What Does USMNT Need For A Deep Copa America Run?
Euro 2024 is in full swing but it is not the only major tournament going on. The US Men's National Team got off to a hot start in Copa America with a 2-0 victory over Bolivia. Even if the team should have won by more than two, there was plenty to like about the opening match. The US was fast and constantly attacking, while giving up very few chances to Bolivia.
The job is far from over, though, and there are plenty of difficult opponents that stand between them and a Copa America title. What does the US need in order to shock the world in Miami on July 14—or at least make a deep run?
Christian Pulisic Needs To Be At His Best
As Christian Pulisic goes, so goes the United States. The captain has been crucial to America's success since his senior team debut, but this has been even more true recently. When Pulisic has a good game, that usually means good things for the US. On the flip side, when he ghosts, the US is far more likely to struggle.
In fact, dating back to 2020, the US has only lost on one occasion when Pulisic has scored. Luckily, the forward has been in good form as of late. Last season with AC Milan, Pulisic had 12 goals and eight assists in Serie A. With the US, he has scored in his last two matches, including a 26th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Brazil.
He looked his usual self in the Bolivia match, notching a goal and an assist, which bodes well for the United States. If he keeps it up, then this team can make some noise.
Joe Scally Must Be Impactful
There were plenty of questions and concerns when Sergio Dest was ruled out of the Copa America. Chief among them was, Who is going to start instead? Joe Scally was not at the top of the list in the minds of fans or pundits. That did not seem to bother him, and he has forced his way into the starting XI. The 21-year-old Borussia Mönchengladbach defenseman is quickly proving himself to be a valuable asset for the national team.
There have been those who have wondered if he was up for the challenge, and his performance against Brazil seems to have quelled many of those doubts for the time being. That match did not surprise those who have followed his career closely, as he played quite well in the Bundesliga this past season.
Even still, he is quite young and has room to improve. He is going to have to do it on the fly against the likes of Uruguay and whoever lies beyond the group stage. Scally is an exciting player with a bright future, but if the US wants to go far, they need him to live up to his potential now.
Berhalter Has To Up His Game
This tournament is crucial for the much maligned USMNT head coach, Gregg Berhalter. A quality showing would likely buy him more time, and a swift exit could very well be the end of the road for the coach. He has been questioned for his starting lineups and his tactics. There is also his demeanor and the way he deals with the press. His handling of delicate situations has not won fans over either.
Needless to say, he needs a win in more ways than one. He cannot fix everything in this one tournament, and he certainly cannot win everyone over, but a deep run would be a good place to start. He has the players to do so, but it is going to come down to his ability to grow as a coach. His decision-making must be on point with the caliber of opponents that his team will face, or the US will not last long. Time will tell if Berhalter can get the job done.
The US Could Use Some Luck
Most teams need luck to win a tournament or make it far. That is even true for the best teams out there. Luck is especially needed for the US. They have the misfortune of finding themselves on the same side of the bracket as Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil. The US is very talented and getting better by the year, but they are still not on the level of those teams. To make it far, the US will likely have to hope for some fortunate matchups or ugly goals to help them out.
Final Thoughts
The USMNT is arguably the best that it has ever been, and it has been exciting to see the progress that has been made. Even still, the Copa America is a far greater challenge than anything that CONCACAF has to offer. This tournament provides a chance for the US to win hardware, but it also presents a test run for the 2026 World Cup that will be hosted in the United States.
There are plenty of other things beyond what is mentioned in this article that will have to happen for the US to make a run, but the previously mentioned points are what are most crucial for the team to succeed. Things are not perfect, and it will take a lot for the US to turn some heads, but it is far from impossible. The United States has been slow to earn respect on the global stage, and that might just be about to change.
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