Forward of Saturday afternoon’s pleasant towards Germany, U.S. males’s nationwide staff coach Gregg Berhalter mentioned video games like this had been “not about being afraid of the outcome (or) being afraid of competing, it’s about embracing these moments.”
His hope: that within the subsequent three years earlier than the 2026 World Cup, video games like this might function alternatives to study what it’ll take to compete — and beat — the perfect in worldwide soccer.
The three-1 loss to Germany in entrance of a sold-out crowd of 37,743 in East Hartford, Connecticut, nonetheless, confirmed the U.S. nonetheless has to evolve – from the staff that was eradicated by the Netherlands within the knockout spherical of the 2022 World Cup to at least one that may make a deep run on house soil.
“We nonetheless have loads of work to do,” middle again Tim Ream mentioned bluntly when requested what the large takeaway from the sport was.
The U.S. began the sport effectively, however within the second half Germany seized management of the competition and the Individuals by no means actually discovered their approach again into it. The U.S. was at occasions too stretched in defensive transition after unhealthy turnovers, and in different moments Germany was given an excessive amount of time and area close to the highest of the field.
“We do must not give the ball away so rapidly in unhealthy areas,” Ream mentioned. “You give the ball away across the 18? OK, high-quality. Within the attacking half? I get it, that’s no drawback, you’re making an attempt issues. However once you give the ball away too rapidly in midfield as we’re making an attempt to get our attacking and build-up form then it’s going to look A) disjointed, and B) guys are going to look out of place. And once you try this towards good gamers, they punish you.”
Gio Reyna went 45 minutes in a central place (Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photographs/Getty Photos)
Among the defensive issues highlighted the absence of captain Tyler Adams, who has been a stalwart for the U.S. at defensive midfield and helps to interrupt up passing lanes, make key tackles and set the tone in midfield. The World Cup captain has been out with a hamstring harm since March, and after struggling a setback earlier this month is now anticipated to overlook a big period of time extra. Berhalter mentioned going into this window that Adams’ absence gave the U.S. an opportunity to check out some “Plan B” choices for taking part in with out him. The Germany sport confirmed that the “Plan B” nonetheless isn’t fairly clear.
But it surely wasn’t concerning the absence of 1 participant. There have been disconnects that each allowed Germany to get on the ball greater up the sector, after which discover the small lanes across the field that their world-class gamers exploited.
“Once you watch them and what they do and it’s a type of the place you break a line and also you get all the way down to their field and unexpectedly they’re behind the ball,” Ream mentioned. “And I believe that’s type of the place we have to study, is to get guys behind the ball, get compact, particularly in and round our defensive 18. And that’s one thing that once more, it’s a studying course of, and it’s one thing that we have to have a look at and ensure we do higher.”
A number of gamers mentioned the U.S. wants to seek out methods to place collectively extra full performances over the entire 90 minutes. The primary half gave the staff confidence that they might match Germany — they had been capable of get in behind Germany’s again line on a number of events and appeared to only lack that remaining motion — however there was a drop-off within the second half efficiency.
Yunus Musah began because the deeper midfielder on Saturday, with Weston McKennie forward of him and Gio Reyna in a No. 10 position.
Reyna, who performed completely as a winger within the final World Cup cycle, seemed harmful and efficient centrally underneath interim managers earlier this 12 months. His return to the staff with Berhalter on the sideline was among the many headlines of this camp, and the way Berhalter would make the most of him was the largest query. Reyna had a strong 45-minute outing on Saturday, and enjoying him in that central position confirmed promise. Reyna needed to come out at halftime, nonetheless, as he ramps up his type and health.
Within the first half, although, the U.S. seemed harmful in assault at occasions and bought behind Germany on a number of events. Early within the sport, Pulisic was known as offside on what would have been a breakaway; Berhalter felt it mustn’t have been whistled useless. On one other assault, Reyna discovered Balogun to arrange Pulisic in alone on Marc-André ter Stegen, however Pulisic went down after taking a contact across the goalkeeper.
“I went round him and there’s for positive contact,” Pulisic mentioned.
The referee didn’t blow the whistle, however a couple of minutes later Pulisic scored a improbable aim, beating 4 German defenders and blistering a ball into the higher nook.
“That’s a world-class aim,” Berhalter mentioned.
Christian Pulisic with an absolute banger 🚀
Watch USA vs. Germany stay on TNT or Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/G7t6KxLjFO
— B/R Soccer (@brfootball) October 14, 2023
After Pulisic gave the U.S. an early lead, nonetheless, Germany pulled again even. Leroy Sané used a intelligent double-touch to separate Musah and Reyna within the thirty ninth minute on the high of the field, and Ilkay Gündogan performed an ideal by means of ball to Sané to place him by means of on aim. Goalkeeper Matt Turner made the preliminary save, however Gündogan was there to tuck house the rebound for the equalizer.
Within the second half, Germany took additional management.
Within the 58th minute, Germany as soon as once more loved an excessive amount of time and area on the ball of their attacking third, and Jamal Musiala discovered Robin Gosens, whose trendy one-touch move performed Niclas Füllkrug in on aim. Left again Sergiño Dest was late to step, holding Füllkrug onside, and Germany had the lead. Three minutes later, Germany as soon as once more attacked the area proper on the highest of the field. The U.S. was a bit unlucky in that Ream’s deal with on Musiala deflected proper to Füllkrug, who discovered Musiala within the field to make it 3-1. However whereas the fortunate bounce might have helped, the aim felt reflective of the areas Germany attacked commonly.
“It’s these break up seconds the place you’ll want to be well-positioned,” Berhalter mentioned.
In the long run, as Ream mentioned, the outcome confirmed how far more the U.S. has to do to catch the world powers. However the group additionally felt that, like on the World Cup final 12 months, they’re not far off.
“It’s irritating as a result of it’s simply little moments,” Turner mentioned. “I form of alluded to this lately about how little moments may have made a giant distinction for us within the World Cup. And it’s type of like the identical story.”
(Picture: Adam Glanzman/USSF/Getty Photos for USSF)
