Sports

USA vs Netherlands in Round of 16 in Qatar


Matt Turner celebrates USMNT's 1-0 win over Iran

Matt Turner celebrates USMNT’s 1-0 win over Iran
Picture: beautiful pictures

This is the third World Cup in a row that the US men’s national team has play where it reaches knock down stage. Lost to Ghana and Belgium in 2010 and 2014, respectively, deny the Americans a chance to win a game further group stage for the first time at the biennial event against a team not from North America. The USMNT’s only knockout win came in 2022 against Mexico, when they limped into the Round of 16 before beating their biggest rival in the global arena.

Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna weren’t even alive when U.S. won the only knockout game 20 years ago. Both will be central figures in Saturday’s opportunity to ride out the trend against the Netherlands. Reyna has barely competed in the World Cup so far, much to the confusion of USMNT fans. With news of Christian Pulisic is allowed to play against the Dutch after a pelvic collision, and the same news does not come to Josh Sargent, it is safe to say that he will not compete. It would also be silly to play Haji Wright again in Qatar after how underperforming he was in all three group stage games. And if US. Head coach Gregg Berhalter let Jesus Ferreira start against the Netherlands, he really didn’t put 11 of his best players on the pitch.

Reyna or Brenden Aaronson needed to start in the attacking trio up front, along with Pulisic, with Tim Weah completing the group as a false 9 in the middle. Aaronson has played in all three American leagues matches so far of the tournament and there is likely to be more to come against the Netherlands, but it would be a travesty for Reyna not to start or be the first to come off the bench. It’s really the only personnel issue the US cares about heading into the knockouts, which is a bit of a shock to see their top talents not falter.

I don’t care if Cameron Carter-Vickers or Walker Zimmerman starts alongside Tim Ream at centre-back. Both are great. There is no reason to doubt Antonee Robinson or Sergiño Dest in the full-back position. Strange that both defenders outside the US are face their country of birth at the tournament. Robinson has an English father, while Dest has a Dutch mother. He was able to represent the Netherlands or the US on an international level. Dest has also spent his entire youth career and the first stop of his professional career in the Netherlands. In those 11 years, it’s safe to say he’s clashed with a number of players the United States will face on Saturday. A defender should not play anymore in Qatar? Shaq Moore, who raised his hand and said “my lousy” more than did the right thing in his two appearances against England and Iran.

Matt Turner is stable in the goalkeeper position. Musah’s quarterback, Tyler Adams, and Weston McKennie look locked up not only for the rest of this tournament, but probably the 2026 World Cup. Adams is the USA’s best player at the tournament and if the USMNT beats the Netherlands, he’s going to have to stamp out a lot. much firepower from a strong Dutch attack. If Adams misses the game, the Americans will board a plane back to the US on Sunday.

The tournament’s breakout star so far has been Cody Gakpo, an integral part of the Netherlands, who is likely to join a big club next winter or summer for playing in Qatar. He has scored three goals in the tournament so far and I bet he will add to that total against the USA. And obviously, scoring is paramount to winning and the USMNT has averaging less than one goal per game at the World Cup so far. Obviously, that’s not going to cut it off from here on out, which is why making those small personnel changes is so important to Berhalter.

The Netherlands is worthy favorite enter the game. The Americans also seem like one of the harder teams to beat while living in Qatar. Through three matches, neither team has scored a goal for U.S. inside run often play. That’s really impressive and USMNT is the only team to keep that distinction. It may end up with the Dutch, but it’s not a guaranteed airfare for the Americans. The United States are yet to score a goal in the second half of the tournament and I think that’s over for the Dutch. However, I don’t know if U.S. party willing to take down a global power, despite the Dutch fault. I call a 3-1 win for the Dutch.

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button