The United States Men’s Soccer Team has returned to the Olympics for the first time in 16 years and made it to the knockout round for the first time in 24 years. Given that information, it’s hard to call this tournament a failure, but it did feel like a microcosm of where the program is at right now. They look good and can play decent soccer against lesser teams. But while they play well against more talented teams, they seem to lack the mentality and killer instinct to pull off an upset. The United States faced a more talented Morocco team in the quarterfinals and while they looked up for it for a good chunk of the game, Morocco overwhelmed the United States to a four to zero victory, marking the end of the tournament for the U23 American team.
Team performance
It was a tough tournament to critique. The United States had an aggregate score of seven to one against the teams they were favored to beat and an aggregate score of zero to seven when they were underdogs. While the score lines against France and Morocco were ugly, the scores were a little misleading. In both of those games, the United States had spells of play where they looked highly competent and even at times, dangerous on the ball. They also looked naive defensively and did not take their chances when they needed to. This seems to be a theme throughout U.S. Soccer up and down the program. Against the top teams, they fail to take their chances and their opponents do.
Stock up
LB, John Tolkin, RBNY (2002)
Tolkin held up well defensively against some big named attackers and was effective building out of the back and progressing the ball through the midfield. He showed scouts that he can be an effective left-back in a ball possession scheme and potentially intrigued some European clubs.
DM/CM, Tanner Tessmann, Veneziza (2001)
Tessmann was far from perfect, but he showed why people are very excited about his potential. He flashed elite tools on the ball and showed an ability to win the ball back defensively.
AM, Paxten Aaronson, FC Utrecht (2003)
Aaronson showed what many already knew, which is that he is a really solid soccer player. He started the tournament as a left-winger and moved to a false nine type role in the United States’ last two games. Throughout he showed an ability to impact the game in different ways.
WING, Griffin Yow, Westerlo (2002)
Yow broke through against New Zealand and Guinea, but faded a little bit against Morocco. He showed a direct and brave attacking style that the United States pool lacks at winger.
Stock down
CF, Duncan McGure, Orlando City (2001)
McGuire was the only true striker on the roster and started the first two matches, but failed to impact the tournament in a real meaningful way. He has a habit of dropping deep into the midfield and that gets him out of position in quick transition moments at times.
What’s next for these players?
For all of these players except for Benjamin Cremaschi, their USYNT career is over. The next Olympics will be 2005 born players and later. That means that 2004 born players and older do not have anymore youth tournaments to compete for and subsequently, those players are now focused on carving out a role on the senior team.
Here is the outlook on these players moving forward.
GK, Patrick Schulte, Columbus Crew
The goalkeeping position for the USMNT is unstable and Schulte has the looks of a player that could compete for the starting position if he can show progress over the next year or two. A move to a good level in Europe next season could help his case for getting a chance.
GK, Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina, Chelsea
Needs to find a loan and a better one than a relegation candidate in Belgium.
LB, John Tolkin, New York Red Bulls
Tolkin proved that he is ready for a step-up in competition at the club level and ready to compete to back-up Jedi Robinson on the USMNT. He needs to make a move to Europe no later than January 2025.
LB, Caleb Wiley, Chelsea
Move over to Strasbourg, get acclimated and start your European career young fella.
RB, Nathan Harriel, Philadelphia Union
Harriel was a pleasant surprise in this tournament. I never thought of him as more than a solid MLB right-back, but he might have caught some people’s attention in Europe. I could see a mid-table club in The Championship really liking his profile.
CB, Walker Zimmerman, Nashville
Look, Zimmerman does not excite me, but he was very good in this tournament and let’s face it, USMNT center-backs haven’t looked very good. Maybe his USMNT career isn’t over? It hurts to type that.
CB, Miles Robinson, FC Cincinnati
He was not as solid as Zimmerman and even though he is younger, I am not sure he deserves to be higher on the USMNT depth chart than Zimmerman.
CB/DM, Maximilian Dietz, Gruether Furth
He needs to look like one of the better center-backs in 2. Bundesliga next year and try to parlay that into a move into a tougher league. If that happens, maybe we can start talking about USMNT, but right now he is not ready.
DM, Tanner Tessmann, Venezia (for now)
Tessmann is all but certainly headed to a higher profile club in Italy. If he performs well, he is going to force his way into the USMNT midfield conversation if he hasn’t already.
CM, Gianluca Busio, Venezia
It seems like Busio is staying with Venezia to help them stay in Serie A. He could also push for a USMNT spot with a good season.
CM, Jack McGlynn, Philadelphia Union
It’s time for McGlynn to take the next step up and head to Europe. Spain, Italy and the Netherlands all feel like good fits.
CM, Benja Cremaschi, Inter Miami
Cremaschi will head back to South Beach to help IMCF push for a MLS Cup and next season he will look to become a full-time starter in MLS. If he can achieve that and show improvement, Europe could be knocking on the door soon.
AM, Djordje Mihailovic, Colorado Rapids
This might have been Mihailovic’s last game in a USA kit and that is okay. Thank you for your service.
WING/LB, Kevin Paredes, Wolfsburg
I still believe his ceiling is highest at left-back or left wing-back in the right system. Let’s see what the plan is for him in his second full season in the Bundesliga.
WING, Griffin Yow, Westerlo
The USMNT does not have a plethora of direct wingers that can beat people one on one, so Yow may get his chance soon. I also expect a move to a higher profile club or higher profile league to be coming his way soon.
WING, Taylor Booth, FC Utrecht
Two seasons ago it looked like Booth was a future USMNT depth piece, but injuries have gotten in the way. Can he have a healthy season and force his way back into the USMNT picture?
WING/CF, Paxten Aaronson, FC Utrecht
I believe the younger Aaronson has a USMNT future, but I am not sure how far away it is and he plays a position that has a lot of depth. If he can perform at a high level for Utrecht and work his way into the Frankfurt squad next season, he might force his way in.
CF, Duncan McGuire, Orlando City
It was a disappointing tournament for McGuire and he continues to have a tenuous situation with Orlando City. He wants to go to Europe and Orlando has made that difficult. There are quite a few people ahead of him at striker on the USMNT depth chart and it will be difficult for him to break through into the top group.
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