A Lot Has Changed in 4 Years
In 2017, the USA Men’s Soccer Team hit the lowest of lows, failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. At the time, Alexi Lalas, who earned 96 caps for the U.S. between 1991-1998, said that the USA would use that failure to come back stronger. Despite being very critical of the team, Lalas went as far as saying that, “despite what some people tell you, we don’t need to tear it down and start over.”
Now nearly four years later, Lalas was brought to the verge of tears as he talked about how proud he was of this USA team following their win over Mexico and how they performed in the Gold Cup with this young group of men; “It’s Everything. It’s this incredible crowd. It’s America. It makes me very happy and very proud”, said Lalas.
The USA C Team Gets it Done
Many people around the world perceived that the USA sent out their C team in this tournament, missing nearly all of their notable international studs. Christian Pulisic was nowhere to be found. Neither were defenders John Brooks or Weston McKennie. Not even Zack Steffen, Tyler Adams, Giovanni Reyna, or Sergiño Dest were on the field for this USA team. In fact, there were six USA starters who still had single digit international caps in their career entering tonight’s Gold Cup Final.
Led in the finals by the likes of Gyasi Zardes, Kellen Acosta, Matt Turner, and Miles Robinson, the USA hung with the vastly more experienced Mexican National Team all game long until the USMNT struck gold in the 117th minute on a beautiful cross by Acosta that led to an all-time-memorable header by Robinson. The USA beat Mexico 1-0.
The Greatest National Side in USA Soccer History?
The USMNT is now the only team ever to simultaneously hold the CONCACAF Nations League title and the Gold Cup title. USA joins the likes of soccer powerhouses, Italy and Argentina, as continental champions. Since 2020 the USMT has more trophies than losses and their record during that time is 15-1-1.
Gregg Berhalter, the USA coach, also now has back to back tournament wins with two entirely different teams, beating Mexico in the finals both times. On top of that, Berhalter defeated Mexico while starting only one player (Kellen Acosta) from their Nations League final win on June 6th. The USMNT looks to get back some of their international regulars as they start World Cup Qualifiers on September 2nd against El Salvador.
