Sanjay Sujanthakumar
The US U20s got their World Cup campaign back on track with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Memorial Day. Three thoughts following the win:
US RESPONDS
After struggling to break down an organized Ukraine, the US possessed with purpose and tempo from the start. Tab made only one change to the lineup from Friday, with striker Sebastian Soto coming in for Brandon Servania – pushing Tim Weah wide and Paxton Pomykal into the midfield three – bettering the balance of this side. Although in terms of tactical organization, Nigeria was an inferior opponent than Ukraine, with a less rigid and disciplined defensive approach, the US seized the initiative from the start. For the first half hour, the US moved the ball with swagger, polish and ideas that were missing against Ukraine, with Alex Mendez and Paxton Pomykal pulling the strings.
About fifteen minutes after Sebastian Soto’s header put the US ahead, a very talented Nigeria grew into the game and the US survived a nervy stretch at the end of the first half when Brady Scott stood tall between the sticks. It was the finest stretch of the tournament yet for Scott. who, while making the necessary saves, still lacks command of his area, particularly on opposing set pieces.
The US responded perfectly to the Baby Eagles onslaught literally right after the break with a lovely string of passes and tastily timed movement from back to front on the left side, finished off by Soto on a feed from fellow Hannover youngster Chris Gloster. It was, as the video shows, one of the finest technical American goals scored in any competition.
While the US didn’t really control the second half, that’s at least in part due to immediately scoring in the second half, meaning Nigeria were absolutely needing to chase the game. The Americans were inevitably going to be under pressure, and they absorbed it well, limiting the quality of Nigerian chances even as the Baby Eagles outshot the Yanks 19-12. Eventually, as the Americans tired, Tab Ramos brought on Brandon Servania for Mendez to help clamp things down in the 77th minute.
But even under pressure, the encouraging sustained periods of possession – sideways and prodding the Nigerian lines with rhythm and intent until the incisive pass – sweetened the three points heading into the group finale on Thursday.
More on that below, but first…
WHAT PAXTON POMYKAL REPRESENTS
I remember watching the U23s against Colombia in the second leg of the playoff to qualify for the Olympics in 2016 with a friend, an old school coach who wasn’t exactly impressed with that crop of MNT hopefuls. He slammed the team – especially the midfielders – as “academy soft” and too lax to release the ball in the right moment. And while my philosophy as a coach definitely differs from his – and those players weren’t entirely developed in the DA – I understood his concern.
At the lower level, you’ll see players step down to high school soccer from the stratosphere of the DA and don’t significantly impact games – let alone dominate the lesser competition – because they were rewired (people are inclined to blame the DA environment, and that’s actually part of a larger cultural problem here as we optimize the pro pathway of what is really a players’ game). How?
Even at the higher level, while preaching progress in the style of play, an overemphasis on keeping the ball can condition players the wrong way.
Before the World Cup, Tab said, “One of the knocks I have in academy games is that you have a lot of guys who just keep possession and play the ball sideways and backwards. This is why at the U-20 level I pull guys aside like Paxton [Pomykal] or Alex Mendez and say: it’s great that you can keep the ball but how about now making plays. I need you in the final third to make plays that win games or create dangerous situations whether its passing, shooting, getting fouled, or creating corners. Make plays. We still could use more of those players but in terms of possession, we’re in a completely different world than when I played. There are literally thousands of players who can keep possession.”
Defensively, softness and a lack of work rate are natural stereotypes associated with a more technical player, especially if they’re less direct in their decisions with the ball. And while our style of play is supposed to evolve under Gregg Berhalter, we don’t want the DNA of an American team – its industry, spirit, never-say-die attitude – to diminish in this transition.
The truth is that even before this promising generation arrives for the MNT, in failing to qualify that identity imploded. And one teenager in particular now represents a bright future when we can beautifully blend both the defensive fortitude that defined the past, and the proactiveness that will enable the press and attack to prosper moving forward.
Paxton Pomykal.
We already put Pomykal on a pedestal. The internet is inundated with all-touch videos and articles on FCD’s Homegrown gem, mainly due to his elegance, vision, and danger on the dribble, but what Pomykal brings both ways is why I can’t wait to see him with the MNT. He’s the real deal, and along with the potentially world-class Mendez, they offer Berhalter skill sets that are historically scarce in the MNT pool.
THURSDAY VS QATAR
The US is in decent shape to advance, in third place heading into its easiest matchup vs. Qatar. Second place surely leads to a showdown with the favorites, France, in the Round of 16, and the US is poised to jump Nigeria, which is ahead on goal differential but faces Ukraine on Thursday as well.
The Chris Richards injury reportedly isn’t serious but he could be rested on Thursday, meaning captain Mark McKenzie might make his first start next to Aboubacar Keita. Keita has quietly been solid in the back, and McKenzie needs to prove he’s fit and sharp for a full 90 ahead of the knockout rounds (assuming the US gets through).
Ramos is in a tough spot. On the one hand, short rest means that there could be a host of changes, especially for the largely ineffective Sergino Dest and the surely tired Chris Durkin.
That said, with the US yet to secure second place, a guaranteed spot in the next round, there’s a chance Ramos doesn’t risk too many changes, especially given the quality result Monday. Having said that, I expect at a minimum Uly Llanez to get the nod on the wing, and the steady Julian Araujo at right back. Servania or Edwin Cerrillo could get a chance at the 6. Most importantly, it would be remiss not to give Richie Ledezma a start in the middle. The PSV prospect is simply too talented to not get a look in this tournament, and the fact he’s a dual international should not be lost on anyone, let alone Ramos’s, mind ahead of the Qatar tilt.
Sanjay Sujanthakumar is a coach and journalist based in California. He is writing specially for The Yanks Are Coming. Follow him on Twitter @the_Real_Kumar.