Northern Ireland v USA

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Official Digital Matchday programme of Northern Ireland v USA, Sunday 28th March at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.

O F F I C I A L M A T C H D A Y P R O G R A M M E £ 4

NORTHERN IRELAND v USA INTERNAT IONAL CHALLENGE MATCH NAT IONAL FOOTBALL STADIUM AT WINDSOR PARK 28 . 03 . 21 KO 17: 05

CONTENTS

TEAMS

2 3 5 7

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

IAN BARACLOUGH PATRICK NELSON

NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD 14 INTERVIEW : CONOR McLAUGHLIN 16 DID YOU KNOW? 20 THE OPPONENTS - USA 31 USA SQUAD 32 FACTFILE USA 34 INTERVIEW : ALISTAIR McCANN 36 INTERNATIONAL RECORD 49 MASCOTS 58

Official Publication by Irish Football Association National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Donegall Avenue, Belfast, BT12 6LW Head of Communications Danny Lynch Editor Nigel Tilson Design and Print Minprint Ltd, 401 Castlereagh Road, Belfast, Co Down, BT5 6QP Tel: 028 9070 5205 www.minprint.co.uk

Irish Football Association President David Martin Deputy President Jack Grundie

Chief Executive Patrick Nelson Advertising Irish Football Association Pictures Press Eye

Please note that the views in this programme do not necessarily reflect those of the Irish Football Association. Daniel Ballard rises high to have an attempt on goal during the UEFA Nations League match against Romania at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park back in November. The game ended 1-1.

NORTHERN IRELAND

USA

Ian Baraclough Manager

Gregg Berhalter Manager

Nathan Gartside Derry City Conor Hazard Glasgow Celtic Liam Hughes Liverpool Bailey Peacock-Farrell Burnley Daniel Ballard Blackpool* Ciaron Brown Cardiff City Craig Cathcart Watford Stuart Dallas Leeds United Jonny Evans Leicester City Shane Ferguson Millwall Jamal Lewis Newcastle United Conor McLaughlin Sunderland Paddy McNair Middlesbrough Steven Davis Glasgow Rangers Corry Evans Blackburn Rovers Matthew Kennedy Aberdeen Alistair McCann St Johnstone Niall McGinn Aberdeen George Saville Middlesbrough Michael Smith Heart of Midlothian Jordan Thompson Stoke City Liam Boyce Heart of Midlothian Dion Charles Accrington Stanley Kyle Lafferty Kilmarnock

Ethan Horvath Club Brugge Chituru Odunze Leicester City Zack Steffen Manchester City Sergino Dest Barcelona

Aaron Long New York Red Bulls Matt Miazga Anderlecht ****** Chris Richards Hoffenheim***** Erik Palmer-Brown Austria Wien* Tim Ream Fulham Bryan Reynolds Roma** Antonee Robinson Fulham Brenden Aaronson Red Bull Salzburg Kellyn Acosta Colorado Rapids Christian Cappis Hobro Luca de la Torre Heracles Sebastian Lletget LA Galaxy Yunus Musah Valencia Owen Otasowie Wolverhampton Wanderers Daryl Dike Barnsley*** Christian Pulisic Chelsea Jordan Siebatcheu Young Boys**** Nicholas Gioacchini Caen

Gio Reyna Borussia Dortmund Josh Sargent Werder Bremen

Shayne Lavery Linfield Josh Magennis Hull City Gavin Whyte Hull City**

*on loan from Manchester City ** on loan from FC Dallas *** on loan from Orlando City **** on loan from Rennes ***** on loan from Bayern Munich ******on loan from Chelsea

*on loan from Arsenal **on loan from Cardiff City

White, Red and Blue

Green and White

Referee Assistant Referee 1 Assistant Referee 2 Fourth Official Observer MATCH OFFICIALS

Robert Jenkins WAL Daniel Beckett WAL Johnathon Bryant WAL Thomas Owen WAL David Malcolm NIR

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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

On behalf of the Irish Football Association it gives me great pleasure to welcome the players and officials of the United States of America to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast for this evening’s international friendly.

Although we have played friendlies in the United States on a few occasions, most recently in 2010 when Nigel Worthington’s team lost 2-0 to Turkey in Connecticut, this challenge match marks the first time that our two countries have played each other at senior international level. The USA squad looks strong and I am sure Gregg Belhalter’s teamwill want to build on their fine 4-1 victory over Jamaica in a friendly match staged in Austria on Thursday night. Northern Ireland come into the match having played Italy in their opening FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier in Parma on Thursday. The 2-0 defeat to the Italians in European Qualifying Group C was not unexpected given their impressive record of having never lost a home World Cup qualifier. Italy were simply too strong and fast for us in the first half in particular, however we rallied well after the interval and could have scored a couple of goals. The second half performance gives us a good platform for the remaining qualifiers. Our manager, Ian Baraclough, is expected to rest some players against USA, given that we have another game on Wednesday, however I am sure he will put out a competitive team today. I have no doubt the match will provide some members of our squad who ordinarily do not get much game time to step up and show what they can do. Due to ongoing Covid restrictions there will not be any fans in the stadium for the match and that’s a great shame, especially as both sets of supporters are known for being colourful and exuberant. Some razzmatazz would have been most welcome.

However, we are mindful that Covid is still very much with us and we must remain vigilant in the battle to stop its spread. Nevertheless playing in an empty stadium, as we are doing today, continues to be a strange experience and everyone at the association looks forward to supporters being permitted to return in large numbers some time soon. I am sure many of our supporters will not only be watching the game on television but availing of the opportunity to peruse this souvenir match programme issued online but also with a limited edition in print form. I hope it is an exciting game of football and that our American visitors have a safe journey home. I also hope it’s an entertaining encounter when Northern Ireland play their second World Cup 2022 qualifier against Bulgaria at the National Football Stadium on Wednesday. Finally, congratulations to Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis on equalling former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton's British international caps record of 125 with his appearance against the Italians on Thursday night. It’s a remarkable and richly deserved milestone for Steven, who has been a great servant to Northern Ireland. Let’s hope he breaks the record with an appearance against USA today. David J Martin President Irish Football Association

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MANAGER’S VIEW

It’s great to be back at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, although it’s not great to be here once again without the vocal support of the Green and White Army.

I believe the game will be beneficial to us in our preparations for the World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria – and the qualification campaign as a whole. It will, of course, provide me with an opportunity to rest some players and to provide other players with an opportunity to show what they can do on the international stage. We have good depth in the squad now and I am confident that whoever is in today’s starting eleven will play for the shirt and put in a good shift. Due to ongoing Covid restrictions the game is, of course, being played behind closed doors. It’s a real shame because I think both our fans and USA fans would have created an unbelievable atmosphere at a packed National Football Stadium. I expect the Americans to be really up for the game. After all, they are using it as a warm-up for several competitive matches later this year, beginning with the Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League finals in June, the Concacaf Gold Cup the following month and FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers in the autumn. It would be great if we could meet them again at next year’s World Cup final tournament! Ian Baraclough Northern Ireland Manager

Our friendly against the United States of America today is, of course, sandwiched between two FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifiers. The first of those saw us lose by two goals to nil to Italy in Parma on Thursday. I was disappointed with our first half performance against the top seeds in our group. We were too passive, especially with our pressing. We did not produce the intensity that was required. We spoke about bringing intensity to our performance beforehand and unfortunately that just did not happen in the first half. The second half performance was much better, however, as we pressed, created chances and forced the Italians into making mistakes. We had a bit more belief in ourselves after the break and that’s something we must build upon going forward. When we play on the front foot in matches we are a much better team. We also need to take the intensity that we showed in the second half in Parma into all our other matches in this year’s World Cup qualification campaign, starting with our second European Qualifying Group C match against Bulgaria in Belfast on Wednesday. Moving to today’s game, I am genuinely excited at the prospect of playing USA and the players are, too. I must admit I jumped at the opportunity to take on Gregg Berhalter’s team because I believe it will be a great test for us against a growing football nation. The MLS is getting stronger each season, while American players are now plying their trade far and wide, with quite a few playing for big European clubs.

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GOOD EVENING

A warm welcome to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park for our first home senior men’s international of the year.

Northern Ireland senior women’s international team coming up. With a coveted place at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 finals in England at stake, we play Ukraine twice in five days in a play-off tie. The first leg is in Kovalivka, around 90 minutes from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on 9 April with the return being played at Seaview on 13 April. Kenny Shiels will undoubtedly be using all of his experience to outwit the Ukrainian side and the games are sure to capture the imagination of all Northern Ireland football supporters. I wish Kenny and his squad the best of luck in their quest to make it to a first ever European finals. Sadly once again our stadium will be bereft of supporters this afternoon and the GAWA will be restricted to watching the match on television or listening to it on the radio. We understand the health priorities for all of us in society just now, however we all look forward to the day when we can get back to supporting the team as only the GAWA know how. Enjoy the match today!

Today we welcome to Belfast for the first time ever the United States of America and we are delighted to play them in this friendly game. We have spoken to our friends in the US Soccer Federation many times in recent years about a match and at last it has become a reality. Of course today’s match is also a warm-up for our crucial FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifier here on Wednesday evening against Bulgaria. Our campaign to reach Qatar next year got off to a slightly disappointing start on Thursday night in Parma where we lost 2-0 to Italy. Our second half performance in the game against the Azzurri was very positive, though, and we had a number of chances to get a goal back and put the hosts under pressure. With two home games in four days to look forward to now we have an excellent chance to set up the rest of the year to be a memorable one. Special congratulations should, of course, go to our captain Steven Davis who will today (hopefully) play his 126th international match to become the most capped British player of all time, moving ahead of England’s Peter Shilton who has held the record since 1990. This is a phenomenal achievement for Steven who has set the standard for so long and who continues to be our driving force in midfield. I should also mention at this point that next month we have the biggest week ever in the history of the

Patrick Nelson Chief Executive Irish Football Association

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ITALY 2 BERARDI 14', IMMOBILE 38' NORTHERN IRELAND 0

FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 EUROPEAN QUALIFYING GROUP C 25.03.2021 Ennio Tardini Stadium, Parma

STATS

POSSESSION %

SHOTS

SHOTS ON TARGET

CORNERS

FOULS

TEAMS

21 G Donnarumma 16 Florenzi 19 Bonucci 3 Chiellini

1 Peacock-Farrell 19 Smith 20 Cathcart 5 J Evans 17 McNair 14 Dallas 13 C Evans 8 Davis 16 McCann 18 Whyte 21 Magennis

13 Emerson 7 Pellegrini 5 Locatelli 6 Verratti 11 Berardi 17 Immobile 10 Insigne

Substitutes

1 Sirigu 2 Di Lorenzo 4 Spinazzola 8 Pessina 9 Belotti 12 Cragno 14 Grifo 15 Acerbi 18 Barella 20 Bernardeschi 22 Chiesa 23 Mancini

2 McLaughlin 3 Kennedy

4 Ballard 6 Saville 7 McGinn 9 Lavery 10 Lafferty 11 Ferguson 12 Hazard 15 Thompson 22 Brown 23 Hughes

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Words Nigel Tilson

NORTHERN IRELAND LOSE 2-0 TO ITALY IN OPENING WORLD CUP QUALIFIER Northern Ireland began their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification campaign with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to group favourites Italy in Parma on Thursday.

The four-times world champions, with their attacking verve and slick passing, did the damage in the first half with clinical finishes from Domenico Berardi and Ciro Immobile. However, it was not all one-way traffic as Northern Ireland had their chances in the second half in the European Qualifying Group C encounter at the Stadio Ennio Tardini. Italy opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Alessandro Florenzi found the lively Berardi down the right. He beat the offside trap, cut inside and sped towards goal before slamming the ball high into the net from an angle. The Azzurri’s forwards and attacking midfielders, with their clever one-twos, were on the front foot for most of the first half and doubled their lead in the 39th minute thanks to a swift counter attack. A rare first half Northern Ireland raid on the Italian goal was broken up and the ball fed to Immobile down the left. The striker raced forward, with Craig Cathcart unable to catch him, and fired the ball low into the corner of the net from 15 yards.

After the break Northern Ireland almost got in when a Josh Magennis flick-on was met by Whyte whose rasping effort from 12 yards found the side netting. Whyte then pounced on a poor back pass from Manuel Locatelli but his effort was blocked by Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma who moments later pushed away a close range strike from Michael Smith. Another Smith drive was deflected over the top before Magennis got on the end of a Jonny Evans cross and the striker’s flick was palmed away by Donnarumma. Stuart Dallas broke down the left and fed substitute George Saville but the Italian defence snuffed out the attack. Steven Davis, who equalled Peter Shilton's British international caps record of 125 on the night, was more influential in the second half with some neat, incisive passing. Davis let fly in the 83rd minute, although his strike was comfortably dealt with by Donnarumma. And towards the end the Northern Ireland captain produced a neat reverse pass to the onrushing McNair who blasted over the top.

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EXCLUSIVE RETAIL PARTNER

NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD

NATHAN GARTSIDE GOALKEEPER

CONOR HAZARD GOALKEEPER

LIAM HUGHES GOALKEEPER

BAILEY PEACOCK-FARRELL GOALKEEPER

Club

Celtic Club

Club

Derry City

Liverpool

Burnley

Age Caps Goals

Age Caps Goals 19 0 0

Age Caps Goals

DANIEL BALLARD DEFENDER

STUART DALLAS DEFENDER

CIARON BROWN DEFENDER

CRAIG CATHCART DEFENDER

Club

Blackpool

Cardiff City

Watford

Leeds United

Age Caps Goals 0 *On loan from Arsenal 21 5

Age Caps Goals

JONATHAN EVANS DEFENDER

SHANE FERGUSON DEFENDER

JAMAL LEWIS DEFENDER

CONOR McLAUGHLIN DEFENDER

Club

Leicester City

Millwall

Newcastle United

Sunderland

Age Caps Goals

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All statistics correct prior to Italy game on Thursday

PATRICK McNAIR DEFENDER

STEVEN DAVIS MIDEFIELDER

CORRY EVANS MIDEFIELDER

MATTHEW KENNEDY MIDEFIELDER

ALISTAIR McCANN MIDEFIELDER

Club

Middlesbrough

Rangers

Blackburn Rovers

Aberdeen

St Johnstone

Age Caps Goals

124 12

NIALL McGINN MIDEFIELDER

GEORGE SAVILLE MIDEFIELDER

MICHAEL SMITH MIDEFIELDER

JORDAN THOMPSON MIDEFIELDER

LIAM BOYCE FORWARD

Club

Aberdeen

Middlesbrough

Heart of Midlothian

Stoke City

Heart of Midlothian

Age Caps Goals

DION CHARLES FORWARD

KYLE LAFFERTY FORWARD

SHAYNE LAVERY FORWARD

JOSH MAGENNIS FORWARD

GAVIN WHYTE FORWARD

Club

Linfield Club

Club

Accrington Stanley

Kilmarnock

Hull City

Age Caps Goals

Age Caps Goals 22 5 0

Age Caps Goals

Age Caps Goals 2 *On loan from Cardiff City 25 15

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All statistics correct prior to Italy game on Thursday

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Words Mark McIntosh The Sun

‘WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF’

Conor McLaughlin already has a winners’ medal in the bag this year and now he’s hoping to top it off with World Cup 2022 qualification.

“That said we did play well against both of them and were really unlucky not to qualify. “We are happy to have Switzerland in our group this time because of what happened in the last World Cup campaign. We were so disappointed when we lost in the play-off to them and everyone knows what happened with the penalty. There’s no doubt it would be great to get one over them this time around.” He said the Northern Ireland players do not really need any extra motivation to try to qualify for the World Cup but admitted the play-off defeat to the Swiss will give the games against them in European Qualifying Group C a bit of an edge. “The loss was narrow and the reward would have been massive. That will give us more motivation,” he insisted. “Everyone thought we had no chance when we qualified for the last Euros but we know what we are capable of and since that Euros we’ve come so close to qualifying for another two major tournaments.

The Sunderland star celebrated winning the Papa John’s EFL Trophy at Wembley before switching his attentions to Northern Ireland’s first triple header of the year. Having played at Euro 2016 and gone agonisingly close to qualifying for two major tournaments since, the ex-Preston and Millwall full-back is hoping it will be third time lucky this time around. The last campaign saw Northern Ireland face European heavyweights Germany and Netherlands in the group stages but this time around there is an added motivation with Switzerland in the mix alongside Italy, Bulgaria and Lithuania. “It’s always going to be a tough group but when you don’t have the likes of Germany and Holland in your group it always gives you a bit of hope you can go on and qualify,” said McLaughlin. “You know there is always going to be one of the big dogs in the group, no matter what, but when we had the Germans and the Dutch it was always going to be an uphill battle.

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“With the squad we have, and some of the lads who went to the Euros in 2016 getting older now, there won’t be many more chances to qualify for a World Cup. We want to start this campaign well and get as many points on the board as possible.” Today’s friendly clash with USA is, of course, sandwiched between FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers against Italy and Bulgaria and McLaughlin knows the showdown with the Americans will give manager Ian Baraclough the opportunity to run the rule over several players. He said: “I think the situation with friendlies, especially with what is going on at the minute, isn’t great but it’s something all nations in the smaller groups have to get on with. “The fixture schedules are crazy and you can see players picking up injuries. Coming from a crazy schedule at club level to playing three international games in a short space of time is hard. You can’t keep turning out the same players all the time. “I think players will need to be looked after but that always gives someone else a chance.” McLaughlin is back to his best after an injury lay-off earlier this year and, having experienced Wembley glory for the second time in his career, he hopes to bring his club form on to the international stage in the next two games. “It was a nice bonus to win a trophy this season with Sunderland,” he said. “The league campaign is relentless, so any cup competition is a nice distraction and to go and win it was a very special day, even if the celebrations had to be curtailed due to all the current Covid restrictions. “I played at Wembley for Fleetwood in 2014 and not many players get the chance to do it twice. It was great to be able to go there and win again. It could be the last time I play there so it is brilliant to have the memories to look back on. “I think this season has gone well for me. I had a hernia operation after playing with the problem for a few months but I’ve been back for a while now and I feel good.” Although Will Grigg has left the Stadium of Light following a loan move to MK Dons, McLaughlin still has familiar faces - and accents - around the Black Cats with Tom Flanagan, Jordan Jones and Carl Winchester also in their squad. “It’s good having so many Northern Ireland players at Sunderland. They are all really good lads,” he pointed out. “It all adds to the team spirit there. It was particularly good to see Carl Winchester come in because we grew up close to each other in Belfast and I hadn’t seen him in a long time. Jordan Jones also came in back in January and he’s already making a big impression. “It’s good to have a few familiar accents around, although I think I’m the only one who can understand Carl (Winchester). All the lads keep asking why I don’t sound like him!”

CONOR McLAUGHLIN

Position Right back Date Of Birth 26.07.1991 Place Of Birth

RIGHT BACK

Belfast Height 183cm Weight 71kg

CLUB RECORD

SQUAD NO

CLUBS Preston North End

Shrewsbury Town (loan)

Fleetwood Town

172

Millwall

32 33

Sunderland

INTERNATIONAL RECORD

SQUAD NO

Debut 11.10.11 v Italy (A) Lost 0-3 Northern Ireland U16 Northern Ireland U17 Northern Ireland U19 Northern Ireland U21

Caps 42 Goals 1

9 9

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DID YOU KNOW?

Words Marshall Gillespie

The closest Northern Ireland previously came to playing a full international against America was on 11 August 1948 when an Ireland X1 defeated a USA Olympic X1 5-0 in front of 15,000 spectators at Windsor Park. Johnny Campbell, of Belfast Celtic, opened the scoring on 10 minutes, Cliftonville’s Kevin McGarry put the home side two up a minute later, with Campbell hitting his second right on half time. Glentoran’s Sammy Hughes and McGarry completed the scoring in the second half. The visitors did have the ball in the net in the dying moments of the game only for it to be disallowed for offside.

A total of 15 players who have the same surname as an American President have been capped at full international level by Ireland/Northern Ireland since 1882. This includes two of the current squad, namely Conor Washington (George Washington) and Matty Kennedy (John F Kennedy). The others are: William Hayes (Rutherford Hayes) Tommy Jackson (Andrew Jackson) Damien Johnson (Lyndon B and Andrew Johnson) Peter Kennedy, Andrew Kennedy (John F Kennedy)

Brian Quinn is one of only two players born in Northern Ireland - Cecil Moore is the other - to have won a full international cap for the USA. Former Larne man Quinn played in the Irish League with his hometown club before spending a couple of years at Goodison Park with Everton. After being released by the Toffees he embarked on a new career in the NASL and played for several clubs including Los Angeles Aztecs, Montreal Manic and San Diego Sockers. He took out American citizenship in 1991 and in June of that year he won his first cap for the USA in a 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Boston. Quinn eventually went on to score one goal and chalk up 48 appearances for his adopted country.

Robert Nixon (Richard Nixon) Maik Taylor (Zachary Taylor)

Danny Wilson, Kevin Wilson, Henry Wilson, Matt Wilson, Robert Wilson and Sammy Wilson (Woodrow Wilson)

Northern Ireland have also played the USA three times at U15 Schoolboys level, suffering defeat on each occasion. The results have been: 24 April 2000: Northern Ireland 0-1 USA 27 April 2005: Northern Ireland 0-3 USA 27 April 2006: Northern Ireland 0-2 USA

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Northern Ireland have only ever capped four players in a full international who have been attached to clubs in the USA. Former Everton midfielder Dave Clements became the first when he made his final two appearances for his country when with New York Cosmos back in 1976. Former Glentoran legend Billy Caskey was at Tulsa Roughnecks when he played the last of seven matches for Northern Ireland in a 4-0 defeat to France in 1982. Midfielder Dave McCreery was also at Tulsa, winning 12 of his 55 caps while turning out for the NASL side. The last player to be attached to an American club was Larne-born Jonny Steele who made all three of his appearances for his country between 2013 and 2014 while playing for New York Red Bulls.

Northern Ireland have played the USA on five occasions at U19 level – all of the games taking place in the Milk Cup, now known as SuperCupNI. Northern Ireland came out on top in three of those encounters and the USA have ended up victorious twice. The full results are: 2004 – Northern Ireland 2-1 USA 2005 – Northern Ireland 2-4 USA 2008 – Northern Ireland 3-1 USA 2010 - Northern Ireland 0-3 USA 2013 – Northern Ireland 3-1 USA

From the records which are available the only player to have won a full cap for Ireland/Northern Ireland who was born in the USA was Billy Andrews who won three caps between 1908 and 1913. The wing-half was born in Kanas City circa 1886 but was raised in Belfast from a young age. During his playing career Andrews had spells with Distillery, Glentoran and Belfast United before moving to England and turning out for Oldham Athletic, Grimsby Town, Stockport County and Darlington. He won his first full cap against Scotland in March 1908 while still at the Oval and made his final two appearances five years later against England and Scotland while plying his trade with Grimsby Town.

Goalkeeper Cecil Moore was capped just once by Northern Ireland when he played in a 2-0 defeat to Wales in a Home International encounter at Windsor Park in March 1949. The former Glentoran netminder moved to the States in the early 1950s where he played for New York Americans. When the USA faced England at the Yankee Stadium in New York in June 1953, a match arranged to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, Moore was selected for what was to be his only appearance for the full American national team. Thus Moore became one of only two players, Jack Reynolds being the other, to play an official international for Northern Ireland and another country (other than the Republic of Ireland).

Accrington Stanley striker Dion Charles won three caps at Under-21 level back in 2016, but three years before that he also made a number of appearances for the Northern Ireland U19 side who were then managed by former international defender Stephen Craigan. One of Charles’ games for the U19 team came in the Milk Cup in July 2013 when he played the first 45 minutes of a 3-1 success over a USA U20 outfit at Drumahoe. Current Ballymena United striker Paul McElroy scored a brace against the Americans that day with Luke McCullough, now of Glentoran, also getting on the scoresheet.

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THE BIRTH OF A ‘SOCCER’ NATION

‘Soccer’ has experienced an exponential rise in popularity in the United States ever since the country hosted the association football FIFA World Cup back in 1994.

Prior to that World Cup, American broadcaster ESPN introduced ‘soccer’ - perhaps slightly tongue-in- cheek - to its viewers as a game that “involves 22 foreigners in funny shorts kicking the ball, and each other, for 90 minutes. After this period, in the normal course of events, the Germans win, the losers riot and the English slatch off muttering about who won the war anyhow”. It’s fair to say that cynical view of the beautiful game rather summed up the dismissive attitudes both inside and outside of America about the prospect of the US staging the sport’s biggest event. Yet the tournament ended up being an unequivocal success. The performance of the host nation certainly contributed to the warmth of feeling shown by Americans then and now to USA ’94. Appearing in just their second World Cup finals since 1950, the Stars and Stripes drew 1-1 with Switzerland in front of over 70,000 in Pontiac on 18 June, 1994. A 2-1 victory over Colombia in their next Group A game, with 93,869 watching on at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, was enough to send Bora Milutinović’s side through to the knockout phase of the tournament despite a 1-0 defeat to Romania in their final group fixture. The States bowed out in the Round of 16 with their heads held high, as they went down to a 1-0 defeat (in front of 84,147 spectators) to eventual champions Brazil in Stanford on Independence Day. Despite it being a 24-team tournament (a 32-team format was introduced in 1998), USA ’94 still holds the record for the highest total attendance at a FIFA World Cup (at 3.57 million) and the highest average attendance (68,626). With an average of 2.71 goals per game, the entertaining tournament provided the perfect showcase to win over a soccer-sceptic nation. Gary Hopkins, author of the 2010 book Star Spangled Soccer, pinpointed the 1994 World Cup as the moment which “ultimately positioned it (soccer) to become a major force in the rapidly changing American sports landscape”.

From the success of the US men’s national team – they have qualified for all but one World Cup since 1994 and reached the quarter-finals in 2002 – and the all-conquering US women’s team to the growth of the country’s domestic leagues, the sport has moved from niche to mainstream in the nation’s psyche in the space of just 27 years. Indeed for those aged 12 to 20 soccer is now the second most- watched sport in the country. Major League Soccer (MLS) was founded in 1996 and has expanded from 10 teams in its inaugural season to 27 currently – and is due to expand further. In 2019 it was the ninth-best attended football league in the world (with an average of more than 20,000 per game). In 2026 the United States of America - along with Canada and Mexico - will host the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup. Sixty of the 80 tournament matches, including all fixtures from the quarter-final stage onwards, will take place on American soil with the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey the chosen venue for the final. Unlike 27 years ago it’s now a given that the locals from the 16 US tournament host cities, such as Los Angeles, Washington DC, Dallas, Kanas City, Denver, Houston and Baltimore, ‘get’ what the World Cup and

this sport is all about. Words Andy Greeves

The word ‘soccer’ is a derivative of association, as in as-soc-iation football, with ‘er’ added. The beautiful game is called soccer in the US so that people do not confuse it with American Football.

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SCOUTING REPORT Andy Greeves takes a closer look at the United States of America team ahead of today’s international friendly in Belfast.

Seven years on, it is common to see the USMNT dominate possession in their matches. The Stars and Stripes had a 72% share of the ball in their 7-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, for example. The United States don’t just pass for passing’s sake though – Woitalla describes their ball-play as “possession with intent”. Those fortunate to have watched Berhalter’s team since his appointment back in 2018 will have witnessed a fluid, attacking outfit. Having been named in the squad for Thursday’s friendly against Jamaica, which was played in Austria, John Brooks and Reggie Cannon have returned to their club sides prior to today’s match. STRENGTHS There is much excitement in the States currently about the quality of player available to Berhalter. With numerous representatives from Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues, there are many who will consider the Stars and Stripes as contenders for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The current crop of players are well suited to the dynamic system put in place by Berhalter. Full-backs such as 20-year-old Barcelona starlet Sergiño Dest and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson are adept at joining in their side’s attacks or getting back to defend as required. The USMNT’s double-header of friendly matches against Jamaica and Northern Ireland will provide Christian Pulisic with an opportunity to make his first international appearances since a 2-0 defeat to Canada in October 2019. Pulisic became the most expensive player in American soccer history when he moved from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea in 2019 for a fee of $73m. Often starting out on the right side of the attack, the Pennsylvania-born player is comfortable drifting inside or indeed anywhere across the frontline.

LOWDOWN The United States (known as the US Men's National Soccer Team or USMNT for short) began their preparations for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup with an impressive 7-0 friendly victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Orlando, Florida back on 1 February. The Stars and Stripes had ended 2020 in similarly impressive fashion with a 6-2 win over Panama in Wiener Neustadt in Austria and a 6-0 success against El Salvador in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (this article was written prior to their friendly with Jamaica in Austria last Thursday). After visiting Belfast today, Gregg Berhalter’s side can look forward to a friendly match against Switzerland on 30 May prior to their CONCACAF Nations League semi-final match against Honduras on 3 June. TACTICS The United States typically line up in an attacking 4-3-3 formation which appears more like a 2-5-3 when in possession. Head coach Berhalter is keen for his team to play out from the back and has defended this approach in the past, even on the occasions it has backfired. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla points to a “blending of soccer cultures” when explaining the transformation of the United States’ style of play in recent years. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup the Stars and Stripes set up in a defensive 4-1-4-1/4-5-1 formation, allowing their opponents possession in certain areas of the field and looking to get their goals from counter-attacks and set-pieces. In their 1-0 defeat to Germany and their 2-1 victory over Ghana at the tournament the USMNT had just 33% and 41% possession respectively.

Many thanks to Soccer America’s (www.socceramerica.com) executive editor Mike Woitalla for his assistance in the writing of this article. POSSIBLE LINE-UP GK Zack Steffen LB Antonee Robinson CB Matt Miazga CB Tim Ream RB Sergiño Dest ML Kellyn Acosta MC Owen Otasowie MR Yunus Musah FW Jordan Siebatcheu FW Daryl Dike FW Christian Pulisic.

Goalkeeping great Pat Jennings was a colossus for Northern Ireland.

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BIG PAT AND BIG GUYS UP FRONT

The past year has provided lots of time for reflection and reminiscing. My friend and colleague David Currie and I have, from time to time, shared questions on Northern Ireland teams and players.

Of the match itself (a tedious end of season 0-0 draw) I remember little, but there I was watching my heroes in the flesh, subject to the roars and moans of the crowd. Big Pat Jennings, hair immaculate, standing tall, George Best all straggly hair and trickery, and the midfield threesome of barrel chested (the word was coined for them) stalwarts Clements, Jackson and Nicholson. I do remember clearly, however, our opposition, be- splendoured in Welsh red and boasting their three big men up top – Messrs Ron and Wyn Davies and John Toshack – all giants of men and straight from the pages of my Shoot magazine. The Welsh also featured the impossible to spell Peter Rodrigues and an equally barrel chested Alan Durban of Derby County, who I recall sliding in the rain off the pitch in front of where I was standing beside big brother in the unreserved terracing opposite the South Stand. How I loved the experience, how I dreamt of being part of such matches. Of course, my dreams were fulfilled in a curious way as years later I was the match manager for over 100 international matches, but as a 10-year- old I envisaged trotting out on to the pitch to the roar of the crowd and scoring the winner, or making the incisive pass to allow our George to round the keeper and smash the ball into the net. They say the journey of 10,000 miles begins with one step, and my journey commenced that rainy spring afternoon. It maybe explains why I have always had a soft spot for scoreless draws but that (as they say) is another story! Words William Campbell

Can you name the 10 players with most caps for instance (I was kicking myself having only managed nine – it’s not so easy after the first five!)? Or what about the internationals currently playing in the NIFL Premiership or the one cap wonders? Or indeed why certain players only managed a few caps, like Iam McFaul who plied his trade in the First Division (when it was the first division) for Newcastle United but only earned six caps between 1967 and 1974 due to a guy at Tottenham Hotspur called Pat Jennings. These questions made me think of the very first international match that I attended way back in May 1969. It was a Home Championship game against Wales, and I went with my big brother and his student friends, having not been allowed to go to the match versus England the weekend before. Memory is a tricky thing. Summers of childhood are always sunnier, skies are bluer and life so much less stressful. My memories of that game some 50 years later are rather sketchy, but I do remember getting on a crowded bus, that it had been raining and the pavements were wet and there were puddles everywhere. I also recall the cries of the programme sellers on the Railway Bridge and the crowds of (to a 10-year- old) giants all crushing onto the terraces. I remember the less than salubrious open urinal at the North East end of the ground (and always had a wry smile years later when the North Stand was built that the NE corner was turned into a ‘snack bar’; needless to say I did not rush to purchase from there!). I recall the heady mix of aromas – the tobacco smoke, the onions, the beer and the body odour. This was sensory overload for a quiet schoolboy. What wonder, what excitement.

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Words Liam Blackburn

USA THE COACH Gregg Berhalter was the choice of the United States Soccer Federation back in December 2018 after a 14-month search for a new coach.

under Berhalter, he was sacked midway through his second season. He was hired by MLS side Columbus Crew in November 2013 and, despite their small budget, Berhalter led the team to four top-five finishes in five years and the MLS Cup final in 2015, when they were beaten by Portland Timbers. USA won their first three matches under Berhalter but were beaten in the 2019 Gold Cup final by Mexico. They came into this international break on the back of a seven-match unbeaten streak – their best run under the current boss. » Berhalter holds an Irish passport and he is the godson of Hall of Fame baseball player Carl Yastrzemski. » He won the first of 44 USA caps in 1994 and was a key part of the team which reached the 2002 World Cup quarter- finals. He was the first Crystal Palace player to feature at a World Cup. » When he took charge of Hammarby, Berhalter became the first American- born ex national team player to coach a professional team in Europe. » During his final season with LA Galaxy, Berhalter was both a player and an assistant. The coach at the time was Bruce Arena, who has had two spells in charge of USA.

He beat 32 other candidates to the position and became the first USA coach to have previously played for the country at a World Cup. “He is a coach that is learning at all times,” US Soccer Federation Sporting Director Earnie Stewart said when announcing Berhalter’s hiring. “Every single day he tries to develop himself so he can be a better leader for the team that he has. That is something that really stood out with Gregg and went a long way in the decision to offer him the job.” Berhalter went to high school with USA legend Claudio Reyna – who later served as best man at his wedding – and attended the University of North Carolina before beginning his professional playing career in the Netherlands, first with Zwolle and then Sparta Rotterdam and Cambuur Leeuwarden. The defender had a short spell in England with Crystal Palace before moving to Germany, where he captained both Energie Cottbus and 1860 Munich. Berhalter, who was part of his country’s squads at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, was a team-mate of David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane at Los Angeles Galaxy and was part of the team that won the 2011 MLS Cup before retiring. After beginning his coaching career as an assistant with the Galaxy, he took charge of Swedish club Hammarby and they finished fourth in his debut campaign. Though the club’s defence improved

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USA SQUAD

Words Liam Blackburn

GOALKEEPERS

CHITURU ODUNZE LEICESTER CITY

ETHAN HORVATH CLUB BRUGGE

ZACK STEFFEN MANCHESTER CITY

Age Caps 4 Goals 0

Age Caps

25 19

Age Caps 0 Goals 0

Goals 0

One of two uncapped players in this American squad, although he was part of the group for the first time in November. Odunze has represented his country at an Under-17 World Cup, too. Joined Leicester from Vancouver Whitecaps in August 2019, having previously spent time with the Chelsea academy.

Horvath trained with both Manchester City and Stoke City growing up but made his senior debut with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Molde in Norway. He signed a four-and-a- half-year deal with Club Brugge in January 2017. Made his senior USA debut in October 2016 in a 2-0 victory over Cuba.

Joined Manchester City in July 2019 having kept 26 clean sheets in 84 appearances for MLS side Columbus Crew. Steffen spent last season on loan with Fortuna Dusseldorf but returned this term and made his Premier League bow in a 3-1 win over Chelsea in January. Made his senior USA debut in 2018.

DEFENDERS

SERGINO DEST BARCELONA

AARON LONG NEW YORK RED BULLS

MATT MIAZGA ANDERLECHT

Age Caps 5 Goals 0

Age Caps

28 19

Age Caps

25 20

Goals 3

Goals 1

The current right-back for La Liga giants Barcelona, Dest was born in the Netherlands but chose to represent the country of his father’s birth after playing for USA at two Youth World Cups. The former Ajax man made his senior American debut in September 2019 and is seen as one of the country’s brightest prospects.

Long is one of three players in this squad who plays his club football in MLS. Previously on the books of Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders but has now firmly established himself with the Red Bulls. Played 14 times for USA in 2019, when he also scored all three of his international goals.

Central defender currently on his fourth loan spell away from Chelsea with Anderlecht, having previously spent short stints with Vitesse, Nantes and Reading. He made two Premier League appearances for the Blues in 2016. Represented USA at various youth levels and debuted for the senior side in 2015.

ERIK PALMER-BROWN AUSTRIA WIEN

TIM REAM FULHAM

BRYAN REYNOLDS ROMA

Age Caps 2 Goals 0

Age Caps

33 41

Age Caps 0 Goals 0

Goals 1

Palmer-Brown made his MLS debut as a 17-year-old with Sporting Kansas City, though he was sent off in a 2-1 loss to Chicago Fire. First moved to Europe when he joined Porto on loan, and he later joined Manchester City. Now on loan with Austria Wien (Vienna), he debuted for USA seniors in 2018.

The most experienced player in this USA squad. Ream is one of seven players who plies his trade in England. Former New York Red Bulls defender who came across to the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers in 2012. A regular for Fulham during last season’s promotion campaign. First appeared for the Stars and Stripes in 2010.

Earlier this month the right-back became the second-youngest US player to appear in Serie A when he featured for Roma against Parma. Reynolds is on loan with Roma from FC Dallas in a deal that includes an option to buy. Previously featured for his country at a Youth World Cup.

MIDFIELDERS

ANTONEE ROBINSON FULHAM

CHRIS RICHARDS HOFFENHEIM

BRENDEN AARONSON RED BULL SALZBURG

Age Caps 8 Goals 0

Age Caps 1 Goals 0

Age Caps 2 Goals 1

Born in Milton Keynes, Robinson was capped by USA at Under-18 level and pledged his international allegiance to his father’s country. The left-back came through Everton’s academy and had loan spells with Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic before moving on to Fulham, for whom he has been a regular in this season’s Premier League.

Celebrates his 21st birthday today. Richards began life at FC Dallas but signed for Bayern Munich in 2019 and has already appeared in the Bundesliga and Champions League for the club. Joined Hoffenheim on loan last month until the end of this season. Made his senior USA debut in November.

Broke through at Philadelphia Union and came second in the voting for the 2019 MLS Rookie of the Year award. In January he officially joined Red Bull Salzburg, whose manager is American Jesse Marsch. Scored his first international goal in a 6-0 win over El Salvador in December.

All statistics correct prior to Jamaica game on Thursday

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MIDFIELDERS

SEBASTIAN LLETGET LA GALAXY

KELLYN ACOSTA COLORADO RAPIDS

LUCA DE LA TORRE HERACLES

Age Caps

28 18

Age Caps

25 25

Age Caps 1 Goals 0

Goals 4

Goals 2

Lletget signed his first professional contract with West Ham United in 2010 but never appeared for the Hammers in the league. He moved to LA Galaxy in 2015 and has been a regular in MLS ever since. Scored for his country in friendlies against Panama and El Salvador late last year.

Texas-born midfielder who has spent his entire career in his homeland, first with FC Dallas and now with Colorado Rapids. Acosta won caps for America at Under-17, Under-18, Under-20 and Under-23 level before making his senior debut in 2016. Only two of his 25 caps have been won since 2018, however.

Came through the youth academy at Fulham but only made seven league appearances across four seasons with the west London club. De la Torre has been a regular in the Eredivisie with Heracles, though, and will hope to add to the one USA cap he won in 2018 against the Republic of Ireland.

OWEN OTASOWIE WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

YUNUS MUSAH VALENCIA

CHRISTIAN CAPPIS HOBRO

Age Caps 2 Goals 0

Age Caps 1 Goals 0

Age Caps 0 Goals 0

Teenager who is eligible to represent England, Ghana and Italy but fully pledged his international allegiance to USA earlier this month. Born in New York, he grew up in Italy before joining Arsenal’s academy. Played for England at youth level but made his senior debut against Wales in November.

Otasowie came through Wolves’ academy and played in both defence and midfield for the Midlands club. He made his Premier League debut in December and made his first start later that month. Also eligible to play for both England and Nigeria, he made his USA bow against Wales in November.

Former FC Dallas central midfielder who plays for Danish club Hobro. Last month Cappis agreed to move to Brondby this summer on a four-year deal. Having represented USA Under-20s, he first linked up with the senior team in January 2020 for a friendly against Costa Rica but did not make his debut.

STRIKERS

DARYL DIKE BARNSLEY

JORDAN SIEBATCHEU YOUNG BOYS

CHRISTIAN PULISIC CHELSEA

Age Caps 1 Goals 0

Age Caps 0 Goals 0

Age Caps 34 Goals 14 22

Scored eight times in 17 games for Orlando City in the 2020 MLS. Has continued that prolific form on loan with Championship club Barnsley, with whom he scored four times in five games earlier this month. Dike only made his USA debut earlier this year when he played in the 7-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

Born in Washington DC, Siebatcheu is a youth product of Reims and represented France Under-21s, scoring on his debut in 2017. Pledged his allegiance to the United States earlier this year. Last month he scored three times in the Europa League last-32 tie between Swiss side Young Boys, where he is on loan from Rennes, and Bayer Leverkusen.

Pulisic is the two-time winner of the US Soccer Player of the Year award. He debuted in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund as a 17-year-old and later joined Chelsea for an estimated £58million. First appeared for USA at senior level as a 17-year-old and he captained his country at the age of 20.

NICHOLAS GIOACCHINI CAEN

GIO REYNA BORUSSIA DORTMUND

JOSH SARGENT WERDER BREMEN

Age Caps 2 Goals 2

Age Caps 2 Goals 1

Age Caps

21 12

Goals 5

Kansas City-born forward with an Italian father and Jamaican mother who made his professional debut with Paris FC. Can play up front, right wing or in a deeper attacking midfield position. Scored twice in a 6-2 win over Panama in November, having made his debut four days earlier against Wales.

Born in Sunderland, Reyna is the son of former Rangers midfielder Claudio, who captained USA at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and Danielle, who played for USA women’s team. Gio is named after Reyna’s ex-Rangers team-mate Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Made his Dortmund and USA debuts while still 17.

Sargent is an energetic forward who signed his first professional contract with Werder Bremen on his 18th birthday. He then scored with his first touch on his Bundesliga debut. Represented USA at Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups in the same year. Scored on his senior debut against Bolivia.

All statistics correct prior to Jamaica game on Thursday

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