Because the stage is ready for the USA males’s nationwide workforce to compete within the 2024 Copa America with teams now drawn, expectations are additionally being laid out for them. They may face among the hardest competitors attainable within the event, drawn into a gaggle with Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia. The USMNT are assured a match with the Eleventh-ranked workforce on this planet, Uruguay, and if issues go in accordance with plan, it can decide whether or not they face doubtless Brazil or Colombia within the knockout stage of the Copa America on residence soil.
With out World Cup qualifiers, this event will function a litmus check for the power of the USMNT, as expectations could not be larger forward of internet hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. Whereas the USMNT reached the final 16 of the World Cup in Qatar by drawing a match towards England, their exit after a loss towards the Netherlands raises questions on what the workforce must do to compete with the world’s finest. These are questions that may probably be answered within the upcoming Copa America.
On the brand new CBS Sports activities podcast Name It What You Need, American supervisor Jesse Marsch spoke concerning the USMNT’s lack of a press release victory, one thing that they will get within the Copa America by defeating Uruguay or successful a match within the knockouts.
“Within the present type of the way in which that Nations League works world wide and COVID, [the USMNT] have not all the time had the chance to play high groups however they only had Germany at residence they usually fell flat in that match,” Marsch mentioned on the USMNT’s aspirations. “So, once more, I feel, for us, earlier than we need to begin speaking concerning the potential of successful a World Cup, making a semifinal at residence or nonetheless we need to discuss it, we have to begin to see some wins right here at this second in time on this event.”
Marsch is appropriate in asserting that if we exclude matches towards Mexico, which the UMSNT is predicted to win at this level, their solely victory resembling a press release win was defeating Morocco 3-0 in a pleasant earlier than the World Cup. Because of the lack of depth throughout Concacaf, the USA haven’t solely ascended to turn out to be the king of the area, however it’s additionally difficult for them to be adequately examined inside it. Should you look at the rosters of the USMNT, Canada, Mexico and even Panama, the USMNT now possesses a deeper core of gamers from high European leagues in comparison with their home counterparts.
Consequently, one among their preliminary alternatives for a real assertion victory will probably be within the upcoming group stage towards Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay. Having already defeated Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay are demonstrating their return to being one of many world’s finest groups. Moreover, this match supplies an opportunity to probably keep away from going through Brazil within the subsequent stage of the event, assuming they win their group. Whereas going through Colombia is not any simple job, they don’t seem to be Brazil, which may give the USMNT a greater probability at making a deep run within the Copa America.
Whereas Gregg Berhalter is already underneath contract by 2026, not having the ability to safe a signature win on the Copa America may increase questions on whether or not the USMNT can obtain one underneath Berhalter. To encourage confidence in his management and display that the workforce can defeat one of the best on this planet, a robust exhibiting on the Copa America is essential.
Latest outcomes
- Pleasant: United States 3, Uzbekistan 0
- Pleasant: United States 4, Oman 0
- Pleasant: United States 1, Germany 3
- Pleasant: United States 4, Ghana 0
- Concacaf Nations League: United States 3, Trinidad & Tobago 0
- Concacaf Nations League: Trinidad & Tobago 2, United States 1
Upcoming matches
- Concacaf Nations League semifinals: United States vs. Jamaica, Mar. 21, 2024
- Copa America: United States vs. Bolivia, June 23, 2024
- Copa America: Panama vs. United States, June 27, 2024
- Copa America: United States vs. Uruguay, July 1, 2024