AL RAYYAN, Qatar — For certain, there’s talent on this young U.S. men's national team. The starting lineup for Monday’s World Cup opener here at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium was testament to the quality and progress made by a promising generation.
It included champions and cup winners, and men hailing from clubs in four of Europe’s top five leagues. It was anchored by the cohort that’s energized the global transfer market for U.S. players and which believes firmly that it can “change the way the world views American soccer.”
There’s also inexperience. The U.S. roster is the second youngest in Qatar. All 11 of coach Gregg Berhalter’s starters against Wales were making their World Cup debut, and only one had ever contested a competitive international match against a country from outside Concacaf. Taking the lead at a World Cup requires technique, skill, and confidence. And the U.S. deserved theirs. Tim Weah’s exquisite 36th-minute goal punctuated a dominant first half.
