Call it soft opening: a very soft opening. The U.S. men’s national team kicked off Sunday night in what promises to be a busy and pivotal 2021 with an easy assignment and an emphatic victory, a 7-0 win over a makeshift Trinidad and Tobago team that with it barely belonged to the playing field.
With a combination of senior players and Olympic aspirants, American coach Gregg Berhalter watched as his team established their obvious superiority just seconds after the initial whistle. After three weeks of clashing during January camp training in Florida, the Americans were clearly eager to beat up an unknown opponent. The United States went ahead by two goals after 10 minutes at Orlando City’s Exploria Stadium and got the easy win.
In the future it will be more difficult. Berhalter hopes to schedule a couple of friendlies in Europe by the end of March, at which point MLS players could be shut down (otherwise, they will be in preseason). At the same time, the U.S. U-23s will compete in the Olympic qualifiers in Mexico. Games become progressively more important. In June, the inaugural final of the CONCACAF League of Nations will take place. In July, there is the Gold Cup, and in September, the road to Qatar begins with the first three World Cup qualifiers.
It’s hard to imply that Sunday’s game prepared anyone for anything, but it certainly seemed like fun for the hosts, and the men who filled the national team chips certainly enjoyed the night. Here are three reflections on the overall rehearsal of the United States during a critical year.
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Berhalter sends another message that the Olympics are important
There’s still some concern that the Olympics won’t happen, but if they do, American football desperately wants to be in Japan. The U.S. under-23s have lost their last two tournaments, and this year, to increase their chances, Berhalter and under-23 coach Jason Kreis led an unprecedented January camp that saw both teams compete. they mixed. More than two-thirds of players invited to camp in Bradenton, Florida, were eligible for the Olympics.
Although several were sent home before Sunday’s game, Berhalter still started a team with six under-23 players, along with five senior players. It was a clear message: giving some potential Olympic collaborators some additional international status was more important than beating Trinidad by an extra goal or three.
Three-quarters of the bottom line (Miles Robinson, Aaron Herrera and Sam Vines), defensive midfielder (Jackson Yueill) and two-thirds of the three forwards (Jesus Ferreira and Jonathan Lewis) were under-23, and were considered as heavy until victory as older teammates. Vines, left back, contributed especially dynamically as the United States withdrew in the first half, seizing opportunities to advance and playing several excellent passes that broke lines or created good looks for others. His first and deflected center in the second minute set up the first goal of the Americans.
Yueill was a solid organizer in front of the last four and exhibited good discipline. And Lewis and Ferreira (see below) were especially active and were attacked with confidence. They each scored their first two senior international goals. Robinson also added his debut goal in a header near the second half.
At the break, the newly eligible midfielder Andrés Perea, 20, replaced Sebastian Lletget, the biggest player. Perea has recently introduced a permanent change in the United States after representing Colombia in the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups. He was whistled for a penalty on a high shot in the 65th minute, but United States debutant Matt Turner saved Alvin Jones.
Ferreira reciprocates Berhalter’s faith
The son of former MLS MVP David Ferreira, Jesus appeared to be well on his way to stardom a year ago as he followed up an eight-goal debut season with FC Dallas with his first senior cap in last February’s win against Costa Rica. But 2020 was a difficult year for many and it was tough for the young striker. He scored just one goal and one assist in 20 appearances at the FCD.
However, Berhalter continued to see something of the 20-year-old and invited him to this month’s camp. On Saturday, Berhalter announced that Jozy Altidore, the third top scorer in USMNT history, would be left out of the Trinidadian match as a precaution, implying that the veteran could move away from Toronto FC. This left the door open in the center forward for Ferreira.
“Jesus made his debut last January for us and we thought he was doing a great job,” Berhalter said this week. “He continued where he left off in this camp. He has done a good job, so we know what Jesus brings: a very good fall, a very good related game, a very good initial defensive pressure and then in the penalty box he is very calm and can finish his chances. “
Ferreira demonstrated everything Berhalter listed in a historic performance that ended with two goals and three assists. In Lewis ’second-minute opening, Ferreira ran to Vines’ cross and after cutting his own shooting angle, was conscious of leaving it out for Lewis to get an easy finish. In the ninth, Ferreira opened his American account with a first shot from Vines.
DC United veteran Paul Arriola scored his first game of the night on the 22nd after Ferreira brought his pass to the area, took out the goalkeeper and a defender and slid the ball back towards Arriola. Ferreira reconfigured Arriola in the 41st with a well-placed header, then scored his second game in the 61st when Arriola returned the favor and found Ferreira in the area. Ferreira’s dexterous left foot touch and right foot finish became a perfect cover for his performance.
“Since we started working with him last January, we had a very good feeling for him and a good impression and idea of what he could do in our system. We can’t control what happens at the club level. We really can’t. For us, he still has confidence in a player, believing in a player, and we are delighted to be back on the pitch this January, ”said Berhalter. “It gives us a lot of options and a lot of flexibility, and we really like how he behaves in the forward position.”
Ferreira left at 64, giving way to Chris Mueller of Orlando. He had left an impression in a position that was still uncertain for the United States, making good decisions in the penalty area, getting involved in the buildup and finishing multiple times. He should be ready to help the under-23s in March.
“I think Coach Gregg had an idea for us for this game. We had a long field of trying new things, trying to get to know each other and, as you can see in the game, it worked,” Ferreira told FOX after game. “We all put it together today.”
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The pandemic continues to wreak havoc, even once games resume
Trinidad was not supposed to be Sunday’s opponent. The original plan was to bring in Serbia, whose youth university (this friendly was not played during a FIFA window) would have presented a much tougher challenge. But visa and travel problems prevented Serbia from arriving, and so the Soca Warriors were a last-minute substitute.
Berhalter’s team had already withstood the sub-opposition in December, when El Salvador barely faced an ad-hoc friendly that ended in a 6-0 decision for the Americans. Trinity was even worse. But he had every excuse: as many obstacles as the pandemic has put in the way of Berhalter, it is nothing compared to the devastation caused by Trinagagonian football.
The national team, led by new coach Terry Fenwick, had not played a game of any kind in 14 months. The national league has been closed since the pandemic occurred in March. Some players have no clubs, and many had not played any kind of match for almost a year. Fenwick brought 13 uncapped men to Orlando, and only three had reached the double digits. He proved it, and it was tough on both sides. The game featured water breaks in the middle of the two halves, a play that was made with respect to the visitors. Trinity offered no threat and was destroyed, and the United States was left with an exercise that was probably less onerous than most of its practice sessions in Florida. The visitors had no defensive chemistry, but did not seem interested in playing thoroughly and packing them.
“I feel bad for Trinity. … It’s all things, all this is a consequence of the pandemic and things that we will have to get used to and adapt to, “Berhalter said before the game.” It will be good for them to start with a game. My expectation is that “I have a physical problem. I think it’s normal, because they don’t play, the national league isn’t even active.”
It’s hard to argue with Berhalter’s calculation: a game is better than no game. But it’s also hard to imagine what the Americans achieved on Sunday night other than some goal-setting practice.
“You can only play against the opponent on the field,” Berhalter said. “And what I really liked about the boys was the focus and the intensity. After three weeks of training, with a relatively new group, a young group, it’s good to be able to see those elements on the playing field against a real opponent. .
“It simply came to our notice then [Trinidad] it was not a quality team for the classification of the World Cup, according to who they had available “, he continued. “However, it was good to see the team’s approach.”