United States crew says no added strain for Uruguay

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — America males have their collective backs in opposition to the wall on the Copa América forward of Monday’s decisive group finale in opposition to Uruguay, however USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter and captain Christian Pulisic insisted on Sunday that the strain isn’t any totally different than standard.

“The strain that you simply’re referring to has all the time been there,” Berhalter instructed reporters at Arrowhead Stadium. “Once more, there cannot be extra strain on the skin than what we placed on ourselves as a workers and as gamers and the way we need to carry out, and we wish do an incredible job. The exterior stuff is we won’t management; all can management — all I can management — is how we put together the crew to play assured and have a powerful efficiency and that is actually my focus proper now.”

The USMNT seemingly must defeat Uruguay on Monday to advance to the quarterfinals. After Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Panama, the USMNT may even fail to advance with a victory on Monday if Panama beats Bolívia and makes up the purpose distinction on the People.

Panama scored late to defeat a 10-man U.S. crew within the second spherical of group play after ahead Timothy Weah was despatched off 18 minutes into the match for jabbing an opponent at the back of the pinnacle on a play video assessment caught away from the ball. Weah was given a two-match ban for the offense.

The People scored first, however shortly conceded an equalizer, then sat in a 5-3-1 defensive shell earlier than conceding a late winner.

The U.S. nonetheless sits second in Group C heading into the ultimate matchday, however the loss and the expectation that Panama will defeat a Bolivia crew that hasn’t received away from house in almost a decade implies that the People may fail to get out of the group on house soil of their solely main match earlier than the 2026 World Cup.

Pulisic mentioned after the loss to Panama that the People would want “play the sport of our lives” in opposition to Uruguay to win. On Sunday, he walked again that phrase, saying he was emotional within the moments after defeat. Sitting subsequent to Berhalter as he spoke to reporters at Arrowhead Stadium, Pulisic echoed his coach’s phrases about setting excessive inner expectations whereas filtering out the skin strain, which incorporates mounting criticism of his coach.

“I feel we’ve got to play a very robust recreation,” Pulisic mentioned. “I do know we’ve got a adequate crew that if we try this, placed on a very good efficiency.

“Which means popping out with depth from the beginning, not letting feelings get the most effective of us although sticking to our recreation plan and trusting that we’ve got a adequate crew and that finally over the 90 minutes we are able to seize a purpose and go forward and win the sport. So, I feel we simply want a very robust efficiency. One of the best recreation of our lives could be nice, however that does not occur usually.”

U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner’s standing stays unclear after leaving Thursday’s recreation at half-time because of a leg damage. Turner participated in gentle coaching on Saturday and Sunday, however Berhalter mentioned his workers will “proceed to watch” its No’ 1’s standing.

Weah leaves the USMNT with a gap to fill on the wing as effectively, which is able to drive them to search out totally different options up high.

“Timmy provides us a verticality, provides us assists,” Berhalter mentioned. “He is harmful in entrance of purpose and defensively, he does a very good job so it is troublesome to interchange. However for us, we’ve got a recreation plan that we go and execute, and we’ll put the gamers on the sector that we predict can try this.”

Uruguay won’t have head coach Marcelo Bielsa on the sideline for the match on Monday. CONMEBOL introduced on Sunday that Bielsa was suspended as a result of Uruguay was late to enter the sector for the beginning of the second half in opposition to Bolivia on Thursday.

Berhalter doesn’t imagine that Bielsa’s bodily absence from the sidelines will change how Uruguay approaches the sport. The U.S. coach additionally expects Uruguay to start out a full-strength squad despite the fact that a draw would see La Celeste clinch high spot within the group and a spot within the knockout spherical.

“They do a pair issues, simply actually, actually excessive degree,” Berhalter mentioned of Uruguay. “The depth that they play with, the pace, how they preserve the depth all through the sport is totally different ranges. The bodily knowledge, it is above and past different groups on this match. After which the second factor is counterattacking, transitioning. They win the ball and instantly start behind the again line, and that is one thing we must be ready for.”

Failing to get out of the group could be a serious disappointment, however Pulisic mentioned: “I’d simply say our focus as a collective is to exit and win the sport as a result of that is our crew purpose. That is not what we’re occupied with. So, for us, we’re all right here, we’re all hungry, we need to win, and we need to proceed on this match and that is what’s motivating us to go tomorrow.”