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McKennie continuing to thrive with USMNT in Gold Cup

Weston McKennie is continuing to prove himself on the biggest stage for the U.S. Men’s National Team. The 20-year-old midfielder registered his second Gold Cup goal on Wednesday in a 3-1 semifinal win over Jamaica, but also continued to put in a lot of work for the team.

While Christian Pulisic continues to grab a lot of the headlines, McKennie has contributed for the team this Gold Cup and has continued to develop into a top player for Gregg Berhalter’s side. He scored his third-career international goal for the USMNT on Wednesday, while putting in a solid two-way performance against a versatile Jamaica attack.

“Weston is an outstanding player and a real talent,” Berhalter said. “What we’re working on with him is the movement off the ball and positioning during the match. He is teaching us this raw ability, he had some great runs in the box, and things you can’t really teach. It’s been a pleasure working with him and he’s one of the guys that as a coach you can learn from as well.”

McKennie’s versatility has grown as a whole not only for the USMNT, but also with his club team Schalke. With the Bundesliga side, McKennie played in midfield, defense, and also as an extra forward at time due to his work rate and ability to cover a lot of ground.

His goal on Wednesday came due to following up his teammates during an offensive attack. McKennie made his way into the box and showed confidence and composure, making a touch before beating Andre Blake to break the deadlock after nine minutes. The team would roll off two more goals by Pulisic, to win by a two-goal margin and set up a July 7th finals date with rivals Mexico.

“It feels great, it’s the first final for a lot of players on the roster,” McKennie said. “I think we’re definitely excited and ready to go because there is no better feeling than playing a final against Mexico. To be able to represent your country doing it is even better. We’re going to have to look at the film and try to figure out how we can expose them.”

“It’s a considered a rivalry and it’s gone back for ages. We’re a little more pumped that we are playing them in a final than probably any other team. We’re looking forward to it and we’re ready for it.”

McKennie has played every game for the USMNT this tournament, except the 1-0 win over Panama back on Matchday 3 in Kansas City. His aggressiveness defensively paired with his offensive awareness has helped him pair well not only with Pulisic, but with No. 6 Michael Bradley. McKennie’s role has made him one of the rising stars in Concacaf, which isn’t going unnoticed by his veteran partner.

“I think the three of us compliment each other very well,” Bradley said. “Christian has the ability to make plays in the attacking third, move with the ball, and slip passes through. Weston’s ability to cover ground and be athletic and make plays forward but also come back in all those ways. We have good players across the board and guys that compliment each other well.”

McKennie and the USMNT take on Mexico in Chicago on Sunday, which will be the first Mexico-USA final since 2011. A win will also give the USMNT its seventh Gold Cup title, tying them with Mexico for the most all-time.

Comments

  1. “Do you drop a Weston McKennie because he doesn’t fit into the system? You may have to.” – Alexi Lallas, 2019

    Reply
    • That’s almost as dumb as Warshaw’s “what has Pulisic done comment.” Berhalter has already adjusted the formation to accommodate McKennie.

      Reply
  2. I’m telling you a midfield with Pulisic and Pomykal at the 10s McKennie at the 6 and Adams as the hybrid would be a lot of fun to watch.

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    • I’d much rather dump the hybrid BS and roll out with Adams at the 6, McKennie at the 8, and Pomykal/Holmes at the 10. Yes this would push Pulisic wide, but I still feel that is his best position. Go with a 4-2-3-1 along the following….

      —————————Striker———————–
      —-Pulisic————-Holmes————–Boyd—
      ————-McKennie————-Adams———–
      —Lima——–Brooks———Miazga——Yedlin

      Reply
      • I’m sure we see again if everyone is available, it’s kind of meshed into an inverted RW as Morris slid central and Cannon pushed up and wide creating GGG’s 3-2-4-1. I think your off on your desire for CP wide as playing as the 10 gives him so much more freedom to move and force decisions on who marks him and when. I think Pomykal could play the LW role and be able to switch in and out with CP. I know Weah has played more left side but I could seem in the Morris spot so he could be more central with the RB outside him. We may lose by two or three goals Sunday because the roster has some holes (because of injury and the U20 WC) but I think we are starting to see the ideas of the system payoff even if it’s not in its original formation. It actually looked more Crew like although in Columbus it was usually Higuain coming back for the ball not Zardes/Kamara/Kamara, with Arriola looking very Justin Meram like and Cannon being Harrison Afful.

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