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Miazga, Carter-Vickers provide a bit of continuity as anchors of young USMNT squad

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PHILADELPHIA– Matt Miazga and Cameron Carter-Vickers have the most familiarity of any players in the current U.S. Men’s National Team camp. And an argument can be made they are two of the most in-sync players in the entire talent pool at the moment.

After working their way up through the U.S. youth system, Miazga and Carter-Vickers are at the forefront of the youth movement installed by interim manager Dave Sarachan.

The pair started the March friendly against Paraguay, and they should be in the running to start Monday’s match versus Bolivia at Talen Energy Stadium.

“I’ve said the past few camps as well, we’ve played a while together now since the U-20 World Cup, Olympic qualifying and now we played our first senior national team against Paraguay.” Miazga said. “We have good chemistry. We get along on and off the pitch and hopefully now we can continue to establish ourselves and make an impact with the senior team.” 

“We played a lot together in the youth stages with the U-20s and U-23s. It’s another good opportunity for us to hopefully get on the pitch together and build off what we’ve been doing,” Carter-Vickers said. 

The young American centerbacks aren’t far from each other when they’re with their parent clubs in England, as Miazga is at Chelsea and Carter-Vickers at Tottenham.

“We talk every now and then,” Carter-Vickers said. “When he first signed for Chelsea, we went out a few times. Now it’s a bit more difficult because he’s in Holland, but we definitely keep in touch.” 

Both players earned minutes out on loan in the recently concluded European season.

Miazga once again thrived at Vitesse in the Eredivisie, while Carter-Vickers played with Sheffield United and Ipswich Town.

“I feel good, I feel fit. I feel sharp, I feel ready so now  I’m trying to bring in my form here and make an impact here,” Miazga said. “I’ve enjoyed my time at Vitesse. I had a good successful season there, two consecutive seasons with the cup win and qualifying for Europa League so I’m happy with my growth there as a player and a person and I want to translate it now to the national team.” 

“I really enjoyed last season,” Carter-Vickers said. “I think changing middle through the season exposed me to different coaches and a different kind of football. It definitely helped me as a player.” 

While there’s almost a guarantee the two will feature for the USMNT Monday and against the Republic of Ireland and France, Miazga and Carter-Vickers still face unknowns when it comes to their respective club situations.

“When I go back to Tottenham next season, I’m going to try and impress the manager and as many people as I can and I know Matt thinks very similar to me,” Carter-Vickers said. 

“I’m sure I’ll be in touch with them over the next few weeks, but I have to report to Cobham regardless in the beginning of July,” Miazga said. 

Whether they’re playing to impress their first-team club sides, or catch more eyes to earn a move elsewhere over the next two weeks can be debated, but the two hold a similar goal when it comes to the betterment of the USMNT.

With a young squad in place, and Miazga and Carter-Vickers expected to be the anchors in defense for quite some time, it’s now about establishing the core for the next four years.

“I can only control what I can control and that’s every time I get a call-up, every time I step on the pitch,” Miazga said. “I have to perform well and give it my best. Everything else will take care of itself, but of course you want to be a part of the future and the next generation of USMNT players and that’s a goal of mine.” 

Comments

  1. I wish Brooks could stay healthy and Palmer-Brown continue to develop. At the U-20 I thought Palmer Brown looked better than CCV. With those 4 and Yedlin at RB we have the makings of an awfully good back line. Zimmerman and Hedges also have looked good at times, so we have a lot of depth there going forward. Just need that elusive LB position filled with a promising yhoungster.

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    • The left back needs to be Jeremy Toljan! Left off the Germany Squad for this World Cup. Time to recruit him and make him the starter for the next two cycles.

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  2. It would be a great scenario if the USMNT could get a centerback pair that played on the same club team
    The world should be jealous of Germany having three out of their four backline playing on the same club team. Also, having maybe six to eight starters from the same club team.

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    • This might be the most important point of all. Hard to imagine that the recent dominance of Germany and Spain doesn’t have something to do with the number of reps these guys get together outside of the 40 or so days per year the average national team spends together. Unfortunately, it will be decades (at minimum, if ever….) before this is likely to be a luxury we can enjoy. Probably the next best thing is to get these guys playing with each other as much as possible in the youth setup (which I’m glad to see we are making progress with….)

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  3. Anchor is a circular over-statement — I want to see a player dominate before we make them a team fixture. Lichaj and Villafana also got a repeat call and I don’t want the team built around either of them.

    Also FWIW I don’t think this is the point in the cycle for continuity, particularly unearned. This should be a merry go round of possibles and the ones who look awesome you then build around.

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