AL-RAYYAN, Qatar – The U.S. men’s national team expect to get stuck in, and be stuck into in kind, when they make their long-awaited return to the World Cup against Wales on Monday night.
As long as the eight years since their last run at this event may have felt for fans of the United States, the Welsh have been waiting an actual lifetime for this moment — their last World Cup bow was in 1958 — and their current squad has amassed substantial tournament know-how in the last two European Championships.
Then there’s the iconic, still-deadly Gareth Bale. “I’ve said all along, you’ve probably heard me say this, that I think they’re underrated,” USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter said of Wales at a press conference one day before the game. “They’re an experienced team, international competition experience, solid back line, robust players, very physical, talented difference makers up top with Bale, [Daniel] James, Kieffer Moore. “Solid midfield, wingbacks that get forward. So overall, I think it’s a really solid team. And for us, the starting point is again — I’ve said this six times already — but it’s just matching their intensity and coming with a competitive mindset, because we know that’s going to be needed in the match.”Acosta: Bale ‘a catalyst’
Wales’ current generation has showcased collective spirit and tactical intelligence to reach this point. And with most of their players regulars in the top two divisions of English soccer, the Dragons are familiar with the rough-and-tumble side of the game. It was Bale’s LAFC teammate Kellyn Acosta, however, who spoke of the need for a muscular approach to the Welsh talisman in hopes of limiting his impact on the match.
“Don’t let him get to his left foot! Simple as that, right?” cracked Acosta in a conversation with reporters earlier this week. “No, I mean, special players make special plays, and he’s a guy who you definitely have to worry about. Because once he gets into the game and finds space and becomes comfortable and confident, he’s very dangerous.
“And he’s going to be a catalyst for them, so he’s a guy that we definitely have to have eyes on, a guy that we literally [have to] start kicking him around the field and make him feel us and limit his time and space.”The USMNT surely wouldn’t be the first opponents to attempt that on Bale, who reiterated that he’s not worried about whether he’s fit to play. “I tried to avoid [Acosta] kicking me the last two weeks before we came!” joked the former Real Madrid star, who also claimed he’s “right where I want to be” in terms of fitness in Wales’ press conference. “So no, it’s nothing, I’m used to getting kicked on the field. So yeah, nothing’s changed as far as the referees there. Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be a fair but difficult game tomorrow that both teams are looking forward to, and I’m sure it’ll be played in a great spirit.” Bale’s persistent history of soft-tissue injuries continued after his midsummer arrival in MLS, limiting him to 370 minutes and three goals. Then again, one of those goals was the sensational late equalizer in extra time of the MLS Cup final that proved decisive in LAFC’s championship win. “Obviously an amazing player, a legend. We know he’s extremely skilled, you can see it in the MLS Cup final when he comes on,” said USMNT defender Aaron Long on Saturday. “And he comes on for not that much time and makes a huge impact. So if he’s healthy, I’m sure he’s starting, and yeah, an amazing player, extremely dangerous.”
USMNT not sleeping on Moore
Bale’s threat is well known. A teammate with a smaller reputation, but a substantially larger frame, was another topic of conversation in the leadup: Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore, a towering 6-foot-5 target man who provides the Welsh with a useful outlet up top in addition to a finishing nous that’s reaped eight goals across English Championship and Premier League play this calendar year.
“He’s a big threat. We [Leeds United] figured that out playing against Bournemouth this year,” said Tyler Adams of Moore. ““He provides a completely different game plan to any team that you put him into. So yeah, obviously, he’s amazing in the air, but he’s probably very underrated in his technical ability and finishing around the goal. So for our center backs, I’ve even already had a word with them. We talked about it in our scouting meeting already: you got to have a body on him at all times.”
It adds up to a substantial first test in Qatar for the US youth movement that’s raised so many hopes across American soccer since the dark days of 2017’s qualification failure. “It’s a fantastic group of guys. And what I’ve seen is the maturity grow over the last three and a half years with this group,” said Berhalter. “Now I see a tremendous amount of focus within the team. And I think this focus is going to help us go for success. And time’s going to tell if we’re able to play with the best teams in the world.”[lawrence-related id=10015,10009,9985]