ATLANTA — United States goalkeeper Matt Turner mentioned on Tuesday that no crew needs to be taken frivolously on the 2024 Copa América and dismissed the premise that profitable is not ok anymore for the USMNT.
Turner was responding to recommendations that the crew must win in model or by extra lopsided scores in opposition to lower-ranked opponents following a 2-0 victory over BolÃvia to open the Copa on Sunday.
“No, we’ll by no means have that luxurious,” Turner mentioned in a press convention on Tuesday. “I believe you’re taking wins if you get wins, regardless of the context. You are taking the consequence — particularly in event play, is the top all be all. I implore individuals to not lose sight of that.”
The U.S. received in Arlington, Texas, on Monday behind an early aim from captain Christian Pulisic and a tally from Folarin Balogun earlier than half-time, leaving the Individuals degree on factors with Uruguay atop Group C after one matchday.
“I believe any time you may win a recreation in an necessary, worldwide competitors, a big-time event, it is good for this system, it is good for us,” Turner mentioned. “Clearly, we want we did some issues higher, however that is what tournaments are about. You need to enhance and get higher all through the event and continue to grow as a crew, and a bond and a tradition.
“As a lot as we may have performed issues just a little bit in another way, on the finish of the day, we acquired a clear sheet, we scored two targets and we received. Going into this subsequent match, we all know we’d need to be just a little bit higher if we need to win that recreation as nicely.”
The U.S. faces Concacaf foe Panama on Thursday in Atlanta within the second group-stage match for every crew. A victory may clinch a spot within the knockout spherical of the Copa America for Gregg Berhalter’s facet forward of subsequent week’s group-stage finale in opposition to Uruguay.
Panama defeated the U.S. in a penalty shootout within the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal final 12 months.
“They convey man-to-man strain,” Turner mentioned of Panama. “They are a crew that has a whole lot of actually gifted gamers and athletes. It is to be anticipated — a bodily recreation, actually aggressive.”
USMNT ahead Tim Weah mentioned the crew is not serious about whether or not Panama will attempt to play a extra open recreation or flip to extra bodily ways, as an alternative specializing in themselves.
“We do not know which Panama crew we’ll get,” Weah instructed reporters. “We’re simply going to return out 100% and never take something as a right, put all our playing cards on the desk, and ensure we execute.”
The USMNT is the favourite in Thursday’s match regardless of final 12 months’s Gold Cup consequence, notably with the sport on dwelling soil. A big crowd is predicted on the 70,000-plus-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday, only a few miles away from the presidential debate going down that evening.
Turner careworn warning that no opponent needs to be missed, particularly in tournaments. He referenced Austria‘s victory over the Netherlands at Euro 2024, which occurred moments earlier than Turner spoke, for example of how unpredictable tournaments could be.
“You simply need to handle what’s in entrance of you,” Turner mentioned. “I believe an important factor is simply constructing off of what you simply did. The groups that may repeatedly get higher all through event… we now have that baseline of what it takes to win a recreation on this event, and now we have to one-up it in opposition to a special opponent.”
Berhalter has emphasised related factors just lately, saying on Friday forward of the crew’s opener that he desires the U.S. to be adaptable on this event based mostly on the calls for of a given recreation. That attribute, he mentioned, is shared by the world’s finest groups.
The U.S. coach reiterated that following his crew’s victory on Saturday, however he additionally emphasised the significance of profitable video games and known as the victory over Bolivia “complete,” whereas explicitly rejecting the concept that the U.S. ought to have scored extra targets in opposition to a Bolivia crew that had not received outdoors of dwelling soil in 9 years.
Nonetheless, there was room for enchancment. Whereas the USMNT was maybe unfortunate to not have added extra targets in opposition to Bolivia, the again line gave the ball away incessantly. The crew impressed in a 1-1 draw with Brazil within the Individuals’ ultimate tune-up recreation earlier than Copa América, 4 days after a humbling 5-1 defeat to Colombia.
Both of these groups may very well be an opponent within the quarterfinals if the USMNT ought to advance. Turner mentioned on Tuesday that the U.S. may very well be “extra opportunistic” in entrance aim, whereas reflecting on the win over Bolivia. He additionally mentioned that the crew may handle the ball higher in possession.
“We talked about being extra expansive and taking part in extra free flowing, attacking, and on the identical time that comes with dangers on counter-attacks and giveaways and the place we’re,” Turner mentioned. “I believe we discovered that lesson in a fairly harsh means within the Colombia recreation.”
The main target now’s on Panama, one of many USMNT’s most frequent historic opponents. The Individuals maintain a 17-3-6 report in opposition to their rivals.
“We’re truthfully simply sticking to the plan,” Weah mentioned. “We have had this gameplan since day one. We keep true, we’re intentional with the way in which that we play. We’re a crew now that understands one another, and I believe we’re beginning to see that much more as we’re stepping into these different video games and as we’re getting older as a bunch.
“I believe it is only a stunning factor to see us rising as a unit, as a household. We’re beginning to present it on the sector. We simply need to proceed constructive performances.”