NEWCASTLE, England (AP) – Tyler Adams had just helped Bournemouth extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 13 on a typical British afternoon that was as wet as the sun was shining at St James’ Park.
The 27-year-old midfielder came on midway through the second half of the 2-1 win over Newcastle, his second appearance following an injury as his four seasons in the Premier League come to an end. Next up for Adams will be his second World Cup, and while questions remain about his readiness, co-hosts the United States will be in the brightest spotlight.
Group D is America Includes Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye. The hard truth is that the Americans have lost eight straight against European opponents, including losses to Belgium and Portugal in March friendlies that Adams missed.
“It might be a bit of a wake-up call, but we’ll get there eventually,” he said.
Adams will captain the United States in the 2022 World Cup and is well aware that the United States is the underdog. The U.S. is ranked 16th, 40-1 and not far from winning the World Cup.
Adams said the goal is to “go as far as any team has ever gone.” The United States reached the semifinals of the first World Cup in 1930 and the quarterfinals in 2002.
“That’s obviously what everyone remembers,” he said. “Hopefully we can match that and continue to improve, but obviously we need to continue to find ways to survive against the big teams.”
Select US directory
Manager Mauricio Pochettino will announce the World Cup squad on May 26th, and the United States will play pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal and Germany before playing the first round against Paraguay on June 12th.
Adams has played 52 international games and played the full 2022 World Cup, but has struggled to maintain his fitness since then.
he I tore my right hamstring. Training with Leeds in March 2023; Re-injured foot on Bournemouth debut In September of the same year, a second surgery was required. He returned in March 2024, but back spasms slowed him down and he made just three league appearances in his first season with the Cherries.
Will undergo back surgery after 2024 Copa America The debut of the 2024-25 season has been postponed until late October. His season was interrupted by his layoff. Collision with teammate Adam Smith in November Then, on December 15, he tore his left anterior cruciate ligament against Manchester United.
He missed 12 of 15 league games, playing 70 minutes in the 2-1 win over Arsenal on April 11 and 65 minutes last weekend.
“Nobody can say for sure that they’re going to go to the World Cup,” Adams said. “What Mauricio has said since day one is that everyone needs to continue to play well at their club in order to have the opportunity to play for the national team.”
Preparations for 2022 have been very different from previous years. That’s because the U.S. team had to overcome 14 grueling World Cup qualifiers.
“Anyone who knows what the qualifying process was like in ’22 knows how excruciating it was, and at the end, the reward was to play in the World Cup,” Adams said. “I feel like we’ve known for years that we were going to be in this World Cup and I don’t want to say it’s cost us, but it feels strange to have friendly after friendly.”
familiar group
Adams, Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah form the emotional core of a squad that has been together for more than a decade, dating back to their youth national teams.
“Tim has been playing with Tyler since he was 11 years old,” McKennie said. “A group of guys you can trust to get along. They’ve made sacrifices for each other and worked for each other.”
For Adams, performing as a group will be key to a successful tournament.
“I think it’s a unifying force,” he said. “You can’t step away from tactics and structure and the way we want to play and think, oh, let’s go for a great World Cup individually, because that’s not going to work. So I think it’s the overall structure of the day, but individual performances are a big part of it.”
Pochettino will succeed Greg Berhalter in October 2024. And it set the tone not only for tactics but also for relationships.
“During camp, it’s less about football and more about how he helps you grow as a person,” Adams said. “Because he knows that if you’re approachable, personable and a good person in and around camp, you’re going to perform well.”
Adams said he believes Pochettino’s three-man central defender formation has benefited the team.
“In the beginning, I might have easily given up on the chance. It didn’t matter who the opponent was,” he said. “On the other hand, we all seemed comfortable playing with a back three now. A lot of the players in our team have played with a back three at the club, so it felt almost seamless.”
Adams, a native of Wappinger Falls, New York, less than 100 Niles north of New York City, has not played for the United States since September. He missed a friendly in October as he stayed at home to prepare for the birth of his son Miles with his sister Quinn, but missed November and March due to injury.
As his health improves, he understands the importance of getting the United States any attention it can at this year’s World Cup.
“For the first time in a while, I feel like I’ve kicked a big one down,” he said. “I think we have to try to find that in our own character, and I think we will.”
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