U.S. men’s national team players and hopefuls are seen through a clear lens as the World Cup nears.
How will the World Cup chances of Player X be affected?
Many forms of “Player X” exist, of course. Some of the players who seem to be locks for the squad headed to Qatar are playing for featured roles, not just a ticket to the show. Those on the fringe and those looking to make a run out of the wilderness are included. Even though Berhalter has a decent chunk of his World Cup squad picked out and a depth chart that is pretty solidified, there is still room for movement.
The start of club leagues across Europe coincides with that. There is a cascade of season opening matches from which to draw new data points. This coming weekend, there will be more to come. Every four years, club performances are used as vessels for inclusion in a monthlong international tournament. The opening weekend for some leagues and the continuation of seasons elsewhere affected the various Player Xs in the U.S. pool who play for clubs abroad.
In the English premier league, he made a successful debut.
Imago Images and News Images with Conor Molloy.
A dream start at Leeds
Not only are they Americans, but they are also being counted on to perform because of Jesse Marsch. The club’s survival in the premier league will depend on how quickly they adapt to their new surroundings and can contribute, and they are helping fill the void left behind by players who left for more than a $100 million combined.
The transition from their respective Red Bull clubs wasn’t that difficult for two of the U.S.’s locks, at least at the beginning. In the 2–1 win vs. Wolves, he was active and energetic, with his pressing and timely run helping to create both goals. His dart to the back post forced the own goal that ended up being the match-winner, as well as his pressure that led to the turnover that led to the opener.
It was Adams’ line-splitting pass that helped set up the own-goal sequence. The three points and their active roles in securing them were a clear success for the two key U.S. figures.
He scored his first goal for Union Berlin.
The images are from Matthias Koch and Imago.
Focus on the forwards
The race is on to get pole position in the pool with the U.S. still lacking an anointed leading scorer.
The goal Jordan Pefok scored in his debut for Union Berlin was the result of his push for a place. After winning the golden boot in Switzerland, Pefok has now scored in preseason, a DFB-Pokal match against fourth-tier opposition and a first-division match in Germany, and if his form is maintained, it will be hard for Berhalter.
It will be difficult if others fail to rise to the occasion, and Pefok’s goal and performance seem even greater by contrast to those of whom he’s competing with. The final 15 minutes of the 4–0 home loss to Freiburg were played by RicardoPepi for the club that narrowly escaped the drop last season and could find itself in a similar situation this time around.
The club situation of Josh Sargent appears dire with him limited to 13 minutes for the game against Wigan Athletic on Saturday in England’s second tier. He started the season opener a week before. On Monday, Dike will get his second chance at getting on the board this season in the Championship, while both could be joined in the league by Matthew Hoppe, with reports swirling regarding a transfer from Mallorca, where the minutes and goals he’d hoped would flow after leaving.
Haji Wright, whose sizzling form at the end of last season resulted in his maiden call-up to the U.S. senior team in June, at least went the full 90 for Antalyaspor, though his side was shut out by Galatasaray at home to open the Turkish campaign
In MLS, Brandon Vzquez’s run of goals for FC Cincinnati is second-most in the league and six in his last six matches, while Jess Ferreira has ingratiated himself at the international level. They will both be a part of MLS All-Star festivities in Minnesota this week, but the fact is that this still appears to be an open competition, and right now Pefok is out to a head start among the abroad-based contender.
A match to forget was what Steffen had to contend with.
The images are from the Pro Sports images.
The keeper conundrum continues
His second start of the season was one to forget for the U.S. goalkeeper, who was on loan from Manchester City. The second goal of the first half was a result of Steffen coming off his line and whiffing on the corner kick. It’s the kind of mistake that gets magnified when it’s happening to someone who doesn’t have the goodwill to write off such a moment.
The manager of the team came to his defense, saying that the player was free to come out for the ball, and that he would feel the same.
The referee told a member of the staff at halftime that the goalkeeper had to be stronger. The referee shouldn’t have an opinion on what the goalkeeper needs to do When the goalkeeper is facing towards the corner, someone behind him puts a hand on his back and pushes him.
The pressure will only rise after this showing, as it is an inauspicious beginning to life.
Horvath backstopped a second straight draw in the Championship. The English international put forth a stellar showing against Crystal Palace in the season opener, as Matt Turner backed him up. Turner will most likely have the least playing time among the three U.S. keepers by the time the World Cup comes around, but that is not necessarily a disqualifying factor when it comes to featuring for the U.S.
In the opening game of the season, he was a substitute for the Blues.
Roger Evans is the photographer for Action Plus.
Miscellaneous and notable
When he came off the bench in the 65th minute of the game, his most dangerous moment was when he stripped English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford outside of the box, but he was foul before he could take the chance. Tim Ream captained the club, while Antonee Robinson went the full 90 to cover the left side of the defense. Tim Weah was suspended due to a Ligue 1 discipline decision dating back to the end of last season, so he missed Lille’s season- opening win, in which New York-born Canadian forward Jonathan David scored twice and assisted on another goal The Crystal Palace bench had Chris Richards on it. It should not be a surprise that it happened so soon after his transfer from the other side of the world. In its win over Bayer Leverkusen, the bench was occupied by Gio Reyna. There is an understandable desire to ease him back into action after his injury-riddled season. After scoring against fifth-tier opposition in the DFB-Pokal, Joe Scally started at right back for the team in the season opener. After coming off the bench in Rangers’s season opener in Scotland, James Sands was promoted to Rangers’s starting XI, as was the versatile Malik Tillman.
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