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

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

Turner was responding to ideas that the group must win in type or by extra lopsided scores in opposition to 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 stated in a press convention on Tuesday. “I believe you are taking wins if you get wins, regardless of the context. You’re taking the end result — particularly in match play, is the top all be all. I implore individuals to not lose sight of that.”

The U.S. gained in Arlington, Texas, on Monday behind an early objective 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 believe any time you’ll be able to win a recreation in an necessary, worldwide competitors, a big-time match, it is good for this system, it is good for us,” Turner stated. “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 group, and a bond and a tradition.

“As a lot as we might have carried out issues a little bit bit otherwise, on the finish of the day, we acquired a clear sheet, we scored two targets and we gained. Going into this subsequent match, we all know we’d must be a little bit 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 group. 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 in opposition to Uruguay.

Panama defeated the U.S. in a penalty shootout within the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal final 12 months.

“They carry man-to-man strain,” Turner stated of Panama. “They seem to be a group that has quite a lot of actually gifted gamers and athletes. It is to be anticipated — a bodily recreation, actually aggressive.”

USMNT ahead Tim Weah stated the group is not interested by whether or not Panama will attempt to play a extra open recreation or flip to extra bodily techniques, as a substitute specializing in themselves.

“We do not know which Panama group we will get,” Weah advised 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 end result, significantly with the sport on dwelling soil. A big crowd is anticipated 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 confused warning that no opponent needs to be missed, particularly in tournaments. He referenced Austria’s victory over the Netherlands at Euro 2024, which came about moments earlier than Turner spoke, for example of how unpredictable tournaments might be.

“You simply must care for what’s in entrance of you,” Turner stated. “I believe an important factor is simply constructing off of what you simply did. The groups that may constantly get higher all through match… we’ve got that baseline of what it takes to win a recreation on this match, and now we have to one-up it in opposition to a distinct opponent.”

Berhalter has emphasised related factors lately, saying on Friday forward of the group’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 stated, is shared by the world’s finest groups.

The U.S. coach reiterated that following his group’s victory on Saturday, however he additionally emphasised the significance of successful video games and known as the victory over Bolivia “complete,” whereas explicitly rejecting the concept the U.S. ought to have scored extra targets in opposition to a Bolivia group 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 in opposition to Bolivia, the again line gave the ball away steadily. The group impressed in a 1-1 draw with Brazil within the People’ remaining 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 stated on Tuesday that the U.S. may very well be “extra opportunistic” in entrance objective, whereas reflecting on the win over Bolivia. He additionally stated that the group might care for the ball higher in possession.

“We talked about being extra expansive and enjoying extra free flowing, attacking, and on the similar time that comes with dangers on counter-attacks and giveaways and the place we’re,” Turner stated. “I believe we discovered that lesson in a fairly harsh method within the Colombia recreation.”

The main focus now’s on Panama, one of many USMNT’s most frequent historic opponents. The People maintain a 17-3-6 document in opposition to their rivals.

“We’re truthfully simply sticking to the plan,” Weah stated. “We have had this gameplan since day one. We keep true, we’re intentional with the best way that we play. We’re a group now that understands one another, and I believe we’re beginning to see that much more as we’re moving 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 sphere. We simply must proceed constructive performances.”