World Cup Now: 3 positives from USA's draw vs. Wales
The United States men's national team obviously didn't get the result it wanted on Monday, when the Americans played their World Cup opening match against Wales at Al Rayyan Stadium, ending in a 1-1 draw. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the USA played a bad game.
Here are three positives from the USMNT's loss to Wales from "World Cup Now" analysts Jimmy Conrad, Sacha Kljestan and Warren Barton.
1. Barton: It was a game of two halves
There were a lot of positives in the first half, and maybe what was said in the halftime talk [gave them] the mindset that you think this game is won. Unfortunately, we know in this game, you take your eye off of the ball, and you draw the game. I thought they played very, very well in the first half.
2. Kljestan: Tim Ream was solid
I thought he made a lot of fantastic defensive plays, including a couple of times when balls were coming at him fast, and he just gently headed them back to Matt Turner to keep possession for the team. His experience showed, and I thought he was very good.
3. Tim Weah was the right guy to start
He gives us some depth. He gives us an option in behind. I feel like our No. 9s like to check back to the ball. We even see it on the goal with Josh Sargent: He's almost in the midfield, he chests it back to Christian Pulisic and that unlocks the defense from Wales. Now Tim Weah can get into those channels, and he did it more than once.
Watch "FIFA World Cup Today" before and after every match of the tournament on Twitter by following @FoxSoccer.
Read more from the World Cup:
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- Top plays from USA-Wales 1-1 draw
- World Cup Daily: England now has upper hand in Group B
- How to watch every game of the 2022 World Cup
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- Stu Holden's top 50 players at the World Cup
- How the USMNT restored its culture
- Why young USMNT roster isn't sweating a lack of World Cup experience
- Get to know the USMNT's 26-man World Cup roster
