The Americans (1-1-0, three points) are second in Group C – two will advance – but that is a precarious spot because of unfavorable matchups on the final day of group play. If the US loses to Uruguay (2-0-0, six), Panama (1-1-0, three) has only a draw against Bolivia (0-2-0, nil) in Orlando. will be needed. Starts at 9 PM Eastern Time. If both games end in a draw, the Americans will advance on goal difference.
Even a US win may not be enough as a Panama victory by a larger margin could overturn the goal difference tiebreaker. Entering Monday, the U.S. team is plus-one; Panama is minus-one.
“Our knockout game actually came five days early,” Berhalter said of his team’s chances of reaching Saturday’s quarterfinals. “If we don’t perform well, (if) we don’t win games, our Copa America is over. There is nothing else to say.”
The U.S. team is motivated to bounce back from Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Panama in Atlanta, where Tim Weah received an early red card – the fifth by a U.S. player in the last 21 games in official competition – and scored the winning goal in the 83rd. in a minute.
Failure to move forward would be a significant blow to the U.S. program, which is trying to move closer to the 2026 World Cup and increase public support for the team and the sport. The Copa America is soccer’s third most prominent tournament after the World Cup and European Championships, and provides the last major test for the U.S. team until 2026.
Captain Christian Pulisic said of the importance of this tournament, “We are all extremely motivated and want to put in a really strong performance, especially on home soil.” “We want to show everyone that we are here to compete with the best.”
Berhalter and his team have faced and overcome much adversity over the past 19 months.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, they will have to defeat Iran in the group final to reach the knockout stage. they did.
In the group opener at the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, they fell behind to Jamaica in the final moments and then scored a late equaliser. In the quarterfinals, they fell behind Canada in extra time, but gained the advantage with an own goal and ultimately won in a shootout. In the semi-finals, they staged a similar comeback against Panama before falling in the tiebreaker.
In this year’s CONCACAF Nations League semifinals, the United States needed a stoppage-time own goal against Jamaica to force extra time. Hadji Wright’s subsequent two goals secured a spot in the final, where they defeated Mexico for the program’s third consecutive trophy.
“It’s a good feeling to have it in our back pocket,” midfielder Tyler Adams said.
However, Uruguay is the best team the Americans will face in a do-or-die situation as they lost to the Netherlands in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. La Celeste (sky blue), 15-time Copa America champions, defeated Panama and Bolivia 8–1.
Uruguay has not advanced to the Copa quarter-finals because, in theory, the group could end with three teams on six points. Its famous coach, Marcelo Bielsa, however, will not be on the sidelines on Monday: Tournament organizers suspended him one game and fined the Uruguay Federation $15,000 because Team Bolivia was returning to the field late after halftime of the match. .
His longtime assistant, Diego Reyes, will handle sideline duties. Pressed on whether Uruguay would rest regular players, Reyes said on Sunday that a lineup decision had not been made yet.
“My guess is they’ll play their strongest team,” Berhalter said.
Bielsa’s absence will not change Uruguay’s plans to play with high intensity and attack aggressively – a Bielsa trademark. “We think as a team. There is a clear idea,” Reyes said.
The Americans will need to deal with Uruguay’s style as well as have their own goals in a match they will almost certainly have to win to advance.
“If you’re looking at it realistically, this is likely our last game,” left back Antoine Robinson said, “and there’s no reason to stop anything.”
notes: Already ineligible against Uruguay, Weah was suspended an additional game for punching Panama’s Roderick Miller in the back of the head. If the United States qualified, they would miss the quarterfinals. ,
Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who left the Panama game at half-time with a foot injury, has been doing limited training over the past two days. Berhalter said staff will continue to monitor them. If Turner can’t play, Ethan Horvath will start.
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