Jamie Carragher has claimed that USMNT stand a strong chance of progressing from the group stage of the upcoming World Cup, saying that their young squad has the energy to succeed in Qatar.
The USA have been drawn in a group alongside England, Wales and Iran as they hope to progress into the knockouts rounds from what has been branded as the tournament's 'group of death'. The USA were absent from the last tournament in Russia, but enjoyed a positive campaign at the previous two tournaments as they reached the last-16 stage in both 2010 and 2014.
They have a young squad, with players like Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie leading the way for Gregg Berhalter's exciting side. They will come up against some experienced tournament sides, with Iran having pushed Portugal and Spain all of the way in their group at the 2018 World Cup with Wales having made the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and progressing from their group at Euro 2020.
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England, however, will pose the biggest test on paper, with Gareth Southgate's side having reached the semi-finals in 2018 before coming within a penalty shootout of winning Euro 2020 against Italy. They are sides with similar youth in their ranks, with both sides having among the lowest average ages at the tournament.
Carragher has pinpointed the USMNT's youthful energy as a key factor in what could see them have a strong tournament, while highlighting that their main focus will be on a home tournament in 2026. The former Liverpool defender was speaking on Sky Sports' World Cup preview show.
He explained: "I think the feeling is in the US is that the tournament is there four years later, it almost feels like they need to have a great tournament, that’s the tournament where there will be pressure, the host nation always do well and I think this is a really young team for them. In four years time, how good can this team be?
"I think they can get out of this group, if you look at Wales as well, Gareth Bale - his swansong - possibly the last time we see him in Wales shirt and I would like to see them go through for that fact. But the energy of the US National team might be too much."
Pulisic is the USA's most well known player in Europe by some distance but he enters into the tournament without being first choice at Chelsea under manager Graham Potter.
USA boss Gregg Berhalter was recently asked about the situation and commented: “That’s what I really admire about him. It’s the transformation. He doesn’t feel bad for himself, he doesn’t feel sorry for himself, he just goes and does his work. That’s his quality.”
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