Copa America: Turner on USA critics: Do not lose sight of consequence

ATLANTA — United States goalkeeper Matt Turner mentioned on Tuesday that no workforce needs to be taken calmly on the 2024 Copa América and dismissed the premise that successful is not ok anymore for the USMNT.

Turner was responding to solutions that the workforce must win in model or by extra lopsided scores towards lower-ranked opponents following a 2-0 victory over Bolívia to open the Copa on Sunday.

“No, we’ll by no means have that luxurious,” Turner mentioned in a press convention on Tuesday. “I feel you’re taking wins whenever you get wins, regardless of the context. You are taking the consequence — particularly in match play, is the top all be all. I implore folks to not lose sight of that.”

The U.S. gained in Arlington, Texas, on Monday behind an early purpose from captain Christian Pulisic and a tally from Folarin Balogun earlier than half-time, leaving the People degree on factors with Uruguay atop Group C after one matchday.

“I feel any time you possibly can win a recreation in an essential, worldwide competitors, a big-time match, 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 match and continue to grow as a workforce, and a bond and a tradition.

“As a lot as we might have performed issues slightly bit otherwise, on the finish of the day, we obtained a clear sheet, we scored two targets and we gained. Going into this subsequent match, we all know we’d must be slightly bit higher if we need to win that recreation as effectively.”

The U.S. faces Concacaf foe Panama on Thursday in Atlanta within the second group-stage match for every workforce. A victory might clinch a spot within the knockout spherical of the Copa America for Gregg Berhalter’s facet forward of subsequent week’s group-stage finale towards Uruguay.

Panama defeated the U.S. in a penalty shootout within the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal final yr.

“They bring about man-to-man strain,” Turner mentioned of Panama. “They seem to be a workforce that has numerous actually proficient gamers and athletes. It is to be anticipated — a bodily recreation, actually aggressive.”

USMNT ahead Tim Weah mentioned the workforce is not enthusiastic about whether or not Panama will attempt to play a extra open recreation or flip to extra bodily techniques, as an alternative specializing in themselves.

“We do not know which Panama workforce we’ll get,” Weah informed reporters. “We’re simply going to come back 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 yr’s Gold Cup consequence, significantly with the sport on dwelling soil. A big crowd is predicted on the 70,000-plus-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday, just some miles away from the presidential debate going down that evening.

Turner confused warning that no opponent needs to be ignored, particularly in tournaments. He referenced Austria’s victory over the Netherlands at Euro 2024, which occurred moments earlier than Turner spoke, for instance of how unpredictable tournaments might be.

“You simply must handle what’s in entrance of you,” Turner mentioned. “I feel crucial factor is simply constructing off of what you simply did. The groups that may repeatedly get higher all through match… we’ve that baseline of what it takes to win a recreation on this match, and now we have to one-up it towards a unique opponent.”

Berhalter has emphasised comparable factors just lately, saying on Friday forward of the workforce’s opener that he desires the U.S. to be adaptable on this match based mostly on the calls for of a given recreation. That attribute, he mentioned, is shared by the world’s greatest groups.

The U.S. coach reiterated that following his workforce’s victory on Saturday, however he additionally emphasised the significance of successful video games and referred to as the victory over Bolivia “complete,” whereas explicitly rejecting the concept that the U.S. ought to have scored extra targets towards a Bolivia workforce that had not gained 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 towards Bolivia, the again line gave the ball away often. The workforce impressed in a 1-1 draw with Brazil within the People’ last tune-up recreation earlier than Copa América, 4 days after a humbling 5-1 defeat to Colombia.

Both of these groups could possibly be an opponent within the quarterfinals if the USMNT ought to advance. Turner mentioned on Tuesday that the U.S. could possibly be “extra opportunistic” in entrance purpose, whereas reflecting on the win over Bolivia. He additionally mentioned that the workforce might 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 feel we discovered that lesson in a fairly harsh method within the Colombia recreation.”

The main target now’s on Panama, one of many USMNT’s most frequent historic opponents. The People maintain a 17-3-6 file towards 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 workforce now that understands one another, and I feel we’re beginning to see that much more as we’re entering into these different video games and as we’re getting older as a bunch.

“I feel it is only a lovely factor to see us rising as a unit, as a household. We’re beginning to present it on the sector. We simply must proceed optimistic performances.”