Any big international event always has injuries in the lead-up. There always appear to be players who are left out of such competitions, whether it’s a confederation championship or the World Cup.
There are also significant cascading impacts. It prevents fans from witnessing an emerging star or favorite player. It is particularly terrible to have one of these moments stolen away at the last second because players spend their entire careers preparing for it. The effect is also felt by the team as management make every effort to make up for it by adjusting people and tactics as needed.
Such setbacks are not beyond the reach of the U.S. men’s national team. Two of the players that were injured and unable to compete in the 2022 World Cup were defenders Chris Richards and Miles Robinson. Tim Ream and Cameron Carter-Vickers, among others, filled in admirably on that occasion. However, right-back Sergiño Dest’s ACL tear has dealt an even bigger blow to the USMNT squad as they get ready for this summer’s Copa América.
Dest is stronger when attacking the ball than when defending it. The Amsterdam native’s actions after arriving at his destination are just as important as his capacity to go forward.
Yes, he can make accurate crosses from the flank, but he can also cut inside and score, as he demonstrated when he scored against Costa Rica in the domestic 2022 World Cup qualifying match. Opponents have to respect his dynamism when dribbling, which gives the American assault a sense of unpredictability.
Berhalter will have a challenge to solve because of his absence. Does he just substitute another right-back for him? Does he attempt to move a midfielder or center-back to the outside? Or does he actually use wing-backs and think creatively to play with three at the back? During a recent press conference call, Berhalter stated that he will examine every potential resolution in the upcoming weeks.
