DeAndre Yedlin insists USMNT are 'extremely close' to reaching World Cup semi-final | OneFootball

US men’s national team defender DeAndre Yedlin insists the American side is “extremely close” to reaching a World Cup semi-final given the roster’s current calibre.

On the most recent episode of 90min’s Football Americana, the Inter Miami player discussed the potential of the USMNT, in comparison to nations like Germany and Spain.

“I think talent wise, we are extremely, extremely close. I think the one piece that we're missing that you see a lot of those teams that make it to the stages that they have is just playing together for years. You know what I mean? And we're starting to build that. I think that this process started in 2019,” stated Yedlin.

“But I think you look at Germany and those sort of teams, Spain, those teams or those players when they were at the top of the top. They've played together for a long time - seven, eight years. So I think that's what it takes. And I think we're on the right path to that. And I think once we really have that cohesiveness, that chemistry, that togetherness, I think this group is going to be really, really, really scary.

“I think we can already be. But there's certain things that we still kind of have to force them to click. And I think when you get to that point, you don't even have to force it. It just does it automatically. And that's what we're shooting for.”

The USMNT currently sits in second place on the Concacaf table with 21 points from 11 games as they fight to secure a ticket to the 2022 World Cup. The American side is coming off of a successful qualifying cycle after failing to reach the 2018 edition of the international tournament.

The team, however, will go into the March window without several key players as Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson, Matt Turner and Sergino Dest are sidelined with injuries.

The USMNT can earn a spot with various different scenarios but two victories in the upcoming three matches would be the safest option.