How the US reply to Wales draw will determine World Cup destiny

AL RAYYAN, Qatar — It was there for america males’s nationwide group. It was there by means of the primary half. It was there early within the second half. It was there with half an hour to go. It was there with quarter-hour left. It was there.

Every little thing the US needed to do towards Wales had labored. All of the work that they had executed to interrupt down the Welsh block, all the hassle they’d put into containing Gareth Bale and the Wales assault — all of it had had set issues up completely. The situation was what they’d craved: three factors right here, get by means of the England sport and a very good efficiency towards Iran sends you into the knockout spherical.

It was all proper there for the US. Till, all of a sudden, it wasn’t.

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To be clear: USA 1, Wales 1 is not any catastrophe. No tragedy. As Tim Weah rightly stated, “In a World Cup, crucial factor is that we did not lose.” However what occurred to the US on Monday evening delivered to thoughts that outdated Mike Tyson line, the one he famously stated in response to a query about whether or not he was frightened concerning the plan Evander Holyfield might need for him of their upcoming combat.

“Everybody has a plan,” Tyson stated, “till they get punched within the mouth.”

So: think about the US punched.

Their plans, and people of essentially the most optimistic US followers, completely took successful on Monday. It’ll nearly absolutely take 4 factors to get out of Group B, and barring a shock win over England, the US now face the prospect of a must-win match with Iran to shut pool play.

Is that doable? In fact, particularly if the US are in a position to play the best way they did within the first half towards the Welsh. For practically an hour, the Individuals confirmed poise and presence that belied their collective inexperience. Antonee Robinson and Christian Pulisic had been on fireplace on the left aspect. Tyler Adams checked again. Weah and Sergino Dest moved up and down on the correct flank. Josh Sargent’s sharp header flashed off the put up.

The US aim, too, was idyllic. Walker Zimmerman’s move began the motion and Pulisic’s run — one of many few US journeys by means of the center of the sector — ripped Wales open. His rolling ball by means of to Weah was inch-perfect and the latter’s end was a no-doubter, with the Lille man turning to his left and taking off on a celebratory slide. The US felt in management. Wales had been itemizing.

However then got here the stumble. At half-time, Gregg Berhalter had implored the US to maintain going. To not cease pushing. To be ready for the inevitable flailing Wales had been certain to throw their manner.

“We knew there was going to be a second the place Wales was going to vary their techniques and throw warning to the wind,” Berhalter stated. “We knew that was going to be a part of it.”

It was. And, for essentially the most half, they handled it effectively.

Wales ascended behind the introduction of Kieffer Moore, and the US — deliberately or not — fell too far again behind the ball. When Bale lastly obtained on the ball within the penalty space with 10 minutes to go and Zimmerman made an ill-fated lunge by means of his again, Wales noticed a sliver of a gap and barged by means of it.

“We talked about it earlier than the sport — each play issues,” Berhalter stated. “Each single play can have an consequence on the sport.”

This one definitely did. Matt Turner — who had so little to do within the first half there have been memes circulating on the web that confirmed him sipping tea in his penalty space — appropriately dove to his left, however Bale’s penalty was a comet. The ball rippled the online, Turner slapped his fingers on the bottom in frustration and, close to the midway line, Pulisic and Weah — the would-be heroes — stared blankly again on the Welsh followers dancing behind the aim.

This US group is younger. Everybody on the roster, save for DeAndre Yedlin, has now been concerned in precisely one World Cup sport. The overwhelming majority of this group has by no means been in any scenario even remotely like this one.

Earlier this week, Adams, the group’s captain, stated that “strain is a privilege.” After Monday, the strain goes up much more. The US group had grand designs on turning their bevy of precocious abilities right into a shocking run. They performed the primary half towards Wales simply as they needed, and the whole lot was going to plan.

Then they obtained punched within the mouth. Now the one query that issues is that this: how do they reply?