By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 27, 2021) US Soccer Players - The USMNT is finally on the verge of kicking off their long-awaited 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign. USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter named his 26-player roster with all involved well aware of the challenge a three-game international window presents. Here are five key topics of conversation as the final countdown to the opener, . . .
US Soccer releases September camp roster
USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter named 26 players to his September 2021 camp roster with three World Cup qualifiers on the schedule. The USMNT is at El Salvador on September 2, home to Canada on the 5, and at Honduras on the 8. Due to the pandemic, Concacaf has had to crash the qualifying schedule, opting for three games in the September and October international windows. “We have spent the last two . . .
Q&A: Gianluca Busio
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 9, 2021) US Soccer Players – Major League Soccer has been the place for young talent to flourish the past few years. It isn't so rare when a teenager makes his debut, shines for a few years, and then moves to Europe. It's a testament to the growth of US soccer and the power and importance of MLS. A prime example of this has been the success of Gianluca Busio, . . .
Berhalter shows some personality, and so does the USMNT
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 6, 2021) US Soccer Players - Due to safety precautions, direct interaction between teams and the media members covering them has dwindled in the pandemic era. Instead, like so much right now, Zoom calls became the new normal. That was the situation throughout the Gold Cup, the best opportunity to learn about more subtle elements around a team like mood and . . .
The Netherlands go with Louis van Gaal again
Wednesday's soccer news starts with the Royal Dutch Football Association rehiring a former coach. Louis van Gaal returns to professional soccer to take over from Frank de Boer, who left following June's EURO 2020 quarterfinal exit to the Czech Republic. Van Gaal last coached Manchester United, leaving that job at the end of the 2015-16 season. He coached the Dutch national team from 2000-02 and . . .
The USMNT uses the Gold Cup
Monday’s soccer news starts with an established soccer cliche, the statement game. It seems like games are making statements more often than not, sort of like when every single game involving an MLS team somehow has playoff implications. Meanwhile, occasionally there are games that don’t just make a statement. They yell as loudly as possible that a group of players has accomplished something . . .
Gold Cup final: USMNT 1 – Mexico 0
A physical Gold Cup final at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas needed extra time to find a winner. Miles Robinson scored in the 117th minute with the USMNT lifting the trophy 1-0 over Mexico. USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner made five saves to keep the clean sheet over 120 minutes. The USMNT also finished with five shots on goal. That the game remained scoreless for so long speaks to the defending of . . .
Preview: 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup final
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 30, 2021) US Soccer Players - The Gold Cup semifinals reached their most commonly expected outcome on Thursday night. They just took a stranger and more winding path than usual to get there. The USMNT found another gear to down a lively Qatar 1-0 via a late Gyasi Zardes goal in sultry Austin, Texas. Then a couple of hours to the southeast in Houston, Mexico . . .
The USMNT and the 1-0 win
The USMNT's run at the 2021 Gold Cup continues with their third 1-0 win in a row. This time, it was Qatar unable to get the ball past USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner. Once again, it was Turner coming up with the crucial saves to keep the clean sheet and make one goal count. That came courtesy of Gyasi Zardes in the 86th minute, a super sub performance that once again highlighted his unique skill . . .
Gold Cup semifinal: Qatar 0 – USMNT 1
The USMNT survived to advance to the 2021 Gold Cup final where they will play Mexico after a 1-0 win over Qatar at Austin's Q2 Stadium. It took seeing off a motivated Qatar attack that couldn't get the ball past USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner in the first-half. Qatar had a chance to take the lead in the 61st minute, but Hassan Al-Haydos sent the ball over the bar. The USMNT made three substitutions . . .
