Does USA Have Enough Depth? Could They Beat Spain? Maurice Edu Answers Fans' Questions

The USA doesn't participate the knockout signifier coming disconnected a affirmative result, but I'm unfazed. We didn't spot the Americans' go-to lineup successful that game, and I'm looking astatine the round-of-32 matchup connected Wednesday nighttime positively.

Let's get to your questions up of the matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Help america judge the USMNT has what it takes to triumph a World Cup erstwhile they mislaid to Türkiye.

— Sarah Glad (@s.a.r.u.hhhhh)

The lucifer against Türkiye was what it was. It was a accidental to remainder immoderate cardinal players and get others immoderate run.

I’m not putting overmuch into this game. There are immoderate lessons to learn; conceding a last-minute extremity is ne'er great. The U.S. decidedly could person been amended defensively arsenic a corporate unit. Ultimately, though, that was not our champion XI connected the field.

The USA didn't get the desired effect against Türkiye, but I'm not concerned. (Sarah Stier - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

In presumption of however to consciousness coming retired of that game, the assurance of this radical is going to turn if we get a triumph implicit Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some of these players person played successful the knockout signifier before, but they person not won, truthful a triumph would beryllium huge.

Also, the content among the fanbase volition besides turn with a win. We person a pathway moving guardant that is present intelligibly defined, and the attack has to beryllium to instrumentality it 1 crippled astatine a time.

With each affirmative result, though, and each 90 minutes that this squad gets together, it’s going to summation their confidence, arsenic good arsenic the fans’ content that we tin support hitting these caller milestones and execute thing special.

Our extent is looking weak. What reserve players tin we number on? 

— Jason Haskins (@jasonhaskins)

There are a fewer guys who I consciousness assured in.

First is striker Ricardo Pepi. I thought helium had a bully showing against Australia and immoderate affirmative moments against Türkiye. I was much impressed with him successful the radical against Australia, though, due to the fact that that was with the remainder of the starting group.

Next up is midfield Sebastian Berhalter, who volition apt beryllium called upon to play immoderate meaningful minutes successful the halfway of the park. That’s a presumption wherever we don’t person that overmuch depth, truthful I’m expecting him to person to measurement up astatine immoderate point.

In presumption of the onslaught connected the wing, guys similar Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson oregon Alex Zendejas each got minutes against Türkiye. Someone is going to person to play cardinal minutes successful the knockout stage.

In defense, I look to Auston Trusty. He did good against Türkiye and evidently took his extremity well, too.

Who has made the biggest quality connected the USMNT squad and why? 

— Ramses Gaytan (@ramses_dtxns_30)

The archetypal sanction that comes to caput is idiosyncratic who was expected to measurement up: Weston McKennie. He has been a large portion of this team’s success, making a affirmative interaction successful each game. He’s besides the lone subordinate to commencement each crippled truthful far.

One who has been everything we’d hoped for and possibly much is Alex Freeman. To beryllium 21 years aged with the small magnitude of nonrecreational shot helium has nether his belt, to measurement up connected this signifier and execute successful this mode has been incredibly encouraging — and agelong whitethorn it continue.

The last sanction is Folarin Balogun. The interest and question people from the past World Cup was who our No. 9 was. Flo has shown to beryllium consistently dangerous, whether it’s scoring goals oregon being a nuisance to make them. I deliberation his wide accomplishment acceptable truly lifts our ceiling.

Do you deliberation this squad successful its existent signifier tin bushed a squad similar Spain oregon Portugal? 

— Douglas Baker (@douglas_baker1)

Why not?

One of this group’s top strengths is however diversion we are. When we are collectively connected the aforesaid leafage and moving similar dogs to use unit connected teams — some successful and retired of possession — I deliberation we person a squad that tin disrupt opposing teams that physique retired of the backmost and are focused connected shorter passes.

Does that mean it’s a warrant to happen? No, but by the clip we get to that game, it would beryllium a quarterfinal. That means we would person won 2 knockout-stage games to get there.

Favorite US extremity truthful far? Favorite celebration? 

— @imatt13

The champion extremity we've scored was Balogun's 2nd against Paraguay, but it was Gio's finale successful that match. That extremity was a bully headdress connected that game, which was an astonishing experience.

In presumption of my favourite celebration, 2 goals travel to mind.

Gio's extremity saw the full squad spell connected the tract to observe with him, including caput manager Mauricio Pochettino. Similarly, Alex Freeman's extremity against Australia was special. The full squad sprinted aft him and chased him.

This squad is precise locked successful and precise overmuch together. Those 2 celebrations truly reflected that.

The U.S. celebrates Gio Reyna's extremity against Paraguay, with Mauricio Pochettino moving connected the tract to articulation in. (Sarah Stier - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Who’s the GOAT of soccer? 

— @codices

It's Messi. That's the easiest of the questions.