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Stats from fotmob.com, Opta and Fifa; players listed successful bid of minutes played.
Weston McKennie, center/attacking midfield (Juventus)
Five starts, 444 minutes
Guardian ratings: 7-7-7-7-5
The only subordinate to commencement each 5 games led nan squad successful chances created (eight), though Malik Tillman, Sebastian Berhalter and nan lightly utilized Brenden Aaronson created much per 90 minutes. Covered an exhausting 57,573m successful 5 games. Of nan “Golden Generation” players connected nan roster, he and moving mate Tyler Adams were nan astir golden. Grade: A-
Alex Freeman, right-back/center-back (Villarreal)
Four starts, 1 sub, 373 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist
Guardian ratings: 7-8-5-7-5
Not successful nan image a mates of years ago, and US fans person to beryllium thrilled that nan 21-year-old now has nan acquisition of a World Cup (and a memorable World Cup extremity celebration) to tie upon. Led nan squad pinch 14 tackles, 3.4 per game. Led nan team’s first-choice players successful percent of duels won some connected nan crushed (67.6%) and successful nan aerial (73.7%). Solid debut, very agleam future. Grade: A-
Matt Freese, goalkeeper (New York City FC)
Four starts, 360 minutes, 8 saves, 5 goals allowed
Guardian ratings: 6-6-x-6-2
One of very fewer players connected this squad to person ne'er played successful Europe and 1 who only joined nan nationalist squad excavation past year. His inexperience proved costly against Belgium, erstwhile he came measurement retired of his container and hesitated to clear nan ball, allowing nan Red Devils to dispossess him and sprout into nan astir unfastened extremity 25 yards down him. On nan affirmative side: he made immoderate decent saves successful that crippled and had a coagulated capacity successful gritting retired a cleanable expanse against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Grade: C
Chris Richards, center-back (Crystal Palace)
Four starts, 360 minutes
Guardian ratings: 8-7-x-6-4
The champion spot of luck nan USA had, isolated from a comparatively easy draw, was learning that Richards would beryllium fresh to play. His stats bordered connected nan impossible, particularly his 100% completion complaint connected 84 passes against Paraguay. He led nan squad successful protect contributions, full (41) and per 90 (10.3). The lion’s stock of those were clearances (28), and galore of them were vital. His Cup ended connected a debased note, embarrassed by Romelu Lukaku, but by immoderate nonsubjective measure, he was 1 of nan USA’s apical players. Grade: B+
Tim Ream, center-back (Charlotte FC)
Four starts, 360 minutes
Guardian ratings: 6-7-x-6-4
One of galore US players complete nan years who person excelled astatine Fulham, nan 38-year-old skipper completed almost arsenic galore passes (70.5 per 90 min) arsenic Richards pinch a somewhat little percent (91.6%). He was forced into excessively galore ft races and had nan misfortune of seeing Belgium’s 3rd extremity sail past him arsenic he attempted to screen for his stranded goalkeeper, but successful his first 3 games, he was solid. Grade: B
Malik Tillman, center/attacking midfield (Bayer Leverkusen)
Four starts, 1 sub, 356 minutes, 2 goals, 1 assist
Guardian ratings: 7-7-6-8-7
Faced pinch a free-kick conscionable extracurricular nan area, Tillman saw Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defense daring him to effort to get nan shot complete nan wall and in. He did it. Then he did it again 5 days later pinch a deflected free-kick that concisely drew nan USA level pinch Belgium. Seven chances created. He showed stealthy ball-winning ability, tying pinch Robinson for possessions won (23). Grade: A-
Antonee Robinson, left-back/midfield (Fulham)
Four starts, 349 minutes
Guardian ratings: 6-7-x-6-6
The 1 they telephone “Jedi” had nan Force connected his broadside arsenic an attacking force, and US fans whitethorn reasonably wonderment if things would person played retired otherwise if he and Pulisic had been capable to support nan menacing play connected nan near flank they showed against Paraguay. He didn’t neglect his protect activity – tied for 2nd successful protect contributions per 90 minutes (9.0) and tied for first successful possessions won (23). Grade: B
Tyler Adams, halfway midfield (Bournemouth)
Four starts, 342 minutes
Guardian ratings: 7-7-x-6-6
The stats backmost up nan statement that Adams is nan champion two-way subordinate connected nan team. He completed 55.3 passes per 90 minutes astatine an fantabulous 89.4% completion rate. He had a team-high 30 forced turnovers. He maintained his poise successful nan midst of fierce midfield battles. The Turkey crippled showed really overmuch he’s missed erstwhile he’s not successful nan lineup. Grade: A-
Folarin Balogun, guardant (Monaco)
Four starts, 314 minutes, 3 goals
Guardian ratings: 8-7-x-7-6
Any parents looking for domiciled models for their kids could do a batch worse than Balogun, who showed extraordinary grace aft receiving a harsh reddish paper and being bailed retired successful murky circumstances beyond his control. On nan field, he was spectacular against Paraguay and remained vulnerable successful each different appearance. In summation to being a accordant threat offensively, he was 2nd connected nan squad successful forced turnovers (29) down Adams. Can you ideate really devastating nan England onslaught would beryllium had he opted to correspond them complete nan USA? Grade: A
Sergiño Dest, correct wing/midfield (PSV Eindhoven)
Four starts, 1 sub, 298 minutes
Guardian ratings: 6-6-6-7-4
The fiery subordinate listed arsenic a defender but mostly freed of protect duties successful Mauricio Pochettino’s lineup ran basking and cold. Few left-backs successful nan world will spot him crossed nan section and deliberation they’re successful for an easy night. But his decision-making isn’t ever nan best. Grade: B
Christian Pulisic, near wing/midfield/forward (Milan)
Three starts, 1 sub, 224 minutes, 1 assist
Guardian ratings: 8-x-6-6-4
This World Cup was a microcosm of Pulisic’s career. One agelong of world-class play (first half v Paraguay). A nagging wounded (rest of nan group stage). A return pinch much flashes of brilliance (last 32). Then an unexplained slump (last 16) and a caller injury. He completed 87.3% of his passes, beautiful bully for personification who does astir of his passing nether dense pressure, but created only 3 chances. Grade: B
Ricardo Pepi, guardant (PSV Eindhoven)
Two starts, 3 subs, 202 minutes
Guardian ratings: 6-6-5-6-6
Not really a facet successful his 2 starts, but he showed capable attacking intent successful his substitute appearances to make teams wary of a counterattacking threat. Brought connected astatine half-time against Belgium but was starved of service. Grade: B-
Sebastian Berhalter, halfway midfield (Vancouver Whitecaps)
One start, 4 subs, 185 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist
Guardian ratings: 6-6-8-6-6
Few US players enhanced their estimation arsenic overmuch arsenic nan boy of erstwhile US head Gregg Berhalter, particularly erstwhile fixed a chance to start. He was 3rd successful completed passes per 90 minutes (56.4) and led nan squad successful chances created per 90 minutes (3.4). One of fewer MLS players to get important clip astatine this tournament, he should person immoderate suitors lined up aft showing poise, productivity and grit. Grade: B+
Gio Reyna, center/attacking midfield (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
One start, 4 subs, 131 minutes, 1 goal
Guardian ratings: 7-6-5-6-6
Getting past the play of 2022 is simply a monolithic accomplishment. His extremity against Paraguay was a sparkling infinitesimal of explosiveness and skill. He didn’t person overmuch of an effect successful his lone start, but nan specified truth that he was capable to lend pinch nary denotation of unpleasantness will reassure US fans that he’ll beryllium a viable action for years to come. Grade: B
Auston Trusty, left-back/center-back (Celtic)
One start, 1 sub, 100 minutes, 1 goal
Guardian ratings: x-6-7-x-x
Pochettino opted for 4 caller defenders against Turkey, and Trusty was nan only 1 who acquitted himself well. If not for a precocious wounded erstwhile nan USA ran retired of subs, he whitethorn person been capable to forestall Turkey from scoring nan game-winning goal. Grade: B
Miles Robinson, center-back (FC Cincinnati)
One start, 90 minutes
Guardian ratings: x-x-5-x-x
A spot erratic successful his lone crippled against Turkey, but he had a fewer bully moments and 11 clearances. He tin yet telephone himself a World Cup seasoned aft an achilles wounded ruined his chances astatine playing successful 2022. Grade: C
Mark McKenzie, center-back (Toulouse)
One start, 90 minutes
Guardian ratings: x-x-5-x-x
As pinch Robinson, nan seasoned center-back sewage a well-deserved front connected nan sport’s biggest shape aft years of work to nan nationalist team, and nary 1 will begrudge him that. Struggled a bit, but nan acquisition will do him bully arsenic he contends for nan domiciled of Ream’s eventual replacement. Grade: C
Matt Turner, goalkeeper (New England Revolution)
One start, 90 minutes
Guardian ratings: x-x-4-x-x
The 2022 starter has had a fewer profession setbacks successful nan past 4 years, and his only playing clip present was successful nan dead-rubber lucifer against Turkey. He didn’t registry a prevention and conceded 3 goals, though nan second-string defense successful beforehand of him and nan disorder while dealing pinch an injured subordinate precocious successful nan crippled didn’t help. Grade: C
Joe Scally, right-back (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
One start, 1 sub, 87 minutes
Guardian ratings: x-6-5-x-x
Hasn’t really managed to copy his nine occurrence pinch nan nationalist team, but he had a coagulated little tally arsenic a sub against Australia. The Turkey crippled conscionable didn’t make immoderate of nan defenders look good. Grade: B
Brenden Aaronson, correct helping (Leeds)
One start, 77 minutes
Guardian ratings: x-x-5-x-x
Completed 95% of his passes successful his lone crippled but was incapable to return advantage of immoderate opportunities. Was an unused sub successful situations that 1 would deliberation suitable for him. Grade: B aliases possibly incomplete
Tim Weah, near wing/right wing-back (Marseille)
One start, 1 sub, 76 minutes
Guardian ratings: 6-x-5-x-x
After nan 2022 World Cup, Weah seemed a judge stake to beryllium 1 of nan cardinal players connected nan nationalist squad for galore years to come. For immoderate reason, it hasn’t happened. The Turkey crippled was fundamentally an audition for him to beryllium an early substitute successful nan knockout rounds, and his touch deserted him. Still young capable to put it backmost together. Grade: C+
Not rated:
Alex Zendejas, correct helping (13 minutes)
Haji Wright, forward (2 minutes)
Max Arfsten, near backmost (1 minute)
Chris Brady, goalkeeper (did not play)
Cristian Roldan, midfield (injured)
US fans whitethorn good wonderment if nan mercurial Wright could person made a quality if Pochettino hadn’t waited truthful agelong to present him.
Mauricio Pochettino, manager
Fans chanted his sanction aft victories. He learned nan words to Country Roads. He has embraced nan USA, and nan USA person embraced him. His strategies were spot-on successful nan 3 wins. But he was outfoxed by Belgium head Rudi Garcia and grounded to set a lineup that exposed center-backs Ream and Richards. His determination to hold substitutions was astir costly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he again was slow to scope for nan chair successful nan nonaccomplishment to Belgium, ne'er summoning Weah and leaving Wright to make a pointless cameo. A cardinal tenet of nan US mindset: if you’re losing, spell retired swinging. Grade: B+
Federation
Two years ago, US Soccer voted to commencement paying its president, which had been a unpaid domiciled to that point. Cindy Cone deserves each penny. She resolved nan labour strife pinch nan men’s and women’s nationalist teams. That required a important outlay of money, but she and CEO JT Batson person built up nan gross streams to compensate. The oft-fractious statement re-elected her this twelvemonth without opposition. The spot adjacent to Gianni Infantino whitethorn beryllium unavoidable, but pricing retired immoderate of nan team’s astir loyal fans is difficult to excuse. And nan Balogun contention squandered each nan goodwill nan squad had earned, domestically and internationally. The irony that Donald Trump had worked truthful difficult to eliminate nan citizenship pathway that made Balogun eligible is nan extremity of nan migration iceberg. In this country, nan athletics was built up and kept live by migrant families, who still relationship for nan bulk of nan talent excavation and fanbase. The athletics needs a pouring pot, not a metallic spoon. The federation forgot that this summer. Grade: C-
Fans
Having celebrities astatine games is neat. Sure. And congratulations to each nan group pinch capable disposable income to spend bully seats. But nan squad didn’t request each that. The problem is summed up neatly successful 1 condemnation connected nan website of the American Outlaws supporters group: “We recognize this prices a batch of members retired of this World Cup and prevents them from nan action of nan discounted Supporters tickets, which is not what we were hoping for.” A wine-and-cheese crowd is simply a mediocre substitute for diehard fans who tin do much than chant “U! S! A!” Grade: D for nan newbies, A++ for nan diehards who made it and will still beryllium location for nan Gold Cup, Nations League and gritty qualifiers for 2030
