This text is a part of the Guardian’s World Cup 2022 Specialists’ Community, a cooperation between among the greatest media organisations from the 32 international locations who certified. theguardian.com is working previews from two international locations every day within the run-up to the event kicking off on 20 November.
The plan
Gregg Berhalter has ditched the fading veterans who flopped over the past qualifying cycle, waded by means of a big pool of promising kids and put in a dynamic urgent fashion that retains the US’s hallmark spirit and power however is extra refined and possession-oriented than the direct method of earlier generations.
Principle, meet actuality: Berhalter conceded that gamers had been missing confidence and had been “beneath our regular ranges” within the ultimate two World Cup warmups, a 2-0 defeat to Japan and a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia. Not less than the struggles had been academic. “Issues turned fairly clear,” he mentioned, with out elaborating.
The zestless efforts weren’t aberrations. The US typically battle to attain away from dwelling and sometimes look peculiar towards opponents outdoors the mediocre Concacaf area. There’s an abundance of wingers and the midfield is busy and shiny, however the centre-back and centre-forward positions are problematic and frequent accidents have prevented Berhalter from enjoying his greatest XI.
Neither is it clear that the US are adequate on the ball to outplay the world’s greatest groups, and there’s little proof they will alter if exuberance doesn’t carry the day. So wedded to youth and athleticism is Berhalter that there’s a actual lack of World Cup expertise within the squad, though that’s partly all the way down to the actual fact the US missed out in 2018.
With so many untested gamers – to not point out the coach – it’s laborious to foretell whether or not they may rise to the event, be cowed by it, or carry out kind of consistent with their expertise degree – which might imply that with a very good begin towards Wales they may qualify from the group, in all probability in second place, then be outclassed by the primary main nation they face within the knockout spherical.
The coach
After a 14-month seek for a successor to Bruce Area, Gregg Berhalter was appointed in December 2018 after spells in command of Swedish membership Hammarby and MLS facet Columbus Crew. This anxious followers who needed a head coach with a extra distinguished pedigree and lots of are nonetheless to be satisfied of his deserves – however the considerate and thorough 49-year-old New Jersey native has received 36 and misplaced solely 10 of his 56 video games in cost. Berhalter’s enjoying profession as a defender included a season at Crystal Palace and 44 worldwide caps. He made two appearances on the 2002 World Cup when the US reached the quarter-finals, and was an unused squad member in 2006.
Star participant
Christian Pulisic will minimize in from the left wing and far duty rests on the captain’s shoulders, particularly because the US don’t have a top-quality central striker. At 24 the Chelsea ahead isn’t the identical fearless, rampaging child who emerged in the course of the failed 2018 qualifying marketing campaign. For his nation he now tends to drop into midfield looking for the ball. That’s the load of expectation (and accidents) for you. There’s even a automotive advert wherein he reclines on a therapist’s sofa and runs right into a wardrobe to flee the media.
Unsung hero
In 2021 Yunus Musah selected to characterize the US quite than England, Italy or Ghana, and the calibre of his suitors is proof of his potential. Blossoming at Valencia, he’s an lively midfield disruptor who’s calm beneath stress with the ball at his ft. If he can add objectives and assists the 19-year-old is a possible celebrity, although that is probably not apparent if he performs in a deeper-lying position to liberate Weston McKennie and act as a bulwark towards superior opponents.
Possible lineup
Qatar stance
US Soccer has briefed the gamers on the problems arising from staging the event in Qatar. Given the squad’s adoption of the slogan “Be The Change” after the killing of George Floyd and former outspoken positions on stronger gun legal guidelines and social justice – every staff member wore a jacket with a private message earlier than a recreation towards Wales in 2020 – it could not be stunning if some gamers converse out and/or make symbolic gestures in help of LGBTQ+ and migrant employees’ rights. US Soccer additionally plan to encourage the show of rainbow flags and has been checking that the companies it’s working with in Qatar in the course of the event – such because the staff lodge – respect employees’ rights legal guidelines.
Nationwide anthem
There’s a little bit of earlier right here so as to add spice to the US-England group recreation. Sung to the tune of an 18th-century English ingesting ditty, The Star-Spangled Banner turned the nationwide anthem in 1931. The phrases of this stirring ode to freedom had been written by Francis Scott Key, a slaveholding 35-year-old lawyer, following an American victory over the invading Royal Navy within the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, quickly after the British had torched the White Home.
All-time cult hero
A US nationwide staff stalwart, bearded musician and export to Europe turned TV pundit who’s not Alexi Lalas? That might be Clint Dempsey, AKA Deuce, who launched a rap track, Don’t Tread, forward of the 2006 World Cup. Was it a banger? Kind of. “Greatest to provide manner for the USA / Now we’re sizzling / You may suppose we’re a solar ray.” The suave Texan ahead and inducer of Robert Inexperienced’s nightmares scored in three World Cups, thrived in England with Fulham and Tottenham then signed for Seattle in 2013, declaring: “I simply need to rating objectives and go fishing.” He retired in 2018 with a joint-USMNT report 57 objectives from 141 caps and, like Lalas, will work for American TV at Qatar 2022.
