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According to former national team star Alexi Lalas, the United States should aim to reach the quarter-finals or beyond at this year’s World Cup despite being the second youngest team in the tournament.
Speak with the Footballco Business PodcastLalas, now a Fox Sports analyst, argued that expectations are growing in the US, and that simply making the group stage is no longer the market for a successful World Cup appearance.
“Leaving a group is also not something we should shout from the rooftops,” Lalas said ahead of the opening game of the World Cup in the United States against Wales. “Yes, that’s first order.”
Performing well in the group-of-16 competition and advancing to the later rounds is ‘the next order of business’, according to Lalas.
“Keep in mind we were a handball away and if we lived in the VAR era in 2002 where the US might go to a semi-final,” Lalas continued, referring to the Americans’ quarter-finals at the Japan-South Korea World Cup , when a controversial no-whistle helped Germany advance to the semi-finals. So the football gods must be smiling on you. You must have a good team.’
US goalkeeper Matt Turner (R) and US goalkeeper Sean Johnson (L) participate in a training session at Al Gharafa SC Stadium in Doha on Sunday
According to former national team star Alexi Lalas, the United States should aim to reach the quarter-finals or beyond at this year’s World Cup despite being the second youngest team in the tournament. Speaking to the Footballco Business Podcast, Lalas, now a Fox Sports analyst, argued that expectations are growing in the US, and simply making the group stage is no longer the market for a successful World Cup appearance.
This year’s U.S. soccer team is the second-youngest squad at the World Cup in Qatar
Players of the US men’s national team practice drills at Al Gharafa SC Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar
Lalas was part of the 1994 USA team that hosted the World Cup, upset favorites Colombia in group play and had Brazil in the lead in the knockout stages before conceding a goal to the eventual champions in the 72nd minute.
He has also served as an executive for several MLS teams, so given his experience, it is remarkable that he is encouraged by the Americans’ chances in Qaatar, even after the team failed to qualify for Russia in 2018.
“This American team is going to be the youngest team in the World Cup and that brings with it youthful exuberance and a youthful swagger that I think if deployed properly can do some really great things and make us believe again after what I think was the best.” failure in U.S. soccer history, with the U.S. men’s team failing to qualify for Russia. So high expectations.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” he continued. “I’m just optimistic about this team and what they can do, and again, we’ve discussed a lot of things about the ability to push that boulder up the hill that is American football and not waste these platforms that we have. It’s a labor of love, but it’s still a work and it’s gotten easier, but it’s not easy, and it’s still pushing it up that hill and to the extent that this team can do some damage in the World Cup. That would be great. And we now expect our team going to a World Cup to leave the group.’
The biggest difference, as Lalas sees it, is a selection of players with club experience in Europe, such as Juventus’ Weston McKennie, Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, or Leeds United’s Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson, as well as Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner and Borussia Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna, the son of another former 1994 team member, Claudio.
The biggest difference, as Lalas sees it, is a selection of players with club experience in Europe, such as Juventus’ Weston McKennie, Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic (pictured) or Leeds United’s Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson
The challenge for coach Gregg Berhalter is to combine these talents.
“We have great players who play at some of the big clubs and leagues around the world, whether it’s Christian Pulisic or Western McKenny or Tyler Adams or Brendan Aronson or Matt Turner, all these players, Arsenal and Chelsea and Juventus and Leeds and otherwise. places where they play, that’s all well and good, but at the end of the day… they have to function as a team,” Lalas said.
To get through, Lalas sees Monday’s opener against Wales as a must-win for the US, which also has Iran and England in its pool.
“I think they have a good group,” said Lalas, a member of the US team that lost to Iran at the 1998 World Cup in France. “I think they have a good way to the eighth finals. United States, England, Iran and Wales.
“Your collective wisdom says to beat Wales and Iran, right? That’s six points right there.
“The problem is that both Wales and Iran also look at the other two as their six points, right? And then everything will seize your chances against England.’
And can the US beat England?
“Well, it would make me so happy to beat England,” Lalas continued. “The reality is that England are an elite team.”
And that puts pressure on the US to get away with a win against Wales.
“That first game against Wales is huge for the US. I think they come out of the chute with three points against Wales,” said Lalas. And they’re worth gold because that takes the pressure off that second game where the US can come in as complete underdogs in a very comfortable role.
“All the pressure will be on England, the problem is if you lose that first game against Wales. Now the second game is against England and you know a punter would still bet money on finding a way for England despite our actually very positive history when it comes to England playing in the World Cup.
“I’m hoping for another great moment that I don’t want to rely on, so that’s the analysis at the moment, but I think everyone is very optimistic about this team for what they can do in 2022.”
Lalas was part of the 1994 U.S. team that hosted the World Cup, beating favorite Colombia in group play (pictured) and leading Brazil in the knockout stages before giving up a goal in the 72nd minute to the eventual champions