Last Friday’s game involving the USA left a lot to be desired, and fans are hoping it’s not a preview of things to come against Saudi Arabia. In fact, the United States had an absolutely chaotic performance. The 2-0 loss sounded alarm bells about the team’s preparation and ability to compete against quality teams in the World Cup.
Tuesday’s match against Saudi Arabia is the last look at this team before kicking a ball in Qatar. It represents an opportunity to perhaps stabilize the ship a bit.
USA Saudi Arabia Preview
Friday’s 2-0 loss was more than just a 2-0 friendly loss. The scoring was kind to the way Gregg Berhalter’s team played. The United States outperformed Japan, but did absolutely nothing to threaten the opposition. This all-too-common occurrence under Berhalter produced zero shots on goal compared to eight for the Japanese. Bad gifts in midfield and from defenders led to numerous chances for Japan. Fans should forgive Matt Turner for potentially thinking he was in a shooting gallery rather than a soccer stadium in Düsseldorf.
In his postgame evaluation, Berhalter was unusually honest. He didn’t see much personality out there. Then on Monday, Berhalter added that Japan out-coached and out-played the United States. It’s a stark contrast to the 2-0 loss earlier in the year to Canada. At the time, he said the USMNT actually outscored Canada, despite the clear deficit on the scoreboard.
One last dress rehearsal before the real thing in November. pic.twitter.com/3e3TQ1RUD8
— US Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) September 26, 2022
Is this sudden honesty the rhetoric of a man who knows his term could end by Christmas? Many fans are certainly hoping for it, while another large segment of the fan base believes that no matter how bad things go in Qatar, Berhalter will be the US coach until the 2026 World Cup in homeland. the.
The opposition
While the US seems to be doing its best not to play games before the World Cup, Saudi Arabia has been doing the exact opposite. Since ending its qualifying campaign in March, Saudi Arabia has hosted 10 international games ahead of the World Cup. Two games dropped in June before the two in the current September window. Over the next two months, Saudi Arabia scheduled six more friendlies, including three immediately before the World Cup.
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Saudi Arabia put together a good run of late, including a group finish in Group B in the AFC Qualifying. That was a point ahead of a Japan side that simply battered the United States on Friday. Saudi Arabia recently drew 0-0 with Ecuador. Coach Herve Renard has experience winning AFCON with the Ivory Coast and coached Morocco at Russia 2018. He called up a team made up solely of players from clubs based in Saudi Arabia. The bulk of the players come from two clubs, Al-Nassr and Al-Shabab. The roster is light on both goals and experience. Only three of the calls exceed 50 games. Then only two have double-digit goals.
Key information
The USA’s last game before the World Cup against Saudi Arabia comes from Murcia, Spain. This is the first USMNT game in Spain since a friendly against the hosts in 2008. This game is from the Nueva Condomina Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 pm ET, with coverage airing on FS1, UniMas and TUDN.
The USMNT leads the historic series against Saudi Arabia with three wins, two losses and one draw. These two teams last met some time ago, back in 1999 at the FIFA Confederations Cup. The United States won 2-0.
This is the USA’s last game before facing Wales on Monday, November 21 in Qatar. That is the first game of their World Cup tournament.
PHOTO: IMAGO/ANP
