UNITED STATES WORLD CUP REVIEW

For the second consecutive World Cup, the round of 16 is the undoing of the United States as they fell to Belgium 2-1 in extra time. For many people, this United States group captured the hearts and spirits of many as they played with intensity and the desire of an underdog, making their way through the group of death and going to full time against a Belgium team that has many skilled players. For most of the game, the US played conservatively, which allowed the Belgians to take many shots on net and have ample scoring, only to be denied by the superb play of goaltender Tim Howard until the first extra time, when Kevin De Bruyne was able to put one home. While it was a disappointing end to what was an enjoyable ride for the United States, there are some things that they will be able to take home with them, and some things that ended up costing the squad in the end.

1. INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: For some of these players, this was their second or third World Cup, but for a good amount of the players, this was their first time in the World Cup, and in an environment like Brazil, a great learning experience to take forward. With Jurgen Klinsmann saying that this World Cup would be a preview of what the United States could look like in 2018, it’s promising to see players like Julian Green, DeAndre Yedlin, and John Brooks showcase the potential that this squad has.

2. MISSING ALTIDORE WAS 50/50: In the wake of Altidore’s hamstring injury against Ghana, the United States was able to cope without a player of his talent for longer than some people and pundits were giving them credit for. With that being said, I do think that the game plan did chance a little bit to compensate for his loss, which could explain the sometimes defensive mindset of this squad. We were able to see players like Graham Zusi make significant contributions during his absence.

3. WEAK LINK? THE BACK FOUR: There were moments of good play from this defense, but overall, the defense was the weakest link of this United States squad. The one player was the player most criticized was Michael Bradley, and to be fair, his play for the most part was not up to the standard that you would expect from a player of his caliber. This defense gave up too many scoring opportunities, but were able to weather the storm for the most part because of our next point....

4. THE BEST PLAYER FOR TEAM USA? TIMMY!: After the Belgium game, that was no doubt that Tim Howard was one of, if not, the main reason for the United States being able to make it to the knockout stage. The 16 save performance against Belgium was the most by a goalkeeper in a World Cup game in the last 60 plus years, and it showed the intensity that this team came to play with. Whether it was against Belgium, Germany, Ghana, or Portugal, the Everton goalkeeper kept the US in contention even when it looked like the other team was completely dominating them. Tim Howard will be 39 when the next World Cup comes around, and there will be questions as to whether he plays or whether Brad Guzan will take over.

5. NEVER GIVE UP SPIRIT: Whether it was trailing Portugal, or giving up the tying goal to Ghana, the US squad didn’t fold like a house of cards and fought with an intensity and desire that gave fits for some of the best squads in the world. You can only hope that this same intensity carries over into the next World Cup, with the potential that some of these players

FINAL ANALYSIS: This US squad definitely exceeded my expectations, along with many other people, and I have high hopes for what they could accomplish in Russia for the 2018 World Cup. Even with the United States eliminated, I will continue to watch what has been an exciting World Cup for everyone, and with the final just 10 days away, it looks forward to continuing to provide exciting and very close games.

*This article was contributed by Executive Producer Gregory Delaney*