Related Articles
The Individuals (1-1-0, three factors) sit second in Group C — two will advance — but it surely’s a precarious place due to unfavorable matchups on the final day of group play. A U.S. loss to Uruguay (2-0-0, six) would go away Panama (1-1-0, three) needing solely a draw in opposition to Bolivia (0-2-0, zero) in a match being performed in Orlando and likewise kicking off at 9 p.m. Jap time. If each video games end in attracts, the Individuals would advance on aim differential.
Even a U.S. victory may not be sufficient as a result of a Panamanian victory by a large sufficient margin may flip the aim differential tiebreaker. Coming into Monday, the U.S. group is plus-one; Panama is minus-one.
“Our knockout recreation really got here 5 days earlier,” Berhalter mentioned of his group’s prospects of reaching Saturday’s quarterfinal. “If we don’t put efficiency, [if] we don’t win the sport, our Copa América is completed. There’s not a lot else to say.”
The U.S. group is motivated to rebound from its 2-1 loss to Panama on Thursday in Atlanta, the place Tim Weah acquired an early purple card — the fifth by a U.S. participant prior to now 21 matches in official competitors — and the successful aim was scored within the 83rd minute.
Failure to advance would strike a substantial blow to the U.S. program, which is in search of to make strides because the 2026 World Cup approaches and develop public assist for the group and the game. Copa América is soccer’s third-most-prominent match, behind the World Cup and European Championship, and provides the final main take a look at for the U.S. group till 2026.
“We’re all extraordinarily motivated and wish to placed on a very robust efficiency, particularly on dwelling soil,” captain Christian Pulisic mentioned of this match’s significance. “We wish to present everybody we’re right here to compete with the perfect.”
Berhalter and his group have confronted — and conquered — loads of adversity over the previous 19 months.
On the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, they wanted to defeat Iran within the group finale to succeed in the knockout stage. They did.
Within the group opener on the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, they trailed Jamaica within the waning moments earlier than scoring a late equalizer. Within the quarterfinals, they trailed Canada in additional time earlier than benefiting from an personal aim and finally prevailing in a shootout. Within the semifinals, they got here again in the identical method in opposition to Panama earlier than falling within the tiebreaker.
Within the Concacaf Nations League semifinals this 12 months, the US wanted a stoppage-time personal aim in opposition to Jamaica to pressure additional time. Two subsequent targets by Haji Wright clinched a spot within the closing, wherein they thumped Mexico for this system’s third consecutive trophy.
“It’s good expertise to have in our again pocket,” midfielder Tyler Adams mentioned.
Uruguay, although, is the perfect group the Individuals will face in a do-or-die state of affairs since they misplaced to the Netherlands within the 2022 World Cup’s spherical of 16. La Celeste (Sky Blue), the 15-time Copa América champion, breezed previous Panama and Bolivia by an 8-1 rely.
Uruguay has not clinched passage to the Copa quarterfinals as a result of, in principle, the group may end with three groups on six factors. Its well-known coach, Marcelo Bielsa, is not going to be on the sideline Monday, although: Match organizers suspended him one recreation and fined the Uruguayan federation $15,000 as a result of the group was late returning to the sphere after halftime of the Bolivia match.
His longtime assistant, Diego Reyes, will deal with sideline duties. Pressed on whether or not Uruguay will relaxation regulars, Reyes mentioned Sunday that lineup selections had but to be made.
“My estimate can be they play their strongest group,” Berhalter mentioned.
Bielsa’s absence is not going to alter Uruguay’s plans to play with excessive depth and press aggressively — Bielsa logos. “We predict as a group. There’s a clear thought,” Reyes mentioned.
The Individuals might want to address Uruguay’s type whereas pushing for targets themselves in a match they virtually definitely should win to advance.
“If you’re taking a look at it realistically, there’s a probability that is our final recreation,” left again Antonee Robinson mentioned, “and there’s no motive to carry something again.”
Notes: Already ineligible in opposition to Uruguay, Weah was suspended an extra recreation for punching Panama’s Roderick Miller at the back of the top. He would miss the quarterfinal ought to the US qualify. …
Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who left the Panama recreation at halftime with a leg harm, engaged in restricted coaching the previous two days. Berhalter mentioned the employees will proceed to observe him. If Turner can not play, Ethan Horvath would begin.
Source link
