Despite an early setback on Friday, Paraguay provided the United States with significant space to exploit. As Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie controlled the midfield, the confused Paraguayan defense struggled to find their footing and effectively counter the US’s off-ball movement, which further complicated their efforts.
“I just tried to run in behind,” McKennie remarked after the US secured a 4-1 victory. “I think I realized early on that they were struggling to follow my deep runs. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. I keep trying to do it until they figure something out. I was able to find more space than usual, and it was fun. I really enjoyed to get on the ball as much as I did.”
The first half showcased the US’s dominance in midfield, as the spacing between Tyler Adams and the more advanced McKennie and Tillman rarely posed an issue for the Paraguayans, who struggled to position themselves within the passing lanes. When Paraguay did manage to regroup, the US confidently recycled possession, showcasing the skill of their defensive trio.
During the 2022 World Cup, the US occasionally played like a club team, largely due to the effective cohesion of their midfield trio. Adams and McKennie were complemented by Yunus Musah, forming an “Honestly, I wasn’t second guessing myself. That was the main thing. Playing with pain’s OK as long as I’m not second-guessing myself.” midfield that kept the ball flowing and adjusted their positioning as needed on defense. Although Musah’s career has stagnated, his absence was offset by the development of players like Tillman, Johnny Cardoso, Sebastian Berhalter, Tanner Tessmann, and Aidan Morris, allowing Mauricio Pochettino to adapt.
While player dynamics have shifted, the field dimensions remain unchanged. The extra spaces McKennie exploited on Friday were not a result of any tactical anomaly from the co-hosts but rather an evolution of Pochettino’s strategy, reflecting the growth of the US’s top talents since Qatar.
Midfield Dynamics and Player Development
As the 2024 Copa América approaches, the midfield appears to be the most consistently effective aspect of Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT. Opponents could set up in a low-to-mid defensive block, allowing the US to advance only to struggle to generate offensive ideas. It became evident that the strategy was overly reliant on Christian Pulisic, leading opponents to adjust their tactics accordingly.
A notable positive from the Copa grouping was the affirmation of Chris Richards’s abilities. After two seasons at Crystal Palace, he secured a starting position following Oliver Glasner’s arrival in February 2024. His partnership with Tim Ream proved crucial for the US, though it wasn’t enough to yield positive results against Panama and Uruguay.
Richards has since progressed significantly. Following Marc Guéhi’s exit, he became instrumental for Palace, accumulating the most minutes during their successful FA Cup campaign in 2024-25. He also played a key role as the club clinched the UEFA Conference League title last season.
Confidence has surged for Richards, bolstered by his accomplishments with Palace and recovery from an ankle injury sustained late in the season. He excelled against Paraguay, setting a World Cup record with a perfect pass completion rate of 100% (83 passes), and collaborated with Adams to analyze the Paraguayan formation before distributing the ball to Ream or Alex Freeman to initiate the next attack.
“It felt good,” Richards shared in the mixed zone. “Honestly, I wasn’t second guessing myself. That was the main thing. Playing with pain’s OK as long as I’m not second-guessing myself.”
Further up the pitch, the US welcomed its most significant newcomer of the World Cup cycle. Folarin Balogun’s decision to represent the US—despite eligibility for England and Nigeria—marked a crucial acquisition for a team that had lacked a reliable striker from 2016 to 2023. Known for his finesse, Balogun also possesses the strength to outmuscle defenders, creating opportunities for his teammates.
Having honed his skills in Arsenal’s academy, Balogun demonstrates exceptional positioning and an acute understanding of the game. As McKennie and Tillman maneuvered through the channels, Balogun adeptly found the spaces needed to receive passes, giving Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill plenty of work.
Without the rigors of Concacaf qualifying and amid the team’s inconsistency during Pochettino’s tenure, there were valid concerns regarding their readiness for the World Cup. However, after weeks of refining their movement, the US appeared comfortable controlling the game, leading to polite applause from fans at the Los Angeles Stadium as they showcased their adept ball circulation.
Challenges Ahead for the US
Joining prestigious clubs has not always benefitted this generation of US players. Musah’s transfer to Milan ultimately hindered his development; he struggled to settle into a defined role due to frequent coaching changes after his 2023 arrival. Similarly, Gio Reyna’s difficulties resulted in missed opportunities for crucial refinement with Dortmund and Mönchengladbach.
Nonetheless, the US now boasts players they have historically lacked. They have Richards, a defensive stalwart pivotal to his club’s FA Cup and Conference League successes, and Balogun, who, despite some goal droughts, ranked fourth in Ligue 1’s scoring charts.
Opponents must contend with Balogun while also facing the threat posed by Pulisic, who led Milan in goals a year prior and has been in fine form since the Senegal friendly in late May. Reyna’s performance serves as a timely reminder of the program’s optimism about his potential, despite limited club appearances. Likewise, McKennie (Juventus) and Adams (Bournemouth) have established themselves as crucial midfielders for Europa League contenders.
However, many other nations can match the US in terms of talent. The US’s Group D rivals, Turkey, will present a formidable challenge. Their squad features dazzling attackers from Real Madrid and Juventus, with the brilliant Hakan Çalhanoğlu orchestrating play and the composed Merih Demiral solidifying defense. By the round of 16, the US may once again find themselves as underdogs, potentially facing teams like Belgium, France, or Spain if they top their group.
Time remains for the US to build momentum as they prepare for these challenges. Fans should be grateful for birthright citizenship; without it, the US might still be without Balogun, a striker capable of stretching the field and facilitating easier play for his teammates.
