5 questions for USMNT heading into knockout stage of Gold Cup | OneFootball

After all of the doom and gloom heading into the Gold Cup following a four-match losing streak, the USMNT has responded well.

The Americans won all three of their games during the group stage, beating Trinidad & Tobago, Saudi Arabia, and Haiti by a combined score of 8-1. Nevertheless, questions linger about this USMNT squad from the biggest concerns before the Gold Cup, and new questions have also surfaced.

Ahead of Sunday’s quarterfinal game with Costa Rica, with as many as three more games to come, here are the five most pressing questions for Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT heading into the Gold Cup knockout stage.

Will we see Matt Turner at some point?

After barely playing for Crystal Palace this past season, Turner has lost his spot as the tournament starter to Matt Freese.

On paper, Freese has played well, although he hasn’t been challenged much during the group stage. The only goal he gave up came as a result of a poor outlet pass he made. That mistake has to make Pochettino at least consider the possibility of moving Turner back into the starting lineup. Playing in the Gold Cup has given Freese some experience at the international level, helping to develop another option behind Turner. But at some point, Pochettino could decide that Turner’s experience gives the U.S. the best chance to win the Gold Cup.

Is Max Arfsten the starting left back?

Pochettino is clearly a fan of Arfsten. Even after a couple of shaky performances in the friendlies against Türkiye and Switzerland, he started the first two games of the Gold Cup. Arfsten had two assists against Trinidad & Tobago and put in another solid shift against Saudi Arabia, showing his worth at the international level.

But Pochettino made the move to John Tolkin at left back against Haiti. The German-based Tolkin impressed in that game, providing the assist on Patrick Agyemang’s game-winning goal. Does Pochettino trust Arfsten enough to go back to him during the knockout stage, or did Tolkin’s performance make him the best option moving forward? This is one of the few positions where it’s unclear who will be starting heading into the quarterfinals.

Who’s playing defensive midfield?

Before the Gold Cup, it seemed obvious that Tyler Adams and Johnny Cardoso would be playing the two defensive midfield spots in a meaningful game. However, Luca de la Torre and Sebastian Berhalter are part of the conversation as well. Adams and Cardoso have both struggled with fitness and form this summer, while de la Torre has delivered some solid, industrious performances. Berhalter has also had his moments, contributing a crucial assist in the 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia.

Pochettino has a tough question to answer ahead of the quarterfinals, especially since he might have to plan to play three matches in eight days. Adams is trending toward being an almost automatic pick, although there are reasons to think all four players could get a start between now and the end.

Where are the goals coming from?

This is the most important question facing the USMNT heading into the Gold Cup knockout stage. You can throw out the five goals against a dreadful Trinidad & Tobago team. Far more organized teams await the U.S. moving forward. Those offensive struggles have been apparent over the last two games, especially against Saudi Arabia when the U.S. needed a set-piece goal from center back Chris Richards.

Even after scoring the game-winner against Haiti, there are serious questions about whether Agyemang can produce against quality international competition. Unfortunately, there aren’t any other options behind Agyemang, at least now while Damion Downs is dealing with a minor injury. Overall, Malik Tillman has been the team’s best attacking player. Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, and Brenden Aaronson have also had their moments. But can those midfielders produce enough quality chances to win three more games?

With three wins during the group stage, the Gold Cup hasn’t been the disaster that looked possible after the 4-0 loss to Switzerland. But what does the USMNT have to do during the knockout stage to have a successful Gold Cup? It’s not entirely clear what the expectations should be with a B team roster.

A win over Costa Rica in the semifinals is a must, with the U.S. a clear favorite. But would a trip to the semifinals be enough to energize a fanbase that’s languishing at the moment? It might take three more good performances to feel good about what Pochettino has done this summer. Yet, it’s hard to feel confident that this particular USMNT roster can deliver over the next week.