Slovenia 1-0 United States (Jan 20, 2024) Game Analysis

The U.S. males’s nationwide group suffered a defeat in its opening match of 2024, as an inexperienced lineup was overwhelmed 1-0 by Slovenia in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday.

Eleven Americans made their first nationwide group appearances, probably the most in a match in 36 years, and a mistake by a type of debutants led to Slovenia’s aim.

Twenty-four gamers made debuts, together with 13 for Slovenia. One of these, Nejc Gradisar, scored within the twenty sixth minute after a giveaway by 22-year-old winger Bernard Kamungo. The Americans are winless of their final six video games in opposition to European nations relationship to 2021, together with 4 straight losses.

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“It wasn’t always perfect, but the will was there, the desire was there, the competitiveness was there, and we kept going to the last whistle trying to get the equalizer,” Berhalter instructed media. “And I really liked that, how they kept their heads up and kept going.

“Overall, when I’m trying on the stats, it is a efficiency that I believe was adequate to get one thing out of the sport.”

Seven American starters debuted, tying the team’s most since modern records began in 1990. The 11 debuts were one shy of the U.S. high set Aug. 3, 1973, against Poland, and matched Jan. 10, 1988, at Guatemala.

Slovenia scored after Danijel Sturm stripped the ball from Kamungo just short of the center line, dribbled and passed to the 21-year-old Gradisar, who sprinted ahead of defender Sean Zawadzki. With the outside of his right foot, Gradisar slotted the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

All Americans were from Major League Soccer for a match not on a FIFA international date. Europe-based players return when the U.S. faces Jamaica on March 21 in a Concacaf Nations League semifinal.

Following a November defeat at Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. has lost consecutive games under coach Gregg Berhalter for the first time since a pair of matches against Mexico in 2019. The 12th-ranked U.S. has lost four straight games against European opponents and is winless against Europe since beating Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2021.

Slovenia goalkeeper Igor Vekic, also making his debut, used his right foot to block Kamungo’s open shot from near the penalty spot in the 30th minute. Second-half sub John Tolkin put a pair of good chances wide in the last 15 minutes.

The seven debuting American starters matched the total in last January’s loss to Serbia. Schulte, Zawadzki and Kamungo were joined by midfielders Josh Atencio and Timothy Tillman, winger Diego Luna and forward Brian White.

Jack McGlynn, Duncan McGuire and Esmir Bajraktarevic entered in the 61st minute and Aziel Jackson in the 89th. Bajraktarevic, an 18-year-old winger, showed a spark with his ability to take on opponents.

“It’s very tough proper now to search out one v. one gamers,” Berhalter said. “It’s good if you see that sort of high quality.”

Seventy-one players have debuted in Berhalter’s 67 games, the second-highest total under a U.S. coach behind 89 debuts in 148 games with Bruce Arena.

Eleven of the U.S. players are eligible for this year’s Olympics. The men’s soccer tournament is restricted to players under 23 with three wild cards over the limit allowed for each nation.

“I believe it is a nice alternative to study and if you consider 11 guys acquired their debut tonight, 5 of the blokes who began are Olympic-age eligible,” Berhalter said. “So that is going to be an amazing studying expertise this group, and actually pleased with the chance to do that camp and suppose we positively acquired one thing out of it trying ahead.”

Tillman became part of the 10th set of brothers to play for the U.S.; Malik Tillman debuted in 2022 and has made eight appearances.

Right back Shaq Moore made his first appearance since the 2022 World Cup against Iran and central defender Miles Robinson captained the U.S. for the first time.

After March’s Nations League finals, the U.S. will play host to the Copa America and the best teams from South America this summer.

“Looking ahead, it is competitors time,” Berhalter said. “We have trophies on the road this summer time with Copa America and this spring with Nations League, and we’re trying ahead to getting your complete group collectively and attempting to win our third consecutive Nations League after which have an amazing exhibiting in Cop America.

“So it’s an exciting six months of soccer coming up for the USMNT.”

Eight starters debuted for 54th-ranked Slovenia, which performs Denmark, Serbia and England within the group stage of the European Championship in June.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.