The youth movement got underway as the U.S. men’s national team defeated Peru 4-1 in Orlando on Saturday. Cavan Sullivan became the nation’s second-youngest player at 16, but teenagers Justin Ellis and Julian Hall stole the show, scoring alongside Malik Tillman to start the long break on the right foot.
After being eliminated in the round of 16 of the World Cup, Team USA has officially turned a new leaf, and the future of this team is bright. Three teenagers started the game against Peru. From the beginning of the game, they seemed to belong very much. Gio Reyna assisted Orlando City player Ellis to score the first goal at home. Growing pains are to be expected for such a young team, and Gianluca Lapadula scored for Peru when the defense collapsed, but such moments were few and far between.
For a first training camp with a team that has largely not played together, it’s a job well done by Mauricio Pochettino, who is at the point where he can really make his mark on the national team by leading the next generation. Tillman’s game has improved under the Argentina boss as he was one of the best performers at the World Cup, and against Peru, Tillman was involved in every aspect of the game and even though his goal may have come from a penalty, Tillman’s game continued. Even Yunus Musa took advantage of his return to the national team, making 38 of 38 passes after returning to Milan. Of the 13 uncapited players, 11 made their first appearance for the U.S. national team in the game, and they all looked like they belonged. Brian Schwark and Cole Campbell are the only players still seeking their first caps for their country, but with games against Chile, Mexico and Canada remaining, those games could still be on the horizon.
A mix of young, experienced players also ensured their performance, with Sebastian Berhalter leading the way with goals and assists. It would be hard to find a better start to the September/October holidays.
Ellis Returns
Antoine Griezmann was full of praise for Justin Ellis and it didn’t take long for everyone to understand why the Orlando City man deserves a place in the squad. The 19-year-old Ellis usually serves as a backup striker, but with Riccardo Pepi missing training camp due to injury, Ellis made his only start against Peru. He passed the ball accurately, scored a goal, and recovered the ball twice, becoming a powerful member of the team’s frontcourt defense. It was a great performance from the forwards, with goals from Ellis and Hall and a penalty from Matthias Albert, which shows what everyone should be aware of: if there is a scoring drought, there will be competition for your place. For Pochettino, it’s a good balance to play against the national team, but it’s also special for an Orlando player to kick off this training camp.
Balanced lineup
Speaking of balance, credit goes to Pochettino’s performance. Although the players have just come together in training camp, they look like they have been together for a long time and are full of youth and experience at all times on the court. The veterans of the U.S. National Team set an example with their performances, and younger players followed suit while raising the bar. The level of competition between the two is high, which bodes well for Pochettino. The World Cup gave him a taste of leading the U.S. national team, but now that he’s contracted through 2030, the job has changed. Pochettino must invest in the future of U.S. Soccer, and given the performance of the next generation of his men, and given the early returns from this training camp, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t. It’s still early, but it’s safe to say the kids are doing well.
what’s next
Considering there’s not much time left between now and Tuesday against Chile, only five players have played more than 60 minutes, which isn’t bad. The match against Chile will be a good time to see how the team fares without Tyler Adams, as Adri Mehmedi will be able to step in as a similar replacement. Chile will also have a short break after playing Canada, with Lucas Cepeda suspended after being sent off in that game. These games are a warm-up for the huge challenges ahead in Mexico and Canada, which is why it’s crucial for Pochettino to maintain balance now, and he’s doing just that.