As the sport turned on its head within the second half, each minute Giovanni Reyna remained on the bench loomed bigger and bigger.
The 20-year-old Bedford, N.Y., native didn't begin nor come on in its place throughout the U.S. males’s soccer staff’s 1-1 draw with Wales in its World Cup opener. A projected starter coming into the match, Reyna’s absence was shocking, notably given his game-changing potential in a match that wanted simply that.
After conceding the tying objective, supervisor Gregg Berhalter opted to substitute Jordan Morris at winger for Timothy Weah. In the event that they’re each wholesome, the choice to decide on Morris over Reyna is puzzling in any case. The 28-year-old Morris, albeit a heartwarming story to be included on the roster after tearing each ACLs, has largely stalled out for the Seattle Sounders within the MLS, scoring seven objectives in 29 video games final yr. Reyna, in the meantime, has emerged as one of the vital tantalizing abilities on the radar of the most important European golf equipment whereas taking part in a central position for German energy Borussia Dortmund — the identical membership that developed Christian Pulisic earlier than he departed for Chelsea.
Berhalter’s largest mistake in his World Cup debut, nonetheless, now gives him his greatest choice to make a decisive change in opposition to England on Friday.
An issue that plagued them throughout qualifying, the Individuals dominated possession however did not create sufficient concrete goal-scoring possibilities to bury Wales once they had the upper-hand. They owned 59 % of the ball, however had six photographs to Wales’ seven, and had only one shot on objective to Wales’ three. Wales’ really had a better anticipated objectives measure within the match, 1.73 to the Individuals’ 0.82.
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Reyna, who can play as each an attacking midfielder or as a ahead, can change the course of a sport by himself, dribbling proper at defenders as he performs extra direct-to-goal than a lot of the roster. His versatility has given him the flexibility to each end off possibilities and create them for others. As was evidenced in opposition to Wales, these traits are desperately lacking.
Though he carried a number of leg accidents at first of the yr, Reyna performed in Dortmund’s ultimate three video games earlier than the World Cup break. Berhalter mentioned the choice to make use of Morris was tactical, however he additionally mentioned that he was taking part in it cautious after Reyna skilled muscle tightness in warm-ups.
“It was making an attempt to get him in control,” Berhalter instructed reporters after the sport. “I believe there was a bit of little bit of tightness that we have been guarding him in opposition to in Al-Gharafa within the coaching train as a precaution. However we’ve been constructing him up and assume he can play a giant position on this match. The query is when. Hopefully Friday, he’ll be one other step forward.”
Reyna, nonetheless, didn't mirror that sentiment after the match.
“I really feel actually good. I really feel nice. I really feel advantageous.” Reyna instructed reporters. “[Berhalter] doesn’t have to inform me why he didn’t put me in or why he does. However I’m 100%. I’m good to go.”
If Reyna have been to be inserted into the beginning lineup, Yunus Musah or Timothy Weah might be in line to make approach, though Weah might transfer to striker rather than Josh Sargent. Apart from serving to within the buildup to the objective, Sargent struggled to make a lot of an influence earlier than being substituted off.
Outdoors of Reyna, Berhalter might begin Haji Wright, with whom he changed Sargent, to supply extra goal-scoring punch. Wright was on a tear for Turkish facet Antalayaspor earlier than the World Cup break, scoring 9 objectives in 12 video games, and in addition gives extra of a bodily presence up prime along with his 6-foot-3 body.
“We all know the influence he could make when he comes into video games and when he has the chance,” staff captain Tyler Adams mentioned of Reyna after the sport. “So, when he will get his probability, he’ll take it.”
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