Tianjin, 4 Nov (Xinhua) -- The United States is a sports power, but when it comes to the US men's soccer team, people have the impression that it has little to do with "strong." On the one hand, in the United States, sports such as football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey are more popular, and football is stealing the limelight; On the other hand, in major international events such as the World Cup, the record of the US men's soccer team is indeed lackluster compared to the world's No. 1 women's soccer team.
U.S. women's soccer team celebrates World Cup victory in New York July 10, 2019. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Ying
Few people may know that the U.S. men's soccer team also won the third place in the World Cup. Of course, that goes back more than 90 years to the first World Cup in 1930, when only 13 teams participated, and the schedule format was not the same as it is now.
After a long period of silence, with the east wind of bidding to host and hosting the 1994 World Cup, the US men's soccer team began to truly enter the vision of international football. From the 1990 World Cup in Italy to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the U.S. men's soccer team has been a finalist for seven consecutive times and has become a World Cup "regular". At the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, the United States reached the quarterfinals, including an impressive 3:2 defeat over Portugal's "Golden Generation" in the group stage.
After missing the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the American team, which experienced labor pains and adjustments, made a comeback, and despite minor setbacks in the World Preliminary Round, it still broke through from the North, Central America and the Caribbean with a third-place finish to win a direct ticket to the Qatar World Cup finals.
Chelsea's Christian Christian Pulisic (centre) scores on goal during a Premier League match against Liverpool on 2 January 2022. Xinhua News Agency
Today's U.S. men's soccer team has a lot of young talent, and most of them play in the Europa League. Although Pulisic, who plays for Chelsea in the Premier League, is only 24 years old, he has already taken on the role of captain. 22-year-old Leeds United midfielder Aronson, 24-year-old Serie A Juventus midfielder McKennie, 22-year-old Serie A AC Milan full-back Durst, 19-year-old Bundesliga Dortmund midfielder Reina, and 22-year-old Ligue 1 Lille forward Weah are also important members of the "youth storm" of the American team. The U.S. team is expected to be one of the youngest teams at the World Cup in Qatar, with an average age of around 24.
Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe (left) fights with Juventus' McKennie in a Champions League match on September 6, 2022. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Gao Jing
In terms of technical and tactical play, the American team uses more side attacks according to the characteristics of its own players. Pulisic has excellent dribbling and explosiveness, and he is a left winger with great ability to cut inside; Reina on the right can both deliver a bottom cross and dribble inside. Another attacker, Aronson, can play multiple positions in midfield and has excellent overall ability. Taking advantage of the team's youth and physical strength, the U.S. team is well placed to carry out high-pressure scrambles and fast-paced counterattacks.
Dortmund's Reina (left) fights with Eintracht Frankfurt's Makoto Hasebe during a match on August 14, 2021. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Joachim Bivalez)
Because of its youth, what the American team lacks most now is competition experience. When facing different opponents, different situations and different rhythms in a game, young players need to make timely and correct adjustments and responses.
Compared to the talent in the central midfield, the American team's shortcomings are in the central midfield, especially the goalkeeper position, and Stephen and Turner are reduced to substitutes in their respective clubs, and there are not many opportunities to play. Who will be the top goalkeeper of the United States team at the World Cup in Qatar will need to be seriously considered by head coach Berhalt.
In fact, Berhalt himself has recently been on the cusp of public opinion. Although the 49-year-old has been coaching Team USA for nearly four years, fans still doubt his experience and ability to coach major tournaments. In the last two World Cup warm-up matches, the United States first lost 0-2 to Japan and then drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia, and Berhalt has attracted the dissatisfaction of some fans in terms of personnel and technical and tactical arrangements.
Fortunately, the US team's "signing" at the World Cup in Qatar is good. The U.S. team's Group B presents a "one superpower" pattern, in addition to England, Iran, Wales and the United States are between Bo Zhong, and all three teams have the opportunity to compete for another group spot.
Bale's Wales team is in a period of alternation between old and new, while Iran, which is known for its body and strength in Asia, no longer has a physical and strength advantage over European and American teams. The young U.S. team, if they can fight these two rivals, have a chance to advance to the round of 16 as second in the group, thus challenging the first place in Group A (most likely the Netherlands) in the 1/8 final.
Being young, inexperienced, and possible to make mistakes also means endless possibilities. In the upcoming Qatar World Cup, people will witness the "youth storm" of the American team, and also look forward to the "dark horse miracle".