The United States Men’s National team is not looking so great in the latest World Cup qualifiers. The USMNT has avoided defeat but there are some alarming signs, the lack of performance at times in the midfield, lack of intensity from some players have been key.
"We're professionals. We expect to have a certain level of play and we didn't have that tonight," said U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner. "I think it all boils down to intensity and not quality on the ball or anything."
"It was clear we didn't have our best stuff," said U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter. "It was the hope that we get out of there with a point. And, you know, disappointed to give up a goal the way we did, and lose the game. You know it's a typical CONCACAF game -- very physical, very aggressive. I think we came up short in a number of areas, so it's about now, it's about rebounding, focusing on the game on Wednesday in Columbus."
One would hope that with the presumed return to the starting lineup of Adams and McKennie the U.S. will have more heft in central positions. That will then have a knock-on effect elsewhere on the field, freeing up the U.S. attack. It'll need all of that Wednesday against a Costa Rica side full of experience.
With this defeat, the pressure is on the U.S. once again. It'll need a victory on Wednesday to ease it.
