INGLEWOOD, Calif. — When the final whistle blew at Sophie Stadium, it was hard to know what to make of the U.S. men’s team’s 3-2 loss to Turkey. Should you be upset about missing out on a late winner? Or should we console ourselves with a performance in which some of the team’s less experienced players have grown in the game?
There will probably be a little bit of both. At times in the first half, the US looked overwhelmed by Turkey’s technical prowess. But the Americans responded with a gutsy second-half performance that appeared to have pulled them to a 2-2 draw. But Turkey had the last word as Kaan Ayhan scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win for the Crescent Stars. This is definitely a punch in the gut and will serve as a lesson for the USMNT.
Not that many players look at it that way.
“I think we only took half a step back today, but again we know if we want to beat good teams we need to play over 90 minutes of hard football and get results,” said defender Chris Richards, who was given the day off. “For us, we look at the positives from tonight. Obviously, in every game there will be some negative moments that you can learn from. So we’re just using this as a learning opportunity rather than a punch in the gut.”
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American manager Mauricio Pochettino felt compelled to highlight the big picture: it is the USMNT that is moving ahead in the competition.
“The mood is as if we are (going) home tonight, but Türkie is staying,” he said. “I need to (remind) you and everyone that we won the group. Sorry guys, we won.”
It was a performance that was by no means an oil painting, with huge swings between positive and negative acting. That’s to be expected given Pochettino fielded a wildly changing squad. The Americans’ performance was boosted by the return of Christian Pulisic; his introduction in the 58th minute (his first minutes of the tournament since coming on at half-time in the opener against Paraguay) immediately showed that the US was starting to look more agile in attack. Prior to this accession, the US relied heavily on set-piece provisions. This showed how much better the hosts play when Pulisic is on the field.
Rotating the squad was something Pochettino had hinted at before the match, especially with four of his regular starters – Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Anthony Robinson and Richards – all receiving yellow cards. The idea, in part, was to avoid the risk of them receiving another yellow card and being suspended for the round of 16. With top spot in the group guaranteed and Türkiye eliminated, there was little at stake in terms of competition. For this reason, there was also a desire to give playing time to those who have so far largely sat on the bench at this World Cup, and give them some match practice that may come in handy later.
As it turned out, only midfielder Weston McKennie and striker Ricardo Pepi were retained in the starting lineup. Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella, who is likely to be sacked after the tournament, also changed his squad, making seven changes, although dangerous players Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz were on the field.
If that seemed like a recipe for chaos, that’s exactly what happened. Auston Trusty gave Team USA the lead in the third minute when Sebastian Berhalter sent a corner to the far post, allowing him to shoot home. But Berhalter’s foul in the 19th minute, which earned him a yellow card, seemed to encourage Türkie and he played with the advantage for the rest of the half, resulting in two goals, the first by Güler in the 10th minute and the second by Orkun Kokcu in the 31st.
USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino has learned a lot about his second-string players. Patrick T. FALLON/AFP
In both goals, centre-backs Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson struggled, misjudging the situation and failing to make the mark inside the box. The American midfielder didn’t do much to protect the back line either: in the 31st minute, Güler split the defense to find Eren Elmali on the left flank and his central cross found a wide-open Kokcu, who slotted home perfectly.
But in the second half, a renewed American team regained the emotional edge of the game: Berhalter fired home a shot from outside the penalty area in the 49th minute. There were chances to claim leadership, but Turkiye took it over after death.
“I think at certain points we could have controlled the game better and then maybe just controlled the ball better in their half, especially our position,” Berhalter said.
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“In the first half it seemed like we were a little out of our depth. There may be too many guys behind the ball and not enough in front of the ball. But yeah, again, this is a band that was ready and eager to play. Again, I’m proud of everyone and I think everyone should be proud of themselves.”
Did Pochettino do the right thing by rotating the squad? Even with the result, one would have to say “yes.” If the U.S. goes deeper into the tournament, depth will have to play a role. Having the US back in the match will give some of the second tier players some valuable experience. If any of the players who received yellow cards had been booked, Pochettino would have been subject to an avalanche of doubt.
More importantly, the team came into the game having learned to handle the pace and intensity of the game in the second half. Berhalter was a prime example of this, recovering from some shaky moments in the first half to equalize in the second. The fact that the US was able to come from behind will give impetus to the collective consciousness. That they missed it will be remembered and will serve as a reminder that maintaining composure and concentration in the latter stages of the game is vital.
“I think every game is important for us. Every game you want to go out and win,” said defender McKenzie, who played the full 90 minutes. “We don’t feel like it’s a free game. No, we wanted to win and unfortunately we didn’t, but at the same time I think it’s another step for this group to figure out what we need to improve on, as always. And now in a few days the 1/16 finals await us. So, the most important thing is that we recover, regroup and go again.”
Even with the loss, there is still reason to believe that the United States can succeed in this tournament. The return of Pulisic, in particular, will give Team USA confidence. The USMNT attack has changed since he left the match in Paraguay. In his absence, the US ability to put pressure on the opposition and create chances from turnovers, as well as maximize set-piece opportunities, allowed for success. Pulisic also had his share of setbacks, with Guler knocking him out of the park ahead of Turkey’s win. But it is dynamic attacking play that will allow the USMNT to defeat the teams it will face in the playoffs. Pulisic’s shot wide of the post is key to achieving this goal.
In terms of team depth, this match raised almost as many questions as it answered. Of course, the back line needs first-choice players who are available and healthy. Goalkeeper Matt Turner also had some questionable moments, including one where the game-winner’s final pass went through his legs. Tim Weah admitted Thursday’s performance was not his best and was replaced by Pulisic 13 minutes into the second half.
“I think I was the only player who disappointed today,” he said. “I mean, you watch the game and it’s just fair. I thought everyone else was great and everyone played well. I think everyone who was there today deserved to be there. Personally, I don’t think so.”
The scenario of such a deep study of the team’s composition will not have to be repeated with the cancellation of yellow cards at the next stage and the restoration of the players’ health. It’s not just Pulisic who needs to return; Richards, Adams, “Jedi” Robinson and others will also have to return. The hope is that Pochettino will use his bench wisely and carefully as the stakes rise.
There was a lot of discussion before the match about how the US risked losing momentum if they lost to Turkey. It’s true that the US may have lost something, but it could also benefit the team in the long run. The match was a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted. With the Round of 16 approaching, the Americans will be keenly aware that they need to be on top of their game if the wins are to continue.