This U.S. team has the advantage of not carrying a lot of baggage from past failures in the World Cup.
If you happen to be a supporter of the Jets in the NFL, rooting for the U.S. men’s national team in soccer must feel familiar in that they both have a nasty habit of teasing before eventually letting you down.
This U.S. team has the advantage of not carrying a lot of baggage from past failures. Only one player, 29-year-old right back DeAndre Yedlin, was on the last U.S. team to play in the World Cup, coming off the bench in 2014 in Brazil. And only four current players — Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, Kellyn Acosta and Yedlin — were on the U.S. team that failed to qualify for the ’18 World Cup.
“This generation hasn’t yet defined themselves, and we have the opportunity to begin to define ourselves at this World Cup,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said recently on the “Men in Blazers’’ podcast. In 2014, when the U.S. advanced to the Round of 16, it finished with four points in the group stage, second to eventual-champion Germany and even with Portugal. It advanced on goal differential, which can be a dicey game to play.In 2010, when the U.S. advanced through the group stage, it finished at the top of the group with five points, finishing ahead of England on goal differential thanks to a 91st-minute goal by Landon Donovan against Algeria in the final group-stage match.
The U.S., which played to a 0-0 draw with Wales in 2020, will need at worst a draw against Wales on Monday or it will be setting itself up for difficult road to advance with England up next. The last thing the U.S. wants to do is go into that Iran match having to win and get three points to advance.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Who’s who on the USMNT roster: Players to watch in the 2022 World CupHere’s a look at the entire USMNT roster for the 2022 World Cup, including the projected starters for its first game against Wales.
Read more »
World Cup 2022: USMNT still has lineup questions ahead of opener vs. Wales[World Cup: Viewer's guide | Group previews | Top 30 players | Power rankings]
Read more »
The USMNT makes its return to World Cup vs. some familiar foesThe U.S. men’s national team makes its return to the World Cup with some familiar foes waiting for them.
Read more »
How to watch USMNT in the 2022 World Cup: TV channel, streaming, datesHere’s what you need to know about how to watch the USMNT in the 2022 World Cup.
Read more »
World Cup live updates: Host Qatar kicks off tournament against Ecuador; USMNT names captainDon't miss a moment of the World Cup. The action kicks off Sunday with host-nation Qatar facing Ecuador.
Read more »
Out of ashes of 2018 disappointment, USMNT built perhaps its most talented World Cup team | OpinionThe USMNT's devastation of missing the 2018 World Cup in Russia has faded. Time helps – as does the realization that the darkest time in U.S. soccer’s modern era might have paved the way for the brightest, nrarmour writes.
Read more »