being intense and aggressive with and with out the ball,” defender Tim Ream stated. “That’s going to be the important thing for us, and ensuring that we’re conveying that message to all the fellows – particularly those who aren’t used to a lot of these conditions and a lot of these video games.
“All people is on the identical web page proper now,” Ream added. “All people’s able to go.”
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has lined United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.
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