Remember the shocking 2014 squad when Jurgen Klinsmann selected Aron Jóhannsson but not Landon Donovan? For 2022, the US men’s head coach suppressed his preference for youthful dynamism by selecting veteran and obvious international coach Tim Ream rather than a younger option. While Klinsmann appeared to be a Beach Boys-inspired tactician – his impulsive process based on picking up good vibes – Berhalter is a more deliberate, careful and cerebral character. So welcoming Ream from the desert just 12 days before the Group B opener against Wales is as bold as it gets. And this less than two months after he told reporters exactly why Ream wasn’t a good fit for the system. Given the overall youth of the roster, adding a veteran can’t hurt. Berhalter has repeatedly stressed that he would be influenced by form as well as how players fit into his scheme. And stale displays against Japan and Saudi Arabia in the final warm-ups in September must also have weighed on his mind and motivated him to shake up the squad to the hilt. The other dramatic moves since Wednesday’s announcement included Berhalter dropping goalkeeper Jacques Steffen and forward Ricardo Pepi, who had featured prominently in qualifying. Two highly questionable omissions, even if neither player was likely to start. And if the Americans struggle to score, taking just three forwards might seem questionable. Predicted starting line-up against Wales (4-3-3): Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Long, Robinson; Adams, Musah, McKennie; Aaronson, Ferreira, Pulisic
Goalkeepers
Matt Turner (Arsenal, 20 appearances) Ethan Horvath (Luton Town, 8) Sean Johnson (New York, 10)
It’s clear that Turner is Berhalter’s first choice and has been for a few months, so we’re talking here about the shuffle between the stocks. However, Steffen’s ban was a ruthless move that leaves the coach open to criticism. Turner has recently missed three games with a groin injury and was on the bench on Wednesday when Arsenal lost to Brighton in the Carabao Cup. His absence is a particular setback as he has missed the first team, having only played in the Europa League since joining Arsenal from New England Revolution in the summer. Should Turner fail, expect the word “rusty” to be on critics’ lips as he has only played six times all season. Steffen, meanwhile – who coached Berhalter when he was at Columbus Crew – has made 16 appearances for Middlesbrough on loan from Manchester City. That said, Turner went 90 against Japan and Saudi Arabia and looked solid, while Steffen has been erratic in his recent games for the USA. Despite this, he has gone from number one early in World Cup qualifying to not being in the top three. Addressing the issue in a curiously vague manner at the team’s made-for-TV unveiling event in Brooklyn, Berhalter said Horvath was “playing at a good level at Luton in the Championship” – but that was equally true of Steffen. The 33-year-old Johnson is a known quantity: a capable goalkeeper who made his senior international debut in 2011, even if he has only amassed ten caps to date.
Defenders
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic, 11 appearances) Sergiño Dest (AC Milan, 19) Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls, 29) Shaq Moore (Nashville, 15) Tim Ream (Fulham, 46) Antonee Robinson (Fulham, 29) Joe Scully (Borussia Monchengladbach, 3) DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami, 75) Walker Zimmerman (Nashville, 33)
Berhalter turned to the 35-year-old Fulham defender after Crystal Palace centre-back Chris Richards confirmed he would not recover in time for the tournament. Aged, sedated and unusual in rigs, Ream doesn’t fit the Berhalter mold. He hasn’t played for the national team since September 2021. But his experience, passing and decent form for an English Premier League side in the midfield — where he plays usefully alongside Robinson, the U.S.’s first-choice left back — they made him wise. selection. Given Ream’s lack of recent international caps and call-ups, Berhalter may prefer Long to be Zimmerman in the opener against Wales. If that goes south, Ream could be brought in for the England match, where his experience and familiarity with the opposition would come in handy. Although Rehm has 46 caps, Yedlin, the 29-year-old who operates as a right-back, is the only player on the roster with previous World Cup experience. Sam Vines suffered a broken tibia last week, ruling him out of the substitute left-back position. Full-backs Moore of Nashville and Scully of Borussia were selected ahead of Boavista’s Reggie Cannon, but are unlikely to see action in Qatar.
Midfielders
Brenden Aaronson (24 appearances), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC, 53), Tyler Adams (Leeds, 32), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, 12), Weston McKennie (Juventus, 37), Yunus Musah (Valencia, 19) and Christian Roldan (Seattle). , 32)
The easiest outfield team for Berhalter, since he already knows his front three: Adams, Musa and McKenney. So the intrigue, such as it was, surrounded who he would select as backup options. Acosta, fresh from winning the MLS Cup with Los Angeles FC, was an obvious choice and is very likely to step in if one of the above trio is injured. Roldan is versatile, while De La Torre, a playmaker, suffered a leg muscle injury last month which is clearly not serious. Students of Berhalter’s often subtle hints about his plans (Greggologists?) might want to note that Aaronson was named in the middle for this roster, though he’s been paired with the forwards in the past. Berhalter did not draw his wild card, the Rangers’ exciting, if raw, 20-year-old infielder Malik Tillman.
Front
Jesus Ferreira (Dallas, 15 appearances) Jordan Morris (Seattle, 49) Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, 52) Gio Reina (Borussia Dortmund, 14) Josh Sargent (Norwich, 20) Tim Weah (Lille, 25) Haji Wright (Antalya) )
Berhalter is blessed with an abundance of exciting options on the wings, but lacks high-level options at forward. He made a pragmatic choice in selecting Wright ahead of last year’s emerging hope, Pepy, who has returned to goal-scoring form but with Groningen, but similar to potential starter, Ferreira (who last scored on September 10). That is, young, lively and busy off the ball, but inconsistent and not a conventional centre-forward. Wright is an option with a plan B in mind. After two disappointing friendlies in September, perhaps Berhalter has accepted that the US will spend periods chasing plays and fighting for possession, so it’s smart to have the option of hitting the ball to a target player, however shapeless. At 6ft 3in, Wright can be effective in the air, operate as an outlet and hold the ball up. The 24-year-old has long been regarded as a promising prospect but did not make his senior debut until June. He scored a penalty against Morocco in a friendly that month. Berhalter cited his “great form” and Wright is indeed a prolific goalscorer for Antalyaspor in the Turkish league, with nine goals this season. The experience and terrier-like tenacity of the 28-year-old Morris could make him useful off the bench, although FC Dallas’ Paul Arriola offers much of the same scrambling ability but misses out. With eight goals this season for Norwich City – albeit in the second division – Berhalter clearly sees Sargent as a hot hand, while Jordan Pefok of Bundesliga side Union Berlin is overlooked. He has started the campaign well but has not found the net in 10 matches.
