If there are times when “enough” can be good enough, then this seems to be one of them. Just enough to get the job done. The mission of this United States national team was always “Round two or flop!” So it’s mission accomplished, right?
Perhaps this is not the way they would prefer to handle the task, hanging out for their life at the 100th minute against an Iranian team that wasn’t much in terms of attacking threat, but that doesn’t matter now. Not considering the youth of this team, among the youngest at the World Cup, with an average starting age of 24 on Tuesday, and not considering that the United States didn’t even qualify four years ago.
Now a tough round of 16 appointment with the Netherlands awaits him. And while the Americans will be underdogs in an elimination match against the three-time World Cup runner-up, it’s all house money now. Because when we cut to the chase, coach Gregg Berhalter had two tough goals when he ignored claims of nepotism and took over the men’s national team in early 2019: Lead the United States to the 2022 World Cup and, more to the point, grain today. – lead the team out of group play from there.
The 1-0 win over Iran with Christian Pulisic’s gutsy and massive goal did just that. So the United States men’s program can tick the “progress” box after advancing in its most significant competition since facing Belgium in the 2014 World Cup knockout stage in Brazil.
What went well: Pulisic arrives
We can’t really say that the US has “met its attack” or even found its best version of itself. That would be taking the case too far; this was Iran after all, hardly a perennial World Cup giant. But we can say this: After managing just two shots on goal in 180 minutes, the US found enough offense. Again, enough.
Pulisic had been fine in two previous games in Qatar, although he may not be special. Or maybe it’s more fair to say “not special enough”. But in desperate need of a win (a draw on Monday would have meant US elimination), Pulisic did what he seemed destined to do for a long time: make the moment with everything on the line.
Weston McKennie’s precise ball in the 38th minute from midfield, lobbed diagonally over Iran’s back line, started the well-constructed side’s goal, one that was as much about speed as it was alert pattern play. Sergiño Dest ran to the back post, aware that heading McKennie’s tackle pass through the goal was a prudent choice. And there was Pulisic, speeding between two Iranian defenders, bravely launching a spin volley from close range, hurting himself in the process, but perhaps happy for the sacrifice.
When it comes to the most significant goals in US Men’s National Team history, this one might make the list.
While Dest on the right and Antonee Robinson on the left found space on the wings, constantly providing crosses, Iran produced almost nothing in the first 45 minutes. Again, that was often due to a commanding and mobile American midfield. McKennie provided the usual big presence of him. Yunus Musah had perhaps his best night back and forth, certainly his most active. But once again, Tyler Adams was an absolute shaker.
One day after proving himself an eloquent statesman as well as a worthy captain, his performance in the defensive midfielder role was another master class. If Adams has done anything wrong at this World Cup, you’ll have to dig deep into the video to find it.
Berhalter makes the right decisions
In a game that will go a long way in deciding the legacy of this American group and Berhalter’s personal destiny, the 49-year-old seemed to make the right decisions. (He may or may not retain his US spot after this World Cup, but he would almost certainly have been replaced with anything less than a second-round appearance.)
Berhalter made a bold decision to replace center back Walker Zimmerman with Cameron Carter-Vickers. Carter-Vickers and Tim Ream had never played together as a core combo, but here they were, a new tandem in what amounted to an elimination match.
Josh Sargent was the striker’s pick, and his holdup play came in handy.
What went wrong: Keep looking for that striker
It certainly would have been more comfortable if the United States could have found a second goal, but the lack of one calls attention to that crust we all keep criticizing: the inability to identify a solid, first-choice striker. Sargent’s injury in the second half may further limit the US’s options.
This team still needs more goals. On the other hand, we’ve been saying that about the Berhalter group since the summer. That “useful” holdup play may have been enough to get the Americans into the second round, but they will likely need more against a Dutch team that includes world-class central defender Virgil van Dijk.
Speaking of central defenders, Carter-Vickers held up quite well, doing his part to ensure goalkeeper Matt Turner had another relatively quiet night. Carter-Vickers looked a little vulnerable defending in space, and raised the heart rate of the US supporters with a late challenge that had Iranian players and staff clamoring for video review.
But no review. No equalizer that would have sent America home.
Again, enough.
Putting the lens back on group play, we can now see that Wales were poor and Iran were slightly better, not special, but talented enough to get a result against Wales.
The United States has advanced through a relatively lenient group. In this tournament, for this coach, for this young squad, that represents progress. And for now, that’s enough.
Photo credit: IMAGO/Xinhua
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