ARLINGTON, Tex. — Gregg Berhalter and the U.S. males’s nationwide soccer staff see Copa América as a steppingstone to the 2026 World Cup, and over the course of this summer time’s fabled match, they are going to measure their progress and study whether or not they carry the capital to defeat the game’s elite when it issues most.
However the second-term coach and his younger squad even have short-term ambition, realizing a powerful efficiency over these three weeks wouldn’t solely bolster perception however start to recapture the general public’s consideration earlier than soccer’s spectacle returns in two summers.
Step one Sunday was small however decisive. Christian Pulisic scored a sensational purpose within the third minute and assisted on Folarin Balogun’s strike simply earlier than halftime because the People breezed to a 2-0 victory over Bolivia, one of many weakest sides within the 16-team competitors.
“The blokes by no means put it doubtful,” Berhalter mentioned. “We have been actually centered from the onset — a whole lot of depth, a whole lot of exhausting work — and have been in a position to get the purpose. For us, it’s nearly constructing on this efficiency.”
Group C play continues Thursday in Atlanta in opposition to Panama — one in all six visitors from outdoors South America — and concludes July 1 in Kansas Metropolis, Mo., in opposition to group favourite Uruguay. Two will advance to the quarterfinals, a threshold the U.S. staff has been extensively anticipated to cross earlier than in all probability going through Brazil or Colombia.
Pulisic, the 25-year-old star ahead from Hershey, Pa., wore the captain’s armband, although Tyler Adams, the 2022 World Cup chief, was within the beginning lineup. Pulisic was bubbly with the ball, was decided on each contact and continued displaying the management qualities that started surfacing final 12 months.
“He’s a selfless chief,” Berhalter mentioned. “He goes out and simply competes and works actually exhausting. And you then add to the actual fact he’s extremely expert and he could make performs on the offensive finish, it’s an ideal mixture.”
Pulisic scored from the highest of the penalty space for his thirtieth U.S. purpose, turning into the second youngest in program historical past, behind Landon Donovan, to get there. Later, earlier than an introduced crowd of 47,873 at AT&T Stadium, Pulisic arrange Balogun for a purpose that each one however secured the end result in opposition to a innocent Bolivian facet.
“Key moments of the sport — proper at the beginning of the sport, proper earlier than halftime,” Pulisic mentioned. “These targets can actually damage you or enable you to. And as we speak we scored in these moments.”
The U.S. staff, although, didn’t capitalize on quite a few alternatives within the second half. Substitute Ricardo Pepi had 4 golden possibilities.
Berhalter performed down the scoreless second half: “It’s about likelihood creation. … We’re assured the ending will come.”
Launched in 1916, Copa América is the oldest competitors between nations, predating the World Cup by 14 years and the European Championship by 44. South American soccer’s 10 core nations are perennial members, and apart from the pandemic-affected competitors in 2021, at the very least two visitors have joined the enjoyable.
This 12 months marked the second time the match has been held outdoors of South America. (The US hosted in 2016 as properly.) The timing this summer time aligned properly with U.S. preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which can happen in 16 cities throughout the USA, Mexico and Canada.
With regional competitors filling most worldwide dates subsequent 12 months, Copa América will present a few of the stiffest checks resulting in the World Cup. The opener didn’t determine to be one in all them.
Ranked final within the South American confederation and 73 slots behind the No. 11 United States on this planet rankings, Bolivia has not certified for the World Cup since 1994 and hasn’t superior past the Copa quarterfinals since 1997.
The primary purpose started with a nook kick. Pulisic performed it quick to Tim Weah, who rapidly returned it. To create the correct capturing angle, Pulisic pulled the ball again to the highest of the penalty space earlier than uncorking a right-footed gem on the run. It took flight, spinning and bending over goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
“I didn’t even contact the ball but,” teammate Gio Reyna mentioned with a smile. “It’s virtually like beginning [the game] 1-0. It took off some strain, and it was a good looking purpose. … We are able to’t count on him to do one thing like that each time, however he’s come up in massive moments.”
As he celebrated in entrance of the U.S. bench, Pulisic searched within the crowd for Gianni Vio, the U.S. assistant answerable for set items. Berhalter and assistant B.J. Callaghan picked him out, and Pulisic pointed with each arms. On June 12, Pulisic’s purpose in a friendly against Brazil got here on a direct free kick from outdoors the field.
Vio “advised me earlier than, if I get in that state of affairs, to mainly shoot to the again put up,” Pulisic mentioned. “I simply needed to present him some credit score.”
Sunday’s purpose got here slightly greater than eight years after his first — additionally in opposition to Viscarra and Bolivia, when Pulisic was 17. In doing so, he tied Brian McBride for No. 5 on the U.S. profession scoring checklist.
Within the forty fourth minute, Balogun acquired into the act. Pulisic made an assertive central run earlier than pushing the ball to his left. Balogun dragged it wider earlier than smashing a low, 16-yard shot again by way of the field to the far nook.
Word: Together with his health enhancing after recovering from harm, Adams began in defensive midfield however was changed at halftime. He wasn’t joyful about it, saying afterward that Berhalter “mentioned we’ll verify in at halftime and see how you’re feeling. I mentioned I felt high quality. He nonetheless took me out. In order that’s his plan.”
Requested in regards to the substitution of his oft-injured midfielder, Berhalter grinned and mentioned: “Guess what he mentioned at halftime. Need to take a guess? We’ve been down this street. … He’s a man that we would like on the sector, however we simply must watch out.”
