Callum Wilson scored on his debut and England crushed the United States, 3-0 yesterday in London.
By Sanjay Sujanthakumar
The US fell 3-0 to England at Wembley on Thursday night with goals from Jesse Lingard, Trent-Alexander Arnold, and Callum Wilson.
Here are three thoughts on a deflating performance from the USMNT.
TOO EASY FOR ENGLAND
The US were thoroughly outclassed by what was essentially England’s B team.
With many of England’s regulars rested for Sunday’s UEFA Nations League showdown and World Cup semifinal rematch vs. Croatia, the Americans still struggled to maintain a sustainable minimum level of possession against a superior side and – perhaps more concerningly – failed to consistently defend against wthe young, dynamic Three Lions, let alone trouble them with any pressure. This was especially concerning given the US defended in what was basically a very deep five-man block, with Will Trapp pinned so deep he nearly functioned as a third CB next to Matt Miazga and John Brooks.
The US was humbled by a much better, much deeper team in its worst loss – in terms of margin – under Dave Sarachan. The optimism accompanying Christian Pulisic’s return and the presence of the entire young core – Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Josh Sargent – was eroded not just by England’s dominance but an awareness of where their program is, which is now leagues behind a nation they outplayed for much of ninety minutes at the 2010 World Cup.
Wayne Rooney received a rousing ovation– and a deserved sendoff in a game that was too easy for the Three Lions.
How did this happen?
Development programs provide some answers. While the Americans failed to qualify for successive Olympics under technical director and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, England’s programs dominated and developed a host of future stars.
In 2017, England’s youth national teams were the U17 runners-up, U19 champions and U21 semifinalists in Europe, as well as U17 and U20 World Cup winners. The following year England were Men’s World Cup semifinalists, moving within 45 minutes from a final vs. France before inexperience and nerves crept in and they crumbled in the second half against Croatia.
Prior to the US friendly, which was also his international farewell, England’s all-time leading goal scorer Wayne Rooney praised a “fearless” Gareth Southgate for his faith in the rising kids.
“He’s brought a lot of young players through and not only given them experience but given them a belief that they can do well, perform well and be successful for the country. I think he’s probably the first manager out of the six managers I’ve played for… to bring so many in as a group and have that trust in them. I think he deserves a lot of credit for that,” Rooney said.
Jordan Pickford, Ben Chilwell, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Joe Gomez, Alexander-Arnold, Harry Winks, Jesse Lingard, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Dele Alli, Ross Barkley, Sterling, Kane. These are a few of the young players who have formed the core of Southgate’s still improving team.
Then there are prospects like Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White who will develop with clubs domestically and others – possibly Man City’s Phil Foden and Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson (already on loan to Hoffenheim) – who’ll follow Borussia Dortmund starlet Jadon Sancho in searching for opportunities abroad. Sancho isn’t even a lock to start for England and he’s pushing or sharing starts with American star Christian Pulisic for a place in BVB’s lineup.
Since the Catastrophe in Couva, Sarachan has refreshed the USMNT by introducing what many believe is the most promising generation of American players ever. But Thursday was a reality check, a harsh reminder that even as the US player pool improves, the rest of the world is working to get better too.
TRAPPED
Pun intended. Sarachan said Tyler Adams was “very sore” coming into camp after the Red Bulls defeated the Crew last Sunday to advance in the MLS playoffs, so Wil Trapp was anointed starter and captain yet again. Trapp had his moments. His distribution was less conservative yet just as clean. He made an uncharacteristically crunching challenge to win the ball which would lead to a Julian Green shot late in the first half. Early in the second, he tracked back to tackle the scintillating Sancho near the box to kill a counter. Trapp can leave London with his head held high.
Sarachan cannot.
We still haven’t seen a Tyler Adams-Weston McKennie double pivot. When Adam Belz asked the versatile Adams about his preferred position in September, he said, “I probably say the 6 is my most comfortable position. It’s what I play with the Red Bulls as a holding player. I feel like I can control the game a bit more from that position and break up plays and do what I’m really good at.” On his potential partnership with McKennie, Adams recently said, “I feel like we’re two very dynamic players and I think that’s something that maybe the U.S. hasn’t had in a long time. I think that having two midfielders like ourselves who can play and pivot off of each other is something that would definitely be unique going forward.” Prior to the England match, Pulisic told Taylor Twellman he preferred the 10. Connect these dots.
I know everyone's gonna get up in arms about Trapp over Adams & Trapp (C), but yo, this is your roster & Green is your 10? https://t.co/JieYDebDl8
— Jon (@TYAC_Jon) November 15, 2018
Twenty minutes into the first half, Twellman said, “I’m not sure Timothy Weah has a touch yet.” Two minutes later, he asked Ian Darke, “At what point does the United States try to play?” instead of chasing shadows in a deep block and failing to pass to forwards with any tempo or attacking intent. With England owning the ball in the first half, Julian Green was ineffective playing off Bobby Wood so far from goal, the midfield was flattened, and Pulisic was a waste wide.
Christian Pulisic returned for the United States against England but once again had little creative help.
After the game, Sarachan told the media that “when you watch him play (wide) for his club in his position, he is very dangerous and can find space, our thinking tonight was put him in a comfortable spot.”
This works in theory and it’s true that Pulisic may very well be best as a winger. But Pulisic’s roles and responsibilities for Dortmund and the USMNT are very different, largely because the teams themselves are totally different. Specifically, the latter’s dependence on his creativity, combined with its inability to keep the ball, emphatically answer the question about where he belongs for the time being. With McKennie and Adams behind him – not Michael Bradley on an island – the US can possibly find balance needed to dictate more of the play.
Adams came on as the first American sub in 62nd minute, but by then, England were up 2-0 and had already made four changes. Trapp was the 6, McKennie and Adams the 8s until the 70th minute, when Kellyn Acosta replaced Trapp. Acosta was closer to Adams with McKennie more advanced… for six minutes. With Pulisic staying on the left wing, McKennie came off, and then there were two. Pulisic was more dangerous late—and should have been awarded a penalty on a menacing run near full-time But the US need to find creative solutions and removing Pulisic from the center of the field where he can have the most influence doesn’t help that endeavor.
Considering the number and quality of center midfield prospects, Trapp is not a likely a long-term solution. But even in the short-term, Sarachan has mystifyingly and exasperatingly avoided the McKennie-Adams double pivot, and with Pulisic in the fold, Tuesday is his last chance to unveil this triangle.
PATIENCE GONE, PRESSURE ON
It’s been 13 months. It’s time for the US to announce the coach. If it’s Gregg Berhalter, why wait? If it isn’t, why wait?
Following the loss, Pulisic said, “It’s tough. Dave’s doing what he can. He wants to win these games just like we do. It’s going to help a lot when we get a permanent head coach moving forward, a guy who has a real plan and a style of how we want to play.”
The frustration of fans, and even the media, continues to crescendo, swinging between apathy and anger until the announcement is made. When that finally happens, patience will not be afforded.
Pressure is paradoxically mounting as a result.
World Cup qualifying isn’t on the horizon, and if the 2022 tournament is expanded to 48 teams, the games that actually matter could be even further away and less difficult than we thought. But Gregg Berhalter isn’t going to have a honeymoon. That’s what January in Southern California, rather than Columbus, might sound like. However, after the first month of 2019 limited to the MLS contingent, Berhalter will barely have any time with the entire pool available for selection – just a week in March – before the Gold Cup.
The US faces Italy in Genk, Belgium on Tuesday, a fittingly awkward bookend to the transition year that has been 2018. For the sake of the program, they need to close with a better effort. For the sake of the program, US Soccer needs to move forward.