Gregg Berhalter cautious of Oman’s attack ahead of USMNT match; U.S.A. go for consistency, lineup will not alter much

The U.S. males’s nationwide group want to surpass Saturday’s uninspired 3-0 win over Uzbekistan when they deal with Oman on Tuesday however will be up versus a various set of obstacles when they require to the pitch at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

“Oman is completely different than Uzbekistan,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter stated in a pre-match interview on Monday. “Uzbekistan was a 5-4-1, at times 5-2-3, very difficult block to break down, defending with four players on the wing, very compact. Oman has played a 4-4-2 diamond and they have a very, very dynamic counterattack. Part of the emphasis in this camp was finishing attacks against a low block in Uzbekistan and now preventing transitions against Oman, so it’s going to be a great test for us.”

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The distinction in opposition development might be excellent news for the USMNT, who discovered it tough to break down Uzbekistan’s compact defense regardless of ultimately scoring 3 objectives. Berhalter, however, highlighted Oman’s capability to “batter” groups on the shift, which he stated they performed in a friendly they played last November.

“They’re going to be good in offensive transition and that’s going to be a real key for us in this game,” he included. “They’ve got speed and they’ve got a good playmaker who can get those forwards the ball in transition.”

Though the Oman video game will likely play out in a different way than the one versus Uzbekistan in regards to the tactical fight, Berhalter feels there are a lot of lessons the USMNT can draw from the last match.

“I think there were some careless loss of possessions, that was the first thing,” Berhalter included. “Second thing is, I think, more often recognizing what exactly is happening with their shape and how we can break it down.”

He likewise stated he prepares not to make wholesale modifications to his lineup regardless of the unequal efficiency on Saturday. Berhalter primarily kept to himself on Tuesday’s first-choice group however did expose that goalkeeper Ethan Horvath will begin in Matt Tuner’s location versus Oman.

“Ethan’s going to play in goal tomorrow, that’s pretty clear,” Berhalter stated. “We’re going to mix up some players but it’ll be a very similar lineup to what you saw last time.”

Berhalter is choosing to select consistency regardless of a couple of comings and goings in between the video games, however — Turner left camp as he and his other half wait for the arrival of their 2nd kid, while protector Joe Scally left for household factors. Inter Miami shotstopper Drake Callendar signed up with the group as did New England Revolution protector DeJuan Jones.

Callendar is among 3 gamers awaiting their very first cap, consisting of club colleague Benjamin Cremaschi. Cremaschi has actually impressed in his very first week of training under Berhalter, however he is not poised for a start on Tuesday.

“He fits in really well, Ben,” the coach stated. “He’s a great kid, he learns really quickly, adapting well to the speed of the game and it’s been great having in camp. He’s not going to start the game.”

A launching might be in shop for the Miami duo, in addition to Wolfsburg’s Kevin Paredes after Palermo protector Kristoffer Lund made his very first cap versus Uzbekistan. Berhalter, however, appears concentrated on focusing on a strong efficiency and an accompanying outcome.

“We’d love to get him a debut,” he stated about Cremaschi. “We simply need to see how the alternatives work. You have 6 subs in the video game so it ends up being difficult to get everyone on the field although you wish to.