Gregg Berhalter's team accomplished their end goal, but it's safe to say it wasn't a convincing process…
In the end, they got there. The United States men's national team is headed to the 2024 Copa America on home soil, which, ultimately, was the big goal of this camp. However, there was no big celebration, no big blowout of champagne or anything like that. The mood, overall, was somewhat somber. Despite defeating Trinidad & Tobago on aggregate, Monday night certainly didn't feel like a win.
That's because it wasn't; it was a 2-1 loss. That defeat left a sour taste after what will, in the end, be seen as a hugely important camp. It's one that will have lasting ramifications, and not just because of the tournament runs it set the U.S. up for.
With the road to the Copa America now officially beginning, everything the U.S. does will now have one eye towards the summer, and it's safe to say that Sergino Dest hasn't started that road off well at all. His boneheaded red card left his team-mates seething, with the defender being scolded for his "immature" and "disrespectful" decision-making.
That leaves his grip right-back spot a bit less tight than it was before, and it raises a huge question: With two red cards in two big games just a few months apart, can the U.S. really trust Dest the most intense of situations?
That'll be one talking point going forward, but there's plenty do discuss. So, with that said, GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from camp…
GettyWINNER: Antonee Robinson
The big winner of the camp, not that Antonee Robinson needed that title, to be fair. Gregg Berhalter called him an "animal" after the second match, and it feels like a good description. Robinson did just about everything asked of him after missing the October window, proving once again why he's so key to this team.
He's been the left-back for quite some time, and despite the emergence of Kristoffer Lund, it doesn't feel like that'll change any time soon. There's no one in the pool quite as complete as Robinson, who brings so much to the team.
With the U.S., he plays a bit more attacking than he does at Fulham, and he seems to enjoy it. In two games this camp, he got two goals, which is always a nice sight from the full-back position.
AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Sergino Dest
We already discussed what Dest's dismissal meant in the moment, but now it's time to look at the bigger picture. This incident, his second inexcusable red card of the year after that Nations League mess against Mexico, now leads to one big question: Can the USMNT trust Dest to keep his cool?
On the latest evidence, the answer is no. The Mexico incident is one we can kind of excuse, as players sometimes lose their tempers in those sorts of rivalry games. Getting sent off against Trinidad & Tobago with your team up 4-0 on aggregate? That's not passion; it's stupidity.
Do you think South America's top teams won't have seen that? If a relative minnow like Trinidad & Tobago can get in Dest's head, what do you think a team like Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay can do when the heat is turned up much, much higher?
Dest's play style already makes him something of a liability in those big games, but it seems his mentality may do so as well. And, with the Copa America looming, he has a lot of trust to earn back if he's to make an impact in next summer's tournament.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Gio Reyna
All of the prior nonsense feels like it's even more in the past, as Gio Reyna is more important to this team than ever right now. His goal in the first game was a great finish, one that really put the tie out of reach. He combined well with Folarin Balogun during the sequence and has, realistically, been the only USMNT player to unlock any sort of on-field chemistry with the striker so far.
The finish marked Reyna's third goal in two games, which makes it pretty clear that the past is well and truly behind him. Injuries have thrust him into the XI, no doubt, but his presence in midfield is now undeniable. When he came off after Dest's red card on Monday, the U.S. never looked the same, lacking the control and creativity in midfield to do anything but survive in that second half.
Overall, it's safe to say that Reyna, in just a few games, has rebuilt things quite a bit under Berhalter. It'll take a bit more time to truly earn back the trust of some sections of the USMNT fanbase, but it's clear that this past winter's incident isn't hanging over player or coach. All involved have moved on and, at least so far, taken things to another level, which is a credit to the player and person Reyna is as he leaps into this next phase of his USMNT career.
GettyLOSER: Folarin Balogun
We'll start by saying that, overall, Balogun's return is pretty good so far. The striker has three goals and two assists in about 530 minutes since debuting for the national team. If your striker averages just under one goal contribution-per-90, you'll probably take that, especially if you're the USMNT.
However, these felt like games where Balogun could really assert himself as the USMNT's superstar attacker. Without the injured Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, these felt like games where Balogun could step up, score some goals and carry a team that needed a bit of juice without two star forwards. Instead, we leave camp saying that Balogun is still adjusting to the USMNT, and that the USMNT is still adjusting to Balogun.
His first game wasn't bad, as he did get that assist on Reyna's goal. However, Ricardo Pepi certainly outshined him with his fantastic flicked-on goal to open the scoring off the bencg. The second game? Little more than a cardio session, as Balogun was limited to mainly hold-up play outside of one early chance.
It's clear that the USMNT is still learning how to play with Balogun. He's a different type of striker than any the U.S. has ever had and adjusting to his skillset will take time. His first real games against a lesser CONCACAF team, though, should have been a chance for Balogun to dominate on quality alone, and he never really did that throughout the two matches.
