USMNT Vs Canada: Upset alert for Gregg Berhalter and co.

The United States have usually had the upper hand on Canada in recent years, but that could all change on Wednesday night as the USMNT travel up north.

After thumping Cuba 7-0 last Friday, fans of the United States Men’s National Team finally had something to celebrate. Coming against admittedly inferior opposition, it was still great to see the Yanks scoring goals for fun. Things had been tough since Gregg Berhalter became head coach, but spirits were up for the first time in a long time.

However, that could all go out the window just a few days later. The U.S. take on Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League on Tuesday night. A loss, which is not implausible at all, would be devastating.

It will be the first time the two sides have faced off in a competitive fixture since 2011, when goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey led the USMNT to victory in Detroit. That was a long time ago, however, and the two nations have been on different paths ever since, which could set the stage for a truly thrilling encounter on Tuesday.

Canada has quietly been a nation on the rise. After underperforming throughout the past decade, they now have a young side ready to make their mark on the region. The star of the show is clearly 18-year-old Alphonso Davies, who MLS fans will know quite well. Rising through the ranks with the Vancouver Whitecaps in record time, Davies started tearing up the league and quickly became an All-Star as a result. He eventually made the big money move everyone was expecting, joining Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich in January. Davies has made the most of his chances with the Bavarian club and is certainly seen as a star of the future.

Canada is far from a one-man team, however. Most will instantly recognize Jonathan Osorio as a threat. The central midfielder has been a key player for Toronto FC, especially in their title-winning team a few years ago. Mark-Anthony Kaye has been a breakout star for LAFC and was a big reason why they were able to win the Supporters’ Shield with relative ease this past season. Will Johnson and Samuel Piette bring experience to the midfield, while Richie Laryea is someone to watch out for at the back.

They have also got plenty of talent from abroad as well. Junior Hoilett has been a mainstay in England for years now, while Scott Arfield is a key player for Scottish giants Rangers. Goalkeeper Milan Borjan has Champions League experience with Red Star Belgrade and teenager Jonathan Davis has been lighting up the Belgian league this season.

Canada had a mixed Gold Cup campaign this past summer, getting out of the group stage before bottling a 2-0 lead in the quarterfinals vs. Haiti, ultimately losing 3-2 on the night. That was the first taste of international soccer for a number of players on the roster, however, and the Canadians are now ready to learn and grow from that experience as they set their eyes on the future.

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The United States, meanwhile, have been on a very public decline.

After famously failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the program spent a year in limbo without an actual head coach. They eventually hired Columbus Crew manager Gregg Berhalter, which was not a decision that pleased most fans. Average at best, some speculated that he mainly got the job because he was the brother of Jay Berhalter, who is a high ranking official in the U.S. soccer hierarchy of power.

Fans were even more annoyed after Berhalter made a poor start to life as national team coach. The USMNT lost two straight friendlies at home in preparation for the upcoming Gold Cup tournament and barely made it to the final after scraping past minnows Curacao 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

They eventually lost to Mexico in the final before being blown out by their bitter rivals only two months later, falling 3-0 in a dispiriting loss. A large chunk of the American fanbase feels it might already be time to pull the plug on Berhalter, but he’s got the faith of the federation, which is all that matters at the moment.

A big problem with Berhalter is his tendency to play his favorites, which will be clear to see versus Canada with Gyasi Zardes set to start up-front. The pair had some success back in Columbus and Berhalter has turned to the striker time and time again with the USMNT ever since.

CHICAGO, IL – JULY 07: USA head coach Gregg Berhalter looks on during the CONCACAF Gold Cup final match between the United States and Mexico on July 07, 2019, at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo By Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Zardes isn’t the worst player on the planet and has even become a consistent goalscorer in MLS, but he’s simply not good enough at the international level. With 19-year-old Josh Sargent scoring goals in the Bundesliga, it is even more ludicrous to see Zardes leading the line for the U.S. instead.

With that in mind, Canada will believe this is the perfect time to pull off a major victory over their southern neighbors. They’ll benefit from having home-field advantage on the night, as the game will take place at BMO Field, home of Toronto FC — as good as Canada are at home, the U.S. is even worse on the road, as their last away win came over three years ago in a friendly versus Cuba. This young American team hasn’t been tested in tough environments and could be in for a rude awakening when they make the trip up north.

Next. USMNT Vs Cuba: 3 things we learned. dark

Canada are riding a wave of momentum that the USMNT are lacking at present. Tuesday night, then, will be an excellent test for both sides and could go a long way in shifting the balance of power in CONCACAF for years to come. The U.S. need to be on upset alert, because if they are not, disaster could easily strike.

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