The USMNT in The Penultimate Test before World Cup 2022

USMNT January 2022 International Break Preview:

A New Beginning for United States Soccer

The United States Men’s National Team is attempting to return to the World Cup for the first time in 8 years. The 2018 qualifying cycles saw them devastatingly fail to beat Trinidad & Tobago on the final matchday of qualifying. A win would have guaranteed qualification, and while the team was not one of our strongest, failure to qualify was embarrassing for the program. There were too many old faces involved and youngster Christian Pulisic wasn’t enough to carry the team over the line in his first World Cup qualifying cycle.

Veteran Michael Bradley (left) and Christian Pulisic (right) after failing to beat Trinidad and Tobago in 2018: Image by Ashley Allen/Getty Images via Slate

In the last four years we have seen an emergence of young United States talent like never before. The squad is incredibly deep with young players playing all across Europe in the biggest leagues and for the biggest teams. Pulisic has since been joined by Weston McKennie (Juventus), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Sergino Dest (Barcelona), Timothy Weah (Lille), and Jordan Pefok (Young Boys), among others, as Champions League regulars. With youth playing consistently at such a high level, expectations have soared through the roof, albeit with a measure of cautious hesitancy, as none of these players have had a chance to prove themselves on an international stage. That was, until this summer, when the USMNT won both CONCAF trophies, the Nations League and the Gold Cup. They beat our rivals Mexico in both finals, and what was so remarkable was how different each squad was. Only Kelly Acosta played in both the Nations League final and the Gold Cup final. It’s incredible how deep the pool of players has gotten, and while this is a fantastic thing for the United States and the program moving forward, it presents a great challenge for manager Gregg Berhalter in squad selection for each international window.

USMNT 23-Man roster for upcoming window: Image by USMNT via US Soccer

The Matches of the Window

The team above will face El Salvador (7th) at home, Canada (1st) away, and Honduras (8th) at home. Currently we sit second on 15 points, 1 behind leaders Canada in the new qualifying system for North America made up of 8 teams. The top 3 automatically qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, with the 4th place finisher going into a playoff match with a team from another region. Overall, qualifying has gone well. A record of 4-3-1, with the only loss being a respectable 1- 0 result away to Panama (4th). This window, I expect at minimum 7 points. There is absolutely no reason this squad should not win against the two worst teams in the competition on home soil. The match against Canada on the 30th presents the biggest challenge, especially with it being away. Canada has shown that it is in a similar spot as the US, with a few great young players coming up that should support the program for years to come, however their depth is nowhere near our level. Still, they have managed to pull out better results through the first 8 games. We drew 1-1 last time out in a highly competitive match and I expect the same again.

The Squad

Goalkeepers

There is a decent amount of rotation or new faces among this squad, partially due to injuries. It is certainly not our strongest 23-man roster but that is to be expected in these windows where it comes in the thick of the European season and is a chance for inexperienced players to have a shot to train with the first team. This is evident right from the start in the goalkeeper room. Three keepers have emerged at the top of the USMNT food chain in the last year: Zach Steffen (Manchester City), Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest), and Matt Turner (New England Revolution). Steffen and Turners production has placed them as the clear 1 and 2, whom you chose as the 1 is subject to debate. I have no problem with leaving Horvath off for Gabriel Slonina and Sean Johnson, as neither of them are likely to get gametime anyway.

Defenders: Goodbye John Brooks

John Brooks after scoring the winner against Ghana at 2014 WC: Image by Winslow Townson via USA Today

The defenders have one VERY obvious omission. John Brooks (28) has established himself as the veteran center back for the US. He has been playing at Wolfsburg since 2017 and is most remembered for his late winning goal in the opening game of the 2014 World Cup against Ghana, as a substitute. He certainly has dipped in form over his last few caps but I see no reason why he should be left out of the squad entirely. His attitude during some of those performances was poor, and may have instigated some behind the scenes fighting between Gregg Berhalter and Brooks. If that’s the case, then I hope it was so significant as to hinder the performance of the other players. If not, then a mere benching would have been sufficient until he could find his form again. His presence and experience has to come as invaluable with a young squad attempting to qualify for the World Cup for their first time.

Midfielders and Forwards: We Miss You Gio

Ricardo Pepi: Image by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire/Imago Images via Sports Illustrated

I see no problems with the rotation of midfielders in the squad. I expect Adams and McKennie to play all three games and the other spot is left with enough quality options. The forwards however have some intriguing choices. Gyasi Zardes, whom I personally find little redeeming qualities in compared to many of the European strikers, has been on break for weeks now. Who knows what kind of form he is in coming into the window? I would have liked to see Jordan Pefok in the squad, but it appears the restarting of the Swiss Super League through this window will keep him out. Overall however, the three fit players that I want to start up top, Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, and Brendan Aaronson are all included.

My Lineup

I would like to see the US lineup in a 5-3-2 this window. The formation is essentially for one player, Sergino Dest, who is an extreme defensive liability at right back. The back 5 formation is perfect for what he brings to this team and with Gio Reyna out, there is an attacking position that I am not sold on. Timothy Weah (Lille) would be the obvious choice among those selected. I am a fan of Weah but I still do not see where is place is among the squad, and how well he meshes with some of the other players, so why not allow Dest to be free to create? To complete the back line, I would like to see Antonee Robinson at LWB, and Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman, and Chris Richards as the three center backs. The midfield can only be occupied by two players and that Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. Both are astounding players and bring out the best in the team. Performances always dip when either of them are out.

Up top I would run an extremely fluid three of Pulisic, Aaronson, and Pepi. Pepi was recently signed by FC Augsburg and has come up in big moments for the USA even as a 19 year old. Pulisic is one of our best players and undroppable if fit. Finally, Aaronson has been churning out fantastic performances for RB Salzburg, attracting the attention of Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa for the amount of running he does on the pitch. Those three, with Pepi staying the most central as the number 9, and Pulisic and Reyna picking up the balls and providing the creative spark, alternating between who occupies the number 10 position, should create a diverse and creative US side.

From left to right: Brendan Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, and Ricardo Pepi: Image 1 by Christopher Hanewinckel/USA Today Sports via The Guardian, Image 2 by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports, Image 3 by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire/Imago Images via Sports Illustrated

The Significance of this Window

It does not really matter where we finish for qualifying purposes in the World Cup, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting a first-place finish. We have a chance to go top with a victory against first place Canada and while it may not prove anything for this squad which won the Nations League and Gold Cup, I do believe it puts them on the best footing to succeed at the World Cup in Qatar. CONCACAF is such a strange qualifying place, and it often doesn’t show how well you will do against the teams from Europe, but beating those around us is the first step to World Cup success. This team is far from complete, in terms of the best 11 and formation. This window will give Berhalter and the players a chance to find a few more clues as to what the true identity of this team is, and how we keep progressing as a nation on the world footballing stage.