Following the US Men`s National Team`s run to the Gold Cup final, despite fielding a squad largely without its established stars, midfielder Tyler Adams has offered his assessment. His key takeaway? A significant improvement in the team`s `mentality`.
Coming off a disappointing CONCACAF Nations League campaign where Adams himself noted the team`s perceived lack of care, the Gold Cup presented an opportunity. Without key figures like Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, and Folarin Balogun, and having faced pre-tournament friendly losses, expectations for the Gold Cup squad were perhaps not sky-high. Yet, they navigated the tournament, reaching the final before a narrow defeat to Mexico.
“From the inside, I thought it was really good,” Adams reflected on the Gold Cup performance. He emphasized that despite the challenges, the group remained focused on the task. The core requirement, he stated, was simple: represent the country and battle. While quality might not always be consistent in every game – a perfectly reasonable observation for any player – the bare minimum is effort, running, competing, and doing “whatever it takes” to win.
This `mentality` was evident, Adams felt, even when faced with challenging environments, like playing in St. Louis against Guatemala with a heavily pro-Guatemalan crowd. The team “embraced it, fought, and competed.” This element of grit and resilience seemed to be a crucial difference maker compared to some previous outings.
For Adams personally, the tournament was also a test. Having completed a demanding Premier League season with Bournemouth, his body wasn`t necessarily at its absolute peak for the Gold Cup. He openly admitted this, noting it was his first time playing so many club minutes in a long while. However, his priority wasn`t individual brilliance, but rather “being there competing at the highest level I knew I could be, and just supporting the group.” This practical approach underscores the professional commitment required at the international level, even when physically tested.
Looking ahead, the Gold Cup`s success in testing squad depth has significant implications. Many players who might not have expected such opportunities seized their chances, performing admirably under pressure. As the USMNT prepares for upcoming friendlies against Japan and South Korea – fixtures Adams expects to be challenging, referencing a difficult past encounter with Japan – the picture for future squad selections, particularly for the next World Cup cycle, becomes “interesting.”
The return of established `star` players will now intersect with the proven mettle and form of those who stepped up in the Gold Cup. This dynamic creates a fascinating, if perhaps slightly complex, puzzle for the coaching staff. The Gold Cup, while not ending with a trophy, seemingly achieved a critical objective: demonstrating that the USMNT possesses a deeper pool of players with the required competitive `mentality` than recent performances might have suggested, setting the stage for some compelling roster decisions down the line.
Gareth Pendleton