Post-match: USA v Senegal - May 31, 2026 - International Friendly [R]

True, though we have heard Poch talk enough about counterpressing. I'm not sure Christian was close enough to really make a difference, but sitting in the middle rarely works.

Either way, I don't really see justification for pinning everything on Ream and Berhalter here.

 

A nice offensive game, we actually could've had more than 3 goals, with some better finishing, and one less ref's call.

But I was able to find some video of the defense, and midfield defensively:

 

The Dest/Freeman pair is really good. It has been a problem for the opponent every time they’ve played together.

I’ll bet our group opponents are working hard to solve that problem. It may not necessarily be solvable without leaving the opponent worse off in other areas. They are incredibly in sync considering their limited time together. They’re both quick and fast ((those aren’t the same things.). And they level each other up.

If we have a good cup, that right side will be our bell cow. It looks to be our superpower when playing peers.

I was down in Reyna in my initial reaction. I was disappointed in the lack of incisive passing, given his role.

But he did do a solid job of (to repeat Christian Miles’ favorite cliche) taking the sting out of the game. Maybe he didn’t look good to ME but was doing what Poch asked of him. Also, Adams being so off today is arguably a factor, because Adams was poor at progressing the ball and retaining it; as we lined up, Reyna arguably had to change up his game to help a struggling Adams. A second watch might be interesting.

Finally, that left side is no slouch with Jedi and Pulisic.

To wrap this all up, if our wide players are doing the kind of damage they were doing today, we need less attack from the middle. We can tactically ask those guys to be more defensive.

 

Weird timing - couldn't have waited another month and a half when WC is over? But, his life, his choice.

 

I wonder if the specific date is special for some reason, like maybe the day one of the happy couple’s parents got married. Because yeah, schedule it for the Saturday after the final.

 

Or a couple of ticks faster

 

Or shotgun .

 

I too feel like that was a save an ass play. That sort of play is Turner's strength. Im sorry but I truly dont believe either Freese or (obviously now) Brady come out and make that. That took acute awareness and nothing about coming out for that 50/50 ball was textbook, that was "level above" awareness , straight up.

To me, that is only a breakup that Turner makes from the rest of our goalkeeper pool. It was like the Kane low right shot in the world cup. I was SO happy Turner was in the net for that one because I knew he was the only keeper in our pool that makes that stop

 

I thought Gio was just what the doctor ordered…for the first 20 minutes. The skill was evident, the thinking and calmness on the ball; and there were a couple passes that he made which he made look easy, but if you really dissected them I’m not sure many players in the pool could make them so clean. That said, he faded fast imo, and it’s clear as day that he has not been playing full matches for his club.

overall, I was very happy with the result, and I don’t want to do further nitpicking, but will say one more negative (because, let’s be honest, that is more fun to read). Just watched that goal vs Brady again - that’s not acceptable, even for the third string keeper. That fact that the Senegalese player’s foot poked that ball (bouncing at head height) away quicker than Brady’s hands/reaction speed just can’t happen. Got to do better there. But I’m happy for him that he got some game time, that will probably be it for his minutes this whole month, unless we have an emergency.

 

Exactly.........that was my first thought when reading that quote. Its nice, but it doesnt reveal his cards at all.

 

How DARE you say anything negative after we won a friendly!

But seriously- when I watch any game (won or lost), I always come away with at least some frustrations about certain plays and players. Sure, there were more positives than negatives today, and a win against a quality team is great, but winning or losing a game like this doesn't excuse stupid decisions (Miles, Jedi) and sloppy mistakes of the type that could kill our chances to get the results we'll need to succeed in a WC and potentially grow to be among the elite teams in the world. I hope and expect that MP and his staff will focus on some of the negative details from this game- especially the plays that led to Senegal's goals, so why shouldn't we? What I don't get is the anti-negativity (although I'll accept that it may have been over the top in the pbp thread- which I didn't follow). I want to be picky, greedy, demanding, and have the highest standards at all times. Why? Because I want the U.S. to strive to become an elite team.

 

I made a point about "we are who we are" in both the Belgium game and the Senegal game.

I apologize. I overlooked one very, very important difference in those two games: Sergino Dest.

We would have had a better result against Belgium with Dest, even if Weah had a decent match

 

well, he’d be an inch taller than Messi and 3 inches taller than Maradona….

 

Good point on the Dest/Weah spots. Weah is faster, more direct, and a better counterpresser. Dest is better in possession, better off the dribble, more creative, and most times I'd say a better crosser. But Weah had a good one tonight.

I have been beating the drum for Tillman at CM (or Wes) for a couple weeks now. I agree that Tillman is a bit tidier on the ball and Wes seems more like to create a goal or score one. So I prefer him further upfield.

Though they both have a tendency/desire to wander forward. If both are on the pitch, there is something for letting Tillman have some time up top sonhe won't wander more later & you get some press from him there as well. Wes can be looser with the ball.

 

Overall this was very positive. That stat Senegal has one loss- to Brazil ! - in their last 45 games or something... This was a very impressive win.

Positives:

• CHRISTIAN PULISIC. Absolutely crucial.
• Malik Tillman kinda put on a Masterclass. Where's that, is it @kruck ? Shame.
• Ricardo Pepi & Folorin Balogun. Striker does not appear to be a problem. Damn Pepi was great, and Flo may be the best we ever had.
• Dest. So great to have this guy back.
• Alex Freeman. Got no credit on the broadcast for an absolutely beautiful pass setting up goal 2. Freeman/Dest right side looking like a winner.
• McKennie's effort. Wes was erratic/bad at first. quite bad, but then he added some slick play to the goals and chances. But him tracking back and slide tackling people. JONESesque? That's that Wes we must have!
• Reyna. Not spectacular today, but 45 solid minutes is enough. He will help us.
• Turner. I feel good if he's played. Looks like Freese probably starts, Matt did well (maybe he could've saved the one?)
• Timothy Weah. If he's coming off the bench he's the best non-starter in the history of the USMNT

Neutral:

• Tyler Adams was mid Tyler Adams today. He so crucial to our success.
• Mark McKenzie almost by defualt is looking like a starter on this team for me. Today he was mostly fine which unfortunately pushes him into the line up. If Chris Richards can;t go, it's frightening all-around.
• Jedi. Didn't like the hair. The game was o.k. Not his best.
• Berhalter. Martino can tell me how great he is over and over but I'm actually watching the game. He makes mistakes and we could be punished for them. He settled in the 2nd half a bit better.
• Arfsten was good. Did his usual step-overs which worked 2 out of 3 times. Didn't get beat to my knowledge
• Scally
• Gonna put Brady here. Didn't really show well, but I do like that Poch got him a cap. Totally agree you don't want someone with ZERO caps coming into Goalkeeper with the World Cup on the line.
• Zendejas - I actaully had to think because I added all the payers I commented on and I knew there was one missing, LOL. I really should have remebered Zendejas, because he WAS involved....but he's just maybe not good enough.

Negatives:

• Time Ream - This is a problem. Pray Chris Richards is healthy and ....it's stilll bad. Ream misjusges runners, misjudges ball flight. Then he really had a couple bad turnover passes . Oh my, I realize it says "time" Ream not Tim. Truly did not mean to write that. Well sure, that's stands.as well. Maybe he pulls a Bornstein miracle.
• Trusty and Miles - Well, if Ream is a problem, these two provided no solution. CB is FRIGHTENING.
• Christian Roldan. I like the player, truly I do. But he had way too many moments that led to danger. Of course he's absolutey snake bit on the offensive end. Perfect settle on that corner, great shift to the left foot.....ooooooof 20 yards wide. Roldan USMNT in a moment.

 

Plenty of people are critical of things. But there's an absurd level of over the top criticism and doomerism and other people are perfectly valid in pointing out that we well outplayed Senegal and that many of the players people claim were shit weren't.

Senegal is a very good team. It was just a friendly, but 3-2 is flattering to them, not to us. It could have been far worse.

I don't think it's ridiculous in a post game thread for people to point out that the criticism is inaccurate to the game.

No one at US Soccer is reading Big Soccer and saying, oh, we weren't going to try but this dude said this!

I'm all for analysis and picking at everything, but it's for our own enjoyment. It's not setting a standard or whatever. No one is going to do anything different.

Personally, I think people should just be accurate to the game. Senegal is the AFCON champ in reality and at least 20th in World ELO (not sure how they handled that farce of 3-0 forfeit). We beat them solidly, by more than the score, and the second goal we gave up was due to two guys who very likely won't see the field.

It's a good win. Pick away at the problems, but I don't think most people are. Most people seem to be yelling about shit they thought would be a problem before the match.

Case in point: Tim Ream didn't cost us either goal today. Yet the PBP and here are all lamenting Ream. Yes, he's slow. No, he's not great. But that wasn't an issue today.

 

Rewatching ....
The right play on the first goal ..... take the foul. But I get it. Its a friendly 2 games from the WC. No one wants an ugly game.

 

That was just plain fun.

One note I took away, Senegal is overrated. Their outside backs were owned, shaky keeper, center backs slow to react, their opponents are going to rack up goals against them.

But that’s their problem. I think we’ll get a better look at our problems on Saturday. Germany will probably not be going full on - until the first tackle from McKennie sets them off. Then I think they’ll be looking to skewer us.

If we can hold up, even hold our own, I’ll be feeling really good about the tourney.

PS: I friggin’ love this version of McKennie. He is going to be in the opponent’s head all day for starters. And when he’s decisive like he was, he’s even more unpredictable. That’s his superpower. That and annoying the hell out of the opposition.

 

I agree. Germany will tell us more. Senegal are good but a top African team is not a world beater. All this game meant is that we probably won't suck.

 

I think you're missing my point. Perhaps the problem I have is that many of the "anti-negativity" posts were blanket condemnations of anything negative concerning a win over Senegal, to the point that when I arrived at this thread late (after watching a recording of the game this evening), I almost felt intimidated about saying anything negative. Sorry, but I like making criticisms (hopefully valid) about specific elements of the game, even after good wins. I think it's valid and reasonable to do so, even if MP is not reading any of this (which doesn't need to be explained to me).

If you're okay with picking at everything (again, something I think is worthwhile, if it's accurate), then don't post comments like: "I don't get all the negativity" (see how that's kind of a blanket statement?)

Totally agree, and I've long disliked the absence of more specific game analysis in postgame threads, which so often quickly evolve into arguments about theoretical formations, player choices for future matches, etc etc.

Dealing with specifics is better, and avoiding generalizations like "all the negativity". And you're not the only one who said that.

See, you quoted my post and responded to me, and I didn't mention Tim Ream at all. I also pointed out that I could understand the complaints about the pbp thread having included too much inaccurate negativity, and I admitted that I hadn't read it. Anyway, I hope my point is clearer now. You have been one of my favorite contributors here for quite some time, btw.

 

And that means a lot to me. It was definitely in the back of my mind we could really suck. Those fears have been calmed. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but I don’t think so.

 

The first half was very positive. To temper the positivity, I wonder, can we get this same effort over 90 minutes? How much of the tenacity (in particular, Pulisic) was based on knowing that you are only playing 45 minutes? He was dialed in and attacking physically and with maximum effort. What can we expect over three games in 13 days (6/12, 6/19, 6/25)? Same question, but when you are expected to play at least 75 minutes? That should not be too taxing, but I wonder across all players? Most exciting / inspiring 25 minutes / half in a long time. I just wonder if it was based on players knowledge that they could go for broke knowing they would be subbed off at the half.

 

Have you tried booking a wedding venue lately?

 

everything else aside, im curious how straight a line could be drawn from the grass-on-turf pitch/senegalese players bouncing balls scuttlebutt and bradys misread of that ball. nowhere near enough to exonerate soccer layne staley, but it could have contributed (in addition to first cap jitters).