There are justified concerns about the USMNT's mettle, and the New Zealand friendly is an opportunity to respond
Tuesday's friendly between the U.S. men's national team and New Zealand is atypical, for a number of reasons. It's a game that occupies the space between extremely important and totally inconsequential. There are parts of this game that seem program-defining, but also parts that will have absolutely no impact whatsoever on where the USMNT is going.
In a way, Tuesday's game in Cincinnati is about more than the game; it's about messaging. It's about how the USMNT responds to several self-inflicted setbacks in Saturday's embarrassing loss to Canada.
Realistically, that doesn't really matter. These two friendlies are under an interim coach and, until Mauricio Pochettino walks through that door – which has been reported to happen for nearly a month – the USMNT is standing still. Should that happen, Pochettino will conduct things his way, regardless of what happens during this September international window.
At the same time, it does matter. The players that make up this team need to show signs of life. There are justified concerns about this team's mettle, and it's now up to them to answer them.
New Zealand is coming off a 3-0 loss to Mexico on Saturday in a friendly at Pasadena, California. The All Whites, whose last World Cup appearance was in 2010, start World Cup qualifying next month against Tahiti.
“Once game time hits,” Christian Pulisic said, “it’s who’s going to go out on the field and who’s going to step up and who’s going to not be afraid to get into a hard tackle, to show that they’re there.”
So what can the USMNT do differently against New Zealand? What points does this group have to prove? GOAL takes a look.
USA Today SportsBring the intensity
The words "intensity" and "mentality" were used far, far too often following the loss to Canada. Interim coach Mikey Varas and players such as Christian Pulisic and Tim Ream all pointed to how much the USMNT was lacking in those departments. The stats told a similar picture.
Canada won 31 tackles to the USMNT's 12. The U.S. won 46 duels while Canada won 64. Those aren't talent stats; they're effort stats. There's no excuse for the margins to be that wide, even against a good Canada team.
Some things in soccer are complicated, but this isn't one of those things. This is as easy as running hard, being physical and playing with more energy. Be persistent.
The USMNT seem to require a refresher on the basics after being schooled by Canada last time out. Maybe that means keeping an energy player like Brenden Aaronson in the XI to help set the tone. Maybe it means mass changes as a reminder. Regardless, that energy needs to be there from whoever Varas selects.
AdvertisementGettyTake care of the damn ball
Again, not reinventing the wheel here. This is kindergarten stuff.
Considering what we saw on Saturday, though, it's worth a reminder: don't lose the ball in your own half. Johnny Cardoso did it on the first goal. Tim Ream did it on the second. They weren't the only ones, but they were the ones that were punished. Everyone involved knows better.
"I can sit there and raise my hand and say that was crap," Ream admitted Saturday. "My own individual game was s–t today."
When you're on that field, the ball is the most valuable thing in the world. It must be protected. By simply doing that, the U.S. cuts out so much of the bad that happened against Canada.
Neither goal happens without a bad turnover. Without bad turnovers, you advance the ball higher. When you advance the ball higher, your press can trigger in more advantageous spots. There's a domino effect, and the first domino falls as long as the U.S. shows some poise in possession and cuts down on the self-inflicted wounds.
GettyGo more vertical
One way to cut down on the silly mistakes is to go long. Playing more vertically is about more than that, though; it's about actually threatening on the attacking end, too.
"What happens is, when you're more vertical," Varas said, "and you're having more success in your build-up, then all of a sudden, you're more aggressive in your press. You're more aggressive in your counter-press."
Playing out of the back is good. It's a good mindset to have but, even in modern soccer, it isn't for everyone. There are times when teams have to be willing to just kick the ball long and run, which is something the U.S. has struggled with recently.
Even without Tim Weah in camp, there's pace in the team. Folarin Balogun can chase things down, as can Christian Pulisic. If Balogun doesn't start, Josh Sargent is a player who makes very intelligent runs to pull defenders away. Cade Cowell, if he starts, can burn just about everyone on the field.
That type of pace opens doors. Utilizing that pace also limits mistakes. It's helpful on both sides, and the U.S. needs to remember that.
GettyReward those that deserve it
Varas correctly pointed out that things are different for substitutes. They're stepping into a game where the problems have been made clear. They're then tasked with fixing those problems against tired legs.
Even so, several substitutes earned rewards. They should get them on Tuesday.
Aidan Morris is chief among them. The midfielder provided the energy and bite that was missing from the USMNT midfield, impressing Varas a whole lot in the process.
"He did his thing," Varas said. "He sent a statement to me. I didn't start him. That's on me. He put out a statement and that's all I can ask of players: when you get your shot, you play at your highest level and you show me that I either got it wrong or I got it right. He showed me that he can do it."
Morris isn't the only one, though. Defenders like Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie have waited for their chance. Cowell, despite being a late addition, deserves one, too. Caleb Wiley's play in Ligue 1 means he should get an opportunity as well. All of the players mentioned have made moves this year to try and climb their way up the ladder. Reward them for their ambitions and, for several of them, their good play on the club level.
This isn't all-encompassing, of course. Some of the old guard deserve chances, too. Matt Turner should get a chance to fight for his No. 1 shirt. Malik Tillman and Johnny Cardoso could be given a chance to rebound. It's a fine balance between offering redemption and offering change, and Varas will need to strike it.
