Call it a soft opening – a very soft opening. The US men’s national team started on Sunday night what promises to be a busy and essential 2021, with an easy mission and an emphatic victory, a 7-0 blow of an improvised team from Trinidad and Tobago that barely belonged on the field.
Preparing a mix of senior players and Olympic hopes, US coach Gregg Berhalter saw his team establish its obvious superiority just seconds after the opening whistle. After three weeks of fighting each other during the January camp training in Florida, the Americans clearly had the urge to beat an unknown opponent. The USA scored two goals after 10 minutes at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando City and won until the easy victory.
It will be more difficult before. Berhalter hopes to schedule a pair of friendlies in Europe by the end of March, when MLS players could be blocked (if not, they will be in preseason). At the same time, the US U-23 will challenge the Olympic qualifiers in Mexico. Games then become more and more important. The inaugural finals of the CONCACAF Nations League will take place in June. The Golden Cup takes place in July and then in September, the road to Qatar begins with the first three World Cup qualifiers.
It’s hard to say that Sunday’s game prepared anyone for this, but it certainly seemed fun for the hosts, and the men who lined up the national team’s statistics sheets certainly enjoyed the evening. Here are three thoughts from the US rehearsal for a critical year.
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Berhalter sends another message that the Olympics matter
There are still some concerns that the Olympics may not happen, but if they do, football desperately wants to be in Japan. The U-23 Americans missed the last two tournaments, and this year, to increase their chances, Berhalter and U-23 coach Jason Kreis led an unprecedented camp in January, which saw the two teams mingle. 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 U-23s, along with five senior players. It was a clear message – giving a few potential Olympic taxpayers more international spice was more important than defeating the Trinity with an extra goal or three.
Three-quarters of the back line (Miles Robinson, Aaron Herrera and Sam Vines), defensive midfielder (Jackson Yueill) and two-thirds of the front three (Jesús Ferreira and Jonathan Lewis) were U-23 and considered victory as older teammates. Vines, left-back, contributed particularly dynamically, as the US moved away in the first half, taking advantage of opportunities to advance and playing several excellent passes that broke the lines or created a good look for others. . His deviating cross in the second minute set the Americans’ first goal.
Yueill was a solid organizer in front of the four behind and showed good discipline. Both Lewis and Ferreira (see below) were particularly active and confidently attacked. Each scored its first two international goals. Robinson also scored his debut goal with a header from close range at the beginning of the second half.
At the break, the new eligible midfielder, Andrés Perea, 20 years old, replaced Sebastian Lletget, a strong senior. Perea recently requested permanent transfer to the United States after representing Colombia at the U-17 and U-20 World Cups. He was whistled for a penalty on a penalty kick in the 65th minute, but goalkeeper Matt Turner, who made his debut in the USA, saved Alvin Jones.
Ferreira rewards Berhalter’s faith
The son of former MLS vice president David Ferreira, Jesús appeared to be on his way to the star a year ago, while following an eight-goal season with FC Dallas with his first tape in last February’s victory over Costa Rica. But 2020 was a tough year for many and a tough one for the young striker. He managed only one goal and one assistant in 20 appearances for 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 scorer in USMNT history, will be eliminated from the Trinidad match as a precaution, suggesting that a move from Toronto FC was possible for the veteran. That left the door open in the center for Ferreira.
“Jesús made his debut for us last January and we thought he did a great job,” Berhalter said this week. “It simply came to our notice then. He did a good job, so we know what Jesús brings – very good in the fall, very good connection game, very good starting defensive pressure, then in the penalty area 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. At the opening minute of Lewis, Ferreira ran on Vines’ cross and, after cutting his own shooting angle, was conscious of leaving Lewis for an easy end. In the ninth, Ferreira opened his US account with the completion for the first time of a discount by Vines.
DC United veteran Paul Arriola scored first on the night of the 22nd, after Ferreira took his step into the penalty area, drew the goalkeeper and a defender, then slipped the ball back to Arriola. Ferreira set up Arriola again in the 41st with a well-placed header, then scored the second in the game in 61, while Arriola returned the favor and found Ferreira in the penalty area. The right touch of Ferreira with his left foot and the finish with his right foot made a perfect cover for his performance.
“Since we started working with him in January last year, we have had a very good feeling for him and a very 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, it is still to trust a player, to believe in a player and we are delighted to bring him back to camp in January “, said Berhalter. “He gives us a lot of options and a lot of flexibility and we really like how he behaves for us in the attacking position.”
Ferreira came out in the 64th, leaving room for Chris Mueller of Orlando. He had made an impression in a position still uncertain for the USA, making good decisions in the penalty area, getting involved in the accumulation and finishing multiple chances. It should be in the frame to help U-23 in March.
“I think Coach Gregg had an idea for us for this game. We had a long camp of new attempts, trying to get to know each other and as you can see in the game, it worked,” Ferreira told FOX after the game. “We all put it together today.”
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The pandemic continues to wreak havoc, even after the resumption of games
Trinidad wasn’t supposed to be Sunday’s opponent. The initial plan was to bring in Serbia, whose junior university (this friendly was not contested during a FIFA window) would have presented an even more rigid challenge. But visa and travel problems prevented Serbia from coming, so the Soca warriors were a last-minute replacement.
Berhalter’s team already endured the sub-opposition in December, when El Salvador barely appeared for an ad-hoc friendly that ended in a 6-0 decision for the Americans. Trinidad was even worse. But he had every excuse – no matter how many obstacles the pandemic put in Berhalter’s way, it’s nothing compared to the devastation Trinbagonian football has caused.
The national team, under the new coach Terry Fenwick, had not played a game of any kind for 14 months. The national league has been closed since the pandemic hit in March. Some players did not have clubs, and many had not played a game for almost a year. Fenwick brought 13 incapacitated men to Orlando and only three reached double digits. He looked and was tough on both sides. The game featured water breaks in the middle of both halves, a move that was made in respect of the visitors. Trinidad offered no threats and was directed, and the US was blocked with an exercise that was probably less taxed than most of its Florida practice sessions. The visitors didn’t have defensive chemistry, but they didn’t seem interested in playing deep and packing it.
“I am just sorry for Trinidad. … These are all things, all these are the consequences of the pandemic and the things we will have to get used to and adapt to, ”Berhalter said before the game. “It will be nice to start with a game. My expectation is that they will have some fitness issues. I think it’s normal, based on the fact that he doesn’t play, the domestic 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 Americans have achieved since Sunday night, other than a practice of celebrating goals.
“You can only play against your opponent on the field,” Berhalter said. “And what I really liked about the boys was the concentration 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 field against an opponent. real.
“We know that [Trinidad] it was not a World Cup qualifying team, based on what they had at their disposal “, he continued. “However, it was good to see the team’s concentration.”