Northern Ireland v USA

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.