Since hosting the first World Cup since 1994 last year, US teams have struggled to find their footing on the field and regain the trust of their distressed fanbase.
Following disappointing performances in the Copa America and CONCACAF Nations League, the US will face Turkey in Switzerland on Saturday, with games planned in East Hartford, Connecticut, and Nashville, Tennessee. The team will then prepare for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the Americans’ World Cup opening match is scheduled for June 12th next year.
“Given the recent setbacks, there’s a noticeable and justified anxiety, even worse indifference towards this team,” stated Alexi Lalas, former American defender and lead analyst at Fox Sports, on Friday. “I doubt many of us anticipated we would find ourselves in this mental state a year post-World Cup.”
After advancing to the second round of the 2022 World Cup, the US was eliminated in the group stage of Copa America last summer, prompting changes in the US Football Federation, including the replacement of coach Greg Barhalter and the addition of Mauricio Pochettino. Subsequently, the Americans suffered defeats against Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four in March.
“We’re struggling. We’ve faced challenges… we’ve hit a tough spot, so to speak,” said Tyler Adams, the 2022 World Cup captain, from the team’s training camp in Chicago. “We need to continue demonstrating that we belong at this level and can make improvements.”
Missing from the lineup are Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun, and Gio Reyna. Some are injured, while others opted for a vacation or are participating in the Club World Cup.
Pochettino’s roster includes seven players who could make their national team debuts, alongside players from Major League Soccer. The average number of international appearances in the group is 16, and they will compete against many seasoned veterans from Mexico, the defending champions.
“Are we confident enough? I’ll let you know,” Pochettino remarked. “I believe we have quality players. It’s essential to build team cohesion, showing that we have the caliber to compete effectively.”
After this tournament, four more FIFA windows will occur before players gather for training leading up to the World Cup, featuring non-competitive matches.
“As a 2022 World Cup veteran, 32-year-old defender Walker Zimmerman said: ‘It’s on us as players to acknowledge that we’re not satisfied, and that is a significant focus for this camp.’
Pochettino has selected 59 players to take over in October. He inherited the roster in March following the team’s disappointing performance.
“We might lose, but there are different ways to lose. I don’t think what we showed on the pitch was sufficient in terms of mentality and strength,” goalkeeper Matt Turner commented. “The long gap between games allows us to deeply analyze everything, including player selections, etc. We know that we are here—from player 1 to player 60, in this pool.”
21-year-old midfielder Diego Luna made an impression on Pochettino during his international debut against Costa Rica in January. Despite suffering a broken nose from an early elbow, he insisted on continuing to play until halftime, stuffng cotton in his nose to manage the bleeding.
“For me, that experience was transformative,” Luna shared. “It gave me the chance to return for more camps and display my grit and determination to play and represent my country.”
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Source: apnews.com