Observe stay protection of USMNT vs Uruguay at 2024 Copa America immediately
After the 2-1 loss to Panama on Thursday night time in Atlanta, U.S. males’s nationwide crew captain Christian Pulisic was requested how he would settle for the problem of dealing with Uruguay on Monday together with his crew’s Copa America hopes within the steadiness.
“Simply as we settle for any problem,” Pulisic mentioned. “We have now to go and we have now to characterize our nation with ardour and pleasure. We have now to go and play one of the best recreation of our lives and that’s it.”
Pulisic demurred when requested about that quote once more on Sunday.
Sure, the U.S. wants a end result in opposition to an excellent Uruguay aspect so as to advance to the eight-team knockout stage, assuming Panama beats Bolivia, defeated in each matches thus far by a mixed rating of 7-0, within the different Group C recreation occurring on the identical time. Sure, there may be immense stress on the U.S. to get out of the group. However there are paths to getting it completed that don’t require otherworldly performances.
“Considering again, I don’t suppose that’s true. I don’t suppose we have now to play one of the best recreation of our lives,” Pulisic mentioned. “Possibly I used to be a bit emotional.
“I feel we have now to play a very sturdy recreation. I do know we have now a adequate crew that may try this — placed on a very good efficiency. Meaning popping out with depth from the beginning, not letting feelings get one of the best of us, sticking to our recreation plan, trusting that we have now a adequate crew and that ultimately, over the 90 minutes, we are able to seize a purpose and go forward and win the sport.
“So, I feel we simply want a very sturdy efficiency. The very best recreation of our lives can be nice, however that doesn’t occur typically.”
It is going to take one thing particular to beat a really proficient Uruguay crew, even when coach Marcelo Bielsa — adored by Leeds United followers after main the English membership again to the Premier League in July 2020 after 16 seasons within the second and even third tiers — can be lacking from the dugout. The Argentine will serve a one-match ban tonight after his crew emerged late for the second half of final week’s 5-0 win over Bolivia.
For a U.S. crew that has not but registered a marquee win outdoors of its area, Monday presents a primary alternative to cross that off the checklist.
Right here’s a have a look at what’s at stake for Gregg Berhalter and the U.S. males’s nationwide crew, and what you should know forward of the group finale in Kansas Metropolis (9 p.m. ET).
What’s at stake?
The U.S. sit in second place of their Copa America group, however after falling to Panama final week in Atlanta (a recreation through which they performed with 10 males for 70 minutes) they now probably should get a end result in opposition to one of many match favorites so as to advance to the quarterfinal.
A win would probably safe passage to the subsequent spherical for the U.S., although the three factors alone may not be sufficient. The U.S. have a two-goal benefit over Panama in purpose differential, which is the primary tiebreaker on this match. So, if Panama beats Bolivia in Orlando, the U.S. not solely must beat Uruguay, they want to take action whereas defending that two-goal benefit.
The U.S. would additionally advance to the knockout stage with a draw if Panama and Bolivia additionally tie or if Bolivia beats Panama. They might even advance to the knockout stage with a loss if Bolivia beats Panama and fails to shut a considerable purpose differential hole with the U.S. The U.S. at present sits at plus-1, whereas Bolivia sits at minus-7.
Panama is favored to beat Bolivia, in a recreation that may kick off on the identical time.
Whereas Uruguay haven’t secured passage by way of to the subsequent spherical after two video games, they sit comfortably atop the standings with six factors and a plus-7 purpose differential and solely must keep away from a four-goal loss to the U.S. so as to keep in entrance of the hosts within the standings.
The winner of Group C will play a last-eight tie in opposition to the runner-up in Group D (Brazil or Colombia) at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, on Saturday, July 6. The crew which comes second in Group C will progress to face the winner of Group D (the opposite of Brazil and Colombia) at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, additionally on July 6.
Outcomes thus far:
- June 23: USMNT 2-0 Bolivia; Uruguay 3-1 Panama
- June 27: USMNT 1-2 Panama; Uruguay 5-0 Bolivia
Key areas to observe
The U.S. will face an fascinating steadiness between using and embracing the emotion of a vital recreation in entrance of a house crowd at Arrowhead Stadium, and likewise having to discover a approach to not open themselves up an excessive amount of in opposition to a Uruguay crew that’s extremely harmful pushing ahead.
“ Uruguay, they do a few issues simply actually, actually excessive stage,” Berhalter mentioned. “The depth that they play with, the pace at which they play, how they preserve the depth all through the sport is completely different stage. Trying on the knowledge, they’re above and past different groups on this match.
“After which the second factor is counter-attacking, transition. Once they win the ball, they instantly get behind the again line. And that’s one thing we must be ready for.”
Uruguay’s dominance has been led by Liverpool’s Darwin Nuñez and Actual Madrid’s Federico Valverde, although they’re bolstered by gamers together with Facundo Pellistri, 22, who spent the second half of the season on mortgage from Manchester United to Granada, Flamengo’s Nicolás de la Cruz and Toluca’s Maximiliano Araujo.
So what’s it like dealing with a Bielsa crew? “You get the ball again and so they’re on you instantly, forcing a mistake,” says Paul Warne, who got here up in opposition to Bielsa’s Leeds whereas managing Rotherham United in 2018-19. “Earlier than lengthy, it begins to get into your head and it tires you out. If the ball runs to your full-back, he both has to be sure you choose the right move there after which or they nick it again and so they’re on high of you once more. It turns into exhausting. You don’t get time to breathe.”
The U.S. again line and midfield can be tasked with limiting Uruguay’s impression, and it will likely be fascinating to see how they go about changing Tim Weah on the suitable wing after his pink card in opposition to Panama.
Weah gives verticality and the flexibility to take gamers on 1-on-1. There isn’t a like-for-like sub on this U.S. crew, although Berhalter has choices resembling Haji Wright and Brenden Aaronson, and will additionally transfer Gio Reyna out to the wing and play with the 2022 World Cup midfield of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah.
Lastly, USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner was substituted at halftime in opposition to Panama after struggling a left leg harm. The early indicators have been constructive however Turner solely took half in restricted coaching over the weekend and his availability to face Uruguay shouldn’t be confirmed.
Who’re the managers?
Marcelo Bielsa took over Uruguay in Might 2023 and the crew often known as La Celeste (Spanish for the sunshine blue of their dwelling shirt) has thrived beneath the famed supervisor, going 9-2-3, together with wins over each Brazil and reigning Copa America and World Cup champions Argentina in World Cup qualifying. Bielsa, who coached his native Argentina on the 2002 World Cup, has additionally led Chile’s nationwide aspect and coached a number of membership groups, together with, most just lately, Leeds United.
Bielsa, although, can be suspended for this match on account of Uruguay popping out late from halftime within the win over Bolivia. Lengthy-time assistants Diego Reyes and Pablo Quiroga will direct the crew.
The U.S. is led by Gregg Berhalter, who was employed in 2019 and led the crew by way of the final cycle into the 2022 World Cup, the place they superior from the group earlier than falling to the Netherlands within the 16-team first knockout spherical.
Berhalter, the previous coach of Columbus Crew in MLS, is 44-16-13 in 73 matches as USMNT head coach and 29-8-7 in 44 matches in official competitions. The U.S. has received three consecutive CONCACAF Nations League crowns beneath Berhalter.
Who’s mentioned what?
Uruguay assistant coach Reyes on Bielsa’s absence: “We as a employees have been working with Marcelo for a really very long time and the preparation for the sport is one thing that we do as a crew. Naturally, Marcelo’s absence because of the suspension is essential, we’re taking each precaution in order that it impacts us as little as attainable, however we’re certain that although Marcelo isn’t there, we’re going to have the ability to implement all the pieces we have now been engaged on not just for this recreation, however for a really very long time.”
Pulisic on the massive image worth of advancing within the Copa America for the game’s development in america, which co-hosts the 2026 World Cup with neighbors Canada and Mexico: “It’s a serious match. We’re all extraordinarily motivated, we need to placed on a very sturdy efficiency and particularly on dwelling soil. Right here within the U.S., we need to present everybody that we’re right here to compete with one of the best. We need to proceed within the match as a result of that’s simply our aggressive nature.”
Berhalter on enjoying good, however aggressive, in opposition to Uruguay: “It needs to be measured. It’s a 90-minute recreation, it’s not about exposing your self or opening your self up within the first minutes of the sport, it’s concerning the full efficiency. … It’s about managing the sport accordingly and understanding that they’ve some actually good strengths; they’ve some weaknesses additionally, and we have now to be conscious of that. Our job as a employees is to organize the gamers, to remain calm, and put together for various situations which will come up within the match.”
How can I watch?
In america, the sport can be broadcast stay on FS1 in English, and on Univision and TUDN in Spanish.
(High picture: Carmen Mandato/USSF/Getty Photographs for USSF)