U.S. choice complications for Berhalter

Momentum, confidence, sharpness, cohesiveness; these are chemical-like traits for a staff, and they’re as fascinating as they’re troublesome to quantify.

But it is clear that within the wake of the 6-Zero thrashing administered by the US in Saturday’s Gold Cup match towards Trinidad and Tobago, these qualities are actually at their peak for the U.S., at the very least by way of the Gregg Berhalter period. The People’ spot within the quarterfinals can be assured. This makes the U.S. supervisor’s strategy in Wednesday’s group finale towards Panama trickier than it in any other case may be.

Does he look to make wholesale adjustments in a bid to get minutes for as many gamers as attainable? Does he hold issues the identical? Or does he try to discover a center floor?

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Following the T&T match, not even Berhalter was positive provided that that is the primary time he has been pressured to make such choices. At his pregame media convention he wasn’t giving a lot away.

“We talked with the staff and we need to attempt to win the group. That is a precedence,” he stated on Tuesday. “Internally, we spoke with the gamers and our ambition is to win the sport tomorrow.

“We all know Panama is an excellent opponent. We all know we all the time have troublesome video games in Panama. We have met them, I believe, within the final seven Gold Cups and all of the video games have been powerful video games. So we all know they will out up good resistance, however we’ll attempt to win.”

Successful the group does carry with it some benefits, the largest being that it’s going to end in a quarterfinal matchup towards Curacao — the shock of the event, however heavy underdogs nonetheless — on Sunday versus Jamaica, which defeated a makeshift U.S. aspect 1-Zero in a latest pleasant.

That, mixed with Berhalter’s earlier feedback, it will appear that at the very least some adjustments can be made. The compressed schedule of video games — together with simply two full days between the quarterfinals and the semifinals — calls for as a lot, and a have a look at a number of the particular person concerns level to a number of alterations.

Berhalter has been intent on getting Jozy Altidore as much as full health since he arrived in camp. To that finish, the Toronto FC ahead seemed lively and concerned throughout his 16-minute stint towards the Soca Warriors, and whereas Gyasi Zardes drew some deserved plaudits for this two-goal efficiency, there’s a normal understanding that an Altidore at 100 p.c makes the U.S. a greater staff. Beginning him would get Berhalter nearer to reaching that finish.

A case may also be made at hand Jordan Morris a begin. The Seattle attacker’s introduction towards T&T helped flip a good sport right into a rout, with Morris contributing assists on targets by Christian Pulisic and Paul Arriola. That may seem like a troublesome break for Tyler Boyd, but when Berhalter is intent on doling out minutes to some reserves, Morris’ efficiency must be rewarded.

Michael Bradley was one other participant who arrived in camp carrying an harm, and whereas he now appears to be like near full health, the match appears the correct alternative to present him some relaxation and let Wil Trapp attempt to achieve some sharpness.

Within the again, Matt Miazga appears a first-rate candidate to get some minutes in case considered one of Walker Zimmerman or Aaron Lengthy is unavailable later within the event.

Weston McKennie finds himself within the distinctive place of getting been the one U.S. participant to have been booked within the event up to now. In line with the CONCACAF Gold Cup competitors guidelines, yellow playing cards are worn out after the quarterfinals to keep away from a situation whereby a participant could be suspended for the ultimate because of accumulation of yellow playing cards.

A yellow card towards Panama would see McKennie suspended for the quarterfinals. Sitting him towards Panama runs the danger of him being suspended for the semifinal. All of it comes all the way down to how a lot Berhalter trusts McKennie’s self-discipline.

Weston McKennie is a key cog in Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT, however can the coach belief the midfielder to remain out of the referee’s e-book? Matthew Ashton/AMA/Getty Photos

Panama is in a lot the identical place because the U.S, although it should prevail in Wednesday’s encounter with a purpose to win the group, whereas for the hosts a draw will suffice. Will Julio Dely Valdes select to relaxation gamers or go along with his first-choice lineup? Both manner, Berhalter is conscious that Valdes has an skilled group at his disposal, even when the likes of goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, ahead Blas Perez and defender Felipe Baloy have retired from the worldwide sport.

“It is a good era for Panama,” Berhalter stated. “We predict they’ve dynamic, attacking gamers. We like how their forwards play collectively and mix with one another. We just like the power of the wingers, their velocity, the one-on-one capability they’ve.

“We predict they’ve a powerful back-line, a very good bodily robust back-line. The left-back has been taking part in rather well. We all know Murillo nicely from MLS. [Roman] Torres and [Harold] Cummings as nicely, very robust, bodily center-backs.

“Total, I believe it is a good staff. Escobar has slid into midfield, we all know that is not his regular place, however he is been doing a very good job in there. Cooper has a number of power and a number of dynamic capability. Total, to me, it is a robust staff.”

For the U.S., all of it makes for a fragile steadiness. Getting it proper could nicely propel the People into the knockout rounds.