December 2020, Featured, USMNT

Dominant US close encouraging 2020 with win over El Salvador: TYAC analysis

 

Dec 9, 2020; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; United States teammates celebrate the goal scored by forward Paul Arriola (7) during the first half against El Salvador at Inter Miami CF Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Neil W. Blackmon

The US Men’s National Team capped off an encouraging autumn with a dominant 6-0 win over El Salvador at Inter Miami Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Chris Mueller scored twice and added an assist for the United States, becoming just the sixth US Men’s National Team player, albeit the second in less than a month, to score multiple goals on his debut. 

Here are three thoughts on the US victory. 

 

The US Men’s program provided much-needed joy in an otherwise dark 2020

 

The US Men’s National Team closed the 2020 calendar year undefeated, winning 3 of the 4 games the COVID-19 pandemic allowed them to play. 

On the grimmest day yet for the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the Americans delivered their best performance,  obliterating El Salvador under an avalanche of first half goals in a game that featured several head-turning performances. 

We could discuss those, and likely will in the weeks to come, but it was the way this team played cohesively despite being in a pop-up camp with limited training sessions together that impressed most of all. El Salvador, bringing what is essentially their top team to Fort Lauderdale, elected to challenge the US by playing a high line and pushing the line of confrontation well up the field. The US reacted to this beautifully, with penetrating movement that disrupted the back line and caused the El Salvador midfield to become disjointed trying to cover. The US midfield also played a number of terrific, probing passes from various locations on the field, further unbalancing an El Salvador defense in disarray. 

That the US was this disruptive without any significant adjustments to Berhalter’s system (Aaronson played a little higher on a very large pitch but this was to be expected) made it all the more pleasing to watch. The US is starting to truly understand the way Gregg Berhalter wants them to play, and that has resulted in two consecutive goalfests against overwhelmed CONCACAF opponents. 

At least two of the US goals were of the highest quality. Mueller’s second goal, a diving header at the far post reminiscent of Brian McBride’s goal against Portugal in the 2002 World Cup, came on a lovely cross from fullback Julian Araujo.

The Americans sixth goal, which was the first US Men’s National Team goal for Brenden Aaronson, came after a terrific Aaronson run into space was met by a marvelous no-look flick from Sebastian Lletget, who was outstanding for the second consecutive game for the Stars and Stripes. 

This performance came from a team of US reserves, with only midfielders Lletget and Paul Arriola and captain Aaron Long having been players of any consequence for Berhalter or the United States previously.

While folks are rightly excited about the uber-talented emerging US core in Europe, led by Weston McKennie, who scored a stunner for Juventus against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, the fact that the US can deliver this type of complete performance against a CONCACAF foe from its reserves bodes well for the busy, post-COVID qualifying road ahead. The lack of any dangerous US attacking depth was devastating to the Americans in the previous failed cycle; there appears to be too much talent at present for this cycle to see a repeat of the 2018 US fate. 

The Americans leave 2020 with a plethora of young attacking options, a deep pool at forward and a host of emerging midfield playmakers that the pool has not seen in nearly two decades, if ever. 

In a year that was sad and sobering in so many respects, the young, diverse, fun USMNT has been a lighthouse in the storm. 

It was great to see Paul Arriola back on the field for the USMNT

If 2020 has seemed like a very long decade to you, imagine what it’s been like for Paul Arriola. The speedy DC United midfielder was injured on February 15 against Orlando CIty in Tampa, and had ACL reconstruction surgery on his knee nine days later, just before many US hospitals stopped elective procedures. 

When MLS shut down after the novel coronavirus hit, Arriola couldn’t even rehab with teammates, depriving him of the joy and encouragement of being surrounded by teammates at a time of deep personal adversity. 

But Arriola also saw it as an opportunity, a chance to approach rehab with the same tireless work ethic he brings to the soccer field and maybe, just maybe, play soccer again in 2020. 

That’s exactly what  happened, as Arriola returned in November and Wednesday night in Fort Lauderdale, his hard work was rewarded as he scored the US opening goal and helped set up another. 

Qualifying is a grind, and more than anything, you need depth pieces that provide an outstanding work rate and are assets in the locker room when adversity strikes. Arriola checks those boxes, and his pace and positional understanding as a shuttler and recovery defender make him a big asset to the US qualifying and World Cup outlook. He has also earned Gregg Berhalter’s respect and trust, which is essentially the story of every manager Paul Arriola has played for in his career. Managers trust him implicitly, which is why he remains so valued by coaches even if he’s underappreciated by fans. 

Berhalter spoke to that trust and his pride in seeing Paul’s return after the game. 

“If you think about what Paul has been through this year, it almost brought me to tears when we were out there for the man of the match award. When he got to camp, he had played one game,” Berhalter said following the win. “We were concerned about his ability to even play, and he came out and gave that performance. It’s a testament to Paul, his work ethic and commitment, but it’s also a good lesson for anyone that’s had a setback, to keep going and not give up.”

Arriola, for his part, was obviously thrilled to be back with the national team, but deflected praise away from his comeback story and back on the team.

“It’s always an honor (to play for the national team). But tonight was special. Not just the goal for me, but being able to be out there with the guys and then the way we were able to play and execute as a team. The goal was just icing on the cake.”

 

2021 will present a unique set of challenges, but Berhalter is right to be confident and excitedd about the future

 

COVID-19 has certainly already congested soccer schedules in Europe, with virtually no offseason at all for many of the globe’s largest clubs. Normally, you’d shrug that off in US camp, except that there are a host of Americans, including McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams and Sergino Dest who currently ply their trade at the world’s largest, most successful clubs. 

Dealing with an expanded qualifying process that shifts from a Hex to a compressed Octagon will be a taxing demand, filled with overseas flights and a lot of mileage, even for young legs. Given the injury prone natures of Pulisic and Adams, the US will need to be as cautious as competitively possible moving forward in a congested international calendar that in addition to qualifying includes the CONCACAF Nations League, Olympic competition and a Gold Cup. 

Meanwhile, we don’t know exactly what the club season will look statestide like in 2021, but if the early dispute/lack of communication between MLS and the Players Union is any indicator, the winter break will be shorter than usual and a full campaign is on the agenda. Tapping into domestic depth has always been part of US Soccer’s strategy in Gold Cup/qualifying years, it will be even more critical in a busy 2021.

Gregg Berhalter acknowledged this when he pressed the Federation to schedule one more game this December. Deprived of several observation opportunities in 2020, Berhalter wanted to use every chance at his disposal to evaluate the pool and build confidence in the depth he’ll need in 2021. 

After the game, Berhalter said he was thrilled to have this camp and the chance to evaluate players, but also excited to build confidence for the future. 

“Next year we are going to have so many games. We really needed this camp, this chance to evaluate guys,” Berhalter said. “The guys came to camp to work and  I really liked the mentality of the group and it was a good performance tonight, particularly early. That’s the type of football we want to play.”

Berhalter said that was a carryover from an outstanding camp. 

“I really saw a determination from the group to perform, and that was what was important,” Berhalter told the media. “Everyone watched the games in November, so when this group came in, they knew a bar had been set and they wanted to maintain that bar. It started in January with a good camp in January and then two good performances in march and now this performance as well. Guys are pushing– Aaron Long, Paul Arriola, Sebastian Lletget- these guys are pushing and want to be a part of the starting first team. They are approaching these camps and opportunities with a commitment, work rate and effort that reflects that.”

Arriola said that as a veteran, the sense of excitement in camp about what’s to come in 2021 was palpable. 

“It was a great camp, but (qualifying) is what it’s all about. Qualifying for the World Cup is our main goal. I am extremely eager and we are in a great position. There’s a  lot of great competition, but it’s hard to replicate going to Azteca, or Costa Rica. So to have the killer instinct like tonight, that’s a good start. We need to be able to execute and learn to not take our foot off the pedal. But next year is going to be a great year.”

Neil W. Blackmon co-founded The Yanks Are Coming in 2009 and has covered soccer in the United States and the US national teams at multiple World Cups in the decade since. His writing has twice been selected as Best American sportswriting. Follow him on Twitter @nwblackmon. 

 

Written by: Neil W. Blackmon on December 9, 2020.
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