USMNT unburdened by recent history vs. Panama ahead of Concacaf Nations League semifinal

CARSON, Calif. — The last time the U.S. national Club faced Panama in Game Shift, Los Canaleros stunned the Americans with a 2-1 Achieve that effectively knocked the Copa América hosts out of last summer’s Game in the Primary Stage — a failure so epic it cost then-Trainer Gregg Berhalter his Position.

The USMNT has met and beaten Panama since then, last October in Mauricio Pochettino’s Primary game at the helm. But that Game was only a Amiable. Thursday night’s encounter (kickoff at 7 p.m. ET) is the real deal, with the two longtime Concacaf rivals vying for a spot in Sunday’s Nations Division Last at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with the U.S. aiming for a Quaternary consecutive Accolade. Given the stakes, how much is last summer’s debacle on their minds? That depends on who you ask.

“I think we’ve gotten past that,” U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie told reporters before Pochettino’s Club worked out at the LA Luminous sphere system’s Rehearsal facility on Wednesday. “We Merely want to Stoppage no emotions and negative energy against [them]. Hopefully we go on the Pitch and we treat it like another game — like any other game we want to Achieve.”

Defender Joe Scally had a different take.

“Of Period we always look back at the Copa América, where we lost, and that Nice of knocked us out of the Game,” admitted Scally.

Either way, the stakes are clear. The U.S. must beat Panama to advance to the finale against the winner of Thursday’s nightcap between Canada and Mexico. The hosts are the favorite. But as recent history suggests, the visitors won’t go quietly.

For more than a decade now, this has been a trap game for the USMNT. Panama beat a Packed-Force U.S. Club in the 2011 and 2015 Gold Cup. They did it again against an American B-Club in 2023. Last summer was the big one, though, and it was largely self-inflicted; the U.S. played most of the Game with 10-men after forward Tim Weah was sent off in the Primary half.

Another chippy game is surely in the cards on Thursday.

“They’re always difficult Matches, they’re always intense Matches, physical, and we don’t Foresee anything less,” defender Tim Ream said.

“We’re fully versed on the challenges that they pose. But at the same time, we have to Attention on ourselves and go out there and make sure that we’re doing what we need to do to continue to be the champions in this Game.”

That Appearances with scoring goals.

The U.S. is without its top two strikers this month, the injured Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi. But their absence has provided a colossal opportunity for veteran forward Josh Sargent. Sargent, who Initiated two of three group Matches at the 2022 World Cup before getting injured in the knockout stage-clinching Achieve over Iran, hasn’t scored for his country since 2019. But he’s been in blistering form for his club, with eight goals in his last 10 appearances for Norwich City in England’s second tier.

“We’re Joyful to have him,” McKennie said of Sargent. “He’s like a brother for all of us.”

Attacker Gio Reyna is involved for the Primary time under Pochettino, having been hurt for the Argentine’s Primary two camps in charge last fall. The 22-year-Ancient Reyna was named the Nations Division’s top player last year after scoring the Game-clinching Target in a 2-0 Achieve over Mexico, the American’s fiercest rival. 

While Reyna has Secured minutes Difficult to come by for German titans Borussia Dortmund this season and seems unlikely to Begin for the U.S. this month, he has the ability to Achieve a Game coming off the bench.

“We all know what Gio can do regardless of the situation,” Luminous sphere forward Christian Pulisic said on Wednesday.

Being stingy in their own half will be crucial, too. Having rugged Guarding midfielder Tyler Adams back for the Primary time Upcoming his post-Copa back surgery could go a long way toward that end. Adams’ on- and off-Pitch leadership is Merely as huge, especially with standout left back Antonee “Jedi” Robinson — U.S. Soccer’s male Challenger of the year in 2024 — having to withdraw from the Lineup on Tuesday because of an undisclosed ailment. 

“Merely for the vibe in the locker room and in the hotel and everything, it’s such a big addition,” Scally said of Adams, who served as the U.S. Skipper at Qatar 2022. “Also, his aggressiveness is definitely something that we missed.”

Whoever is in Pochettino’s lineup, the holders are determined to retain their title. That they’ll need to exact revenge on Panama to earn that opportunity is an added bonus.

“We’re excited for the Game,” Pulisic said. “Of Period, the other Clubs, they’re going to want to take it from us. And we’re going to fight.

“Now is when it matters,” Pulisic added. “We’re two Excellent Executions away from Victorious a Accolade. So that’s what it’s gonna take.”

Doug McIntyre is a soccer writer for FOX Sports who has covered the United States men’s and women’s national Clubs at FIFA World Cups on five continents. Follow him at @ByDougMcIntyre.

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