This international break has been disappointing for the United States men`s national team. They suffered a 2-1 defeat to Canada in the Concacaf Nations League third-place game, following a previous loss to Panama. The midfield struggled to control the tempo, leading to a disorganized performance. As the World Cup approaches, concerns are growing about the readiness of squad depth players.
To avoid disappointment at the World Cup, the USMNT needs to improve quickly. It`s crucial for the coach to evaluate the team`s capabilities. But how did each player perform against Canada?
GK: Matt Turner (90 mins)
Turner made several important saves, but the goals conceded were difficult to prevent. Rating: 5
DEF: Joe Scally (45 mins)
Scally played adequately in the first half before being substituted at halftime. He was solid in challenges but had limited opportunities to make an impact. Rating: 6
DEF: Cameron Carter-Vickers (90 mins)
Carter-Vickers` defense was acceptable, but he struggled to distribute long passes to the attack. He and the entire backline faltered on Canada`s first goal, highlighting a problem that needs addressing. Improvement is needed. Rating: 5
DEF: Mark McKenzie (90 mins)
McKenzie made a few notable defensive plays but delivered an overall unremarkable performance. Rating: 5
DEF: Max Arfsten (90 mins)
Arfsten struggled with the transition from wing-back in a five-defender system to fullback in a four-defender setup. He conceded possession too frequently. Rating: 4
MID: Tyler Adams (69 mins)
Adams had limited involvement in ball possession as Canada effectively utilized wing attacks. This performance fell short of his usual high standards. Rating: 5
MID: Weston McKennie (69 mins)
Similar to Arfsten, McKennie was careless with the ball, giving away possession that Canada capitalized on. Rating: 4
MID: Diego Luna (90 mins)
Luna stood out as one of the few players demonstrating World Cup squad ambition. He provided a key assist and actively sought to initiate attacks. Rating: 7
FWD: Christian Pulisic (69 mins)
Pulisic had another quiet game, with only 21 touches. He struggled to ignite the USMNT attack in a match where a spark was desperately needed. If the team`s success depends on Pulisic`s form, these performances are insufficient. Rating: 4
FWD: Patrick Agyemang (78 mins)
Agyemang scored an excellent goal and displayed threat when presented with running opportunities. However, he wasn`t sufficiently supplied with the ball in the box, reflecting a broader team issue. Rating: 7
FWD: Tim Weah (90 mins)
Weah is another attacker who lacked service in dangerous areas. This reflects a systemic problem, and consistent issues across the team necessitate change. Rating: 6
SUB: Marlon Fossey (45 mins)
Fossey attempted to inject energy from the flanks in the second half, but the wider issue of ineffective wing play persisted. Rating: 6
SUB: Gio Reyna (21 mins)
Reyna delivered a quality set-piece delivery, aiming to create a goal, but had to drop too deep to get involved in the play. Rating: 6
SUB: Yunus Musah (21 mins)
Musah entered in the second half to provide fresh legs but didn`t contribute significantly. Rating: 6
SUB: Tanner Tessmann (21 mins)
Tessmann had limited ball involvement after coming on. Rating: Incomplete
SUB: Brian White (12 mins)
White had limited time to influence the game, touching the ball only eight times. Rating: Incomplete
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Pochettino tried a different approach, which seemed promising initially. However, the team`s performance declined. Pochettino is trying to manage expectations, but concerns are mounting. Rating: 6
