After dropping its two pre-Gold Cup friendlies to European foes Türkiye and Switzerland and coming into the regional championship with 4 straight losses, the USMNT reeled off three group stage wins over Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti and visitor nation Saudi Arabia.
None of meaning something on Sunday. Simply ask Panama, the workforce Canada coach Jesse March referred to as the title favourite earlier than Los Canaleros had been surprised on penalties on Saturday by Honduras — a squad the Canadians trounced 6-0 of their first-round opener simply 11 days prior.
“It may be rather a lot more durable,” U.S. ahead Malik Tillman mentioned of the problem posed by Costa Rica. “However all of us wish to win this match. If you wish to win, you must win towards anybody.”
You additionally want to attain. Doing that received’t be simple towards all-planet Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas. A 3-time UEFA Champions League titlist with Actual Madrid, Navas is now 38. However he’s regarded as stout as ever at this Gold Cup, serving to his nation attain the final eight by making quite a lot of key saves, together with a number of of the spectacular selection in a scoreless tie with Mexico in each side’ final match in group play.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino coached Navas at Paris Saint-Germain through the 2021-22 season. “My recollections with Keylor are superb,” Pochettino mentioned throughout Saturday’s pre-game press convention. “At all times we admire him, his mentality and his high quality as a keeper. It’s a improbable second to share tomorrow with him. He is a terrific participant. He’s a terrific keeper, top-of-the-line on the planet.”
Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas stays a formidable goalkeeper. (Picture by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)
Not that the People are fazed.
“His profession speaks for itself,” U.S. veteran Tyler Adams mentioned. “He is clearly the chief of that workforce, and I feel his capacity to prepare is clearly going make it tough. His shot stopping is unbelievable. However, you understand, I’ve confidence in my strikers.”
Patrick Agyemang figures to spearhead the U.S. assault for the fourth sport working. “It is good to have the ability to compete towards the highest gamers,” Agyemang mentioned on Saturday.
The towering Charlotte FC ahead is amongst a handful of People who’re coping with the potential for a membership switch throughout this Gold Cup. Ageymang has been linked to a transfer to England’s second tier Championship. Tillman, who performs for Dutch champs PSV Eindhoven and leads the USMNT with three targets to this point at this Gold Cup, is a rumored goal of Germany’s Bayern Leverkusen.
Midfielder Johnny Cardoso, questionable for Sunday due to an ankle harm, was visited by Atlético Madrid’s physician in Minnesota forward of what’s anticipated to be a switch value greater than $30 million from Spain’s Actual Betis. Even Pochettino has been within the information; the Argentine advised me on Saturday that he’s absolutely dedicated to the USMNT by means of subsequent summer season’s World Cup and scoffed at a report that he’d just lately been interviewed by English Premier League membership Brentford.
“It isn’t a distraction in any respect,” defender Walker Zimmerman, who’s in search of his first begin at this Gold Cup, mentioned of the surface noise. “Those that have been in these talks, they know that the higher they play right here, and the persevering with success of the workforce, is gonna assist them with their particular person profession and their strikes.”
Contained in the camp, the precedence is obvious. “The nationwide workforce,” Agyemang mentioned, “is all we’re centered on proper now.”
It must be that manner towards an opponent the People know can harm them if given the prospect
“Now we have to grasp that they are most likely most harmful when we’ve got the ball, as a result of one mistake they usually’re able to pounce,” Adams mentioned. “We won’t get informal, as a result of they’ll lure you right into a sport the place you may have numerous possession.
“That is precisely what they need,” Adams continued. “One alternative they usually’re going the opposite manner.”
Nonetheless, the U.S. likes their possibilities. Even with most of the regulars lacking, there’s been a quiet confidence constructing inside the ranks this month.
“Now we have the expertise, we’ve got the power. Nevertheless it’s about being intense and aggressive with and with out the ball,” defender Tim Ream mentioned. “That’s going to be the important thing for us, and ensuring that we’re conveying that message to all the blokes – particularly those who aren’t used to most of these conditions and most of these video games.
“All people is on the identical web page proper now,” Ream added. “All people’s able to go.”
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has lined United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.
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