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US coach Gregg Berhalter praised forward Jozy Altidore’s play, saying the Toronto FC forward had an “excellent” camp in January with USMNT.
The United States is currently training in Orlando, Florida, after initial training in nearby Bradenton at the IMG Academy. The United States will face Trinidad and Tobago this Sunday, with Altidore making the list of 25 players.
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“For Jozy, it’s been a great camp. He’s competing really well. He pushed hard,” the US coach told reporters via a Zoom call. “We had to go back a bit last week, but we’re rebuilding it this week. You see he’s got the experience, he’s got the maturity.”
Altidore’s playing time at club level has been limited due to various injuries over the past three seasons, appearing in 48 of 91 possible league appearances. Earlier this month, Berhalter said that “the consistency of [Altidore’s fitness] is going to be important, “in terms of what the forward can bring to the United States in 2021. On Monday, Berhalter added that he appreciates the veteran presence that Altidore also provides.
“I think it’s good to have veterans around because they know they can talk to young players,” Berhalter said. “But they also know what the national team is and they know the history of the national team and that’s important. So Jozy was good, it was great to have him at camp.”
But Berhalter has also said he wants motivated players, and that applies to all players, including Altidore.
“We want players who try to be starters. We don’t want players who are comfortable playing a substitute role,” said Berhalter. “We want them to push to be starters but the competition is good for the team.”
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One player who will not be available for selection against T&T is winger Jordan Morris, who has left the camp to complete his loan transfer to England league side Swansea City. Berhalter said he was in favor of the move, saying Morris “was going to be in good hands”.
“This is what Jordan aspired to,” Berhalter said of the loan. “And for Jordan, now is the opportunity to help his team become potentially promoted and that’s a great achievement in football. Automatic promotion is one thing, and the [promotion] The elimination game is the most expensive game in the world, right? So it will be a big challenge for Jordan, [and a] big challenge for the Swansea club, to see if they can enter the Premier League this year. “
A certainty coming out of Sunday’s game will be that a goalkeeper will make his international debut. The three keepers of the American roster – Matt Turner of the New England Revolution, San Jose earthquake keeper JT Marcinkowski and Matt Freese of the Philadelphia Union – have yet to appear for the United States. , but based on Berhalter’s comments, Turner, who was also called up for the January 2020 camp, appears to have the inside track to start against the Soca Warriors.
“Matt has definitely improved. I think it’s night and day compared to him [in the] last January’s camp, “Berhalter said.” He had, I think, the reflexes last January, but now his whole game has improved and you can see that he has gained confidence and the whole season behind him has really improved him. He looks sharp.
“In games he’s made some big saves and that’s really a mark of what we know Matt is capable of, is the great stopping ability. And then he has to keep working with his feet. , continue to improve the build-up of the goalkeeper, but he’s doing a great job. We’re really happy with him. “
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