One of the missing pieces in the U.S. lineup has been finding someone to play alongside Tyler Adams in central midfield.
Finding a No. 8 if you will.
Mauricio Pochettino has no shortage of candidates.
Some obvious names: Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah from the MMA days at the 2022 World Cup under Gregg Berhalter. Tanner Tessmann, Adams’ partner in the fateful Panama match in March. Johnny Cardoso, Sebastian Berhalter, Luca De la Torre all with looks this summer.
Out of the blue Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan was called into the USMNT camp two days after it opened in Morristown, New Jersey, and he started in the 2-0 win against Japan.
The USA displayed its most coherent performance of the Pochettino era, and it was perhaps no coincidence that it followed Roldan’s insertion into the lineup. He was always around the ball for his 90-minute shift. A sharp contrast from the 2-0 loss to South Korea where the U.S. midfielders were chasing shadows.
Cristian Roldan on USMNT’S 3-4-3 formation.
“Essentially we matched up against them throughout the field. It always simplifies things. It makes it into more of a 1-v-1 battleground.”
Roldan’s pressure contributed to the turnover off of which the USA had three chances in the 18th minute. In the nine-pass sequence that led to Alex Zendejas’ opening goal later in the first half, Roldan had a quick touch to reorient the ball early in the play and he later made himself available for Folarin Balogun to recirculate the ball.
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