ARLINGTON, Texas — In its first of two pre-tests at the 2024 Copa América, the U.S. men’s national team wasted no time. It knew that with every passing scoreless minute, fans would grow restless; it knew that with every toothless possession, Bolivian confidence would grow. So, in the third minute of the USMNT’s Copa América opener here at AT&T Stadium, Christian Pulisic, Captain America, took control.
He curled a beauty into the top corner, and set an emphatic tone.
He preempted and blasted away any and all American concern.
Pulisic’s early goal kickstarted the USMNT to a 2-0 win over Bolivia on Sunday — and to what it hopes will be a prosperous tournament.
In many ways, the USMNT had to beat Bolivia, and simply did what it was told. The performance was more satisfactory than scintillating, more businesslike than thrilling or convincing. At times, it was boring, even dull.
But it was sufficient. After first-half momentum seemed to have fizzled, Folarin Balogun doubled the lead, and put Bolivia to bed.
After halftime, "U-S-A" chants began to chorus around JerryWorld, the 80,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys. The wave rolled counter-clockwise, enlivening an atmosphere that many feared would be stale.
The 400 level was indeed mostly empty, but 47,873 fans filled the lower bowls of the colossal building. They nearly erupted when Ricardo Pepi latched onto a slew of second-half chances; somehow, none of his shots — some from close range, some struck well — found the back of the net.
Although they didn't get a second-half goal, though, most of the fans seemed to appreciate the show.
They will also appreciate that this was something of an appetizer; and that the tests will only get tougher from here. Bolivia, arguably, is the worst team at this Copa América. Panama, a feisty CONCACAF foe, is next on Thursday in Atlanta.
The U.S. entered this tournament at a potential inflection point of the Berhalter era. Come mid-July, it could have signature wins and proof of concept; or it could have proof that pre-2022 progress has stagnated, and that the coach has to go.
Sunday, through that lens, was all risk and no reward. It was peril to be avoided rather than an opportunity to ascend. A win was the expectation, the demand. Anything less would've been a massive disappointment.
So, it was an expectation met. It was three points that the U.S. will take to Atlanta. And perhaps most importantly, as Berhalter said postgame, “it was never in doubt."
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Henry Bushnell
Final USMNT thoughts
Well, that was... fine. Passable. Uninspiring at times, somewhat dynamic at others, sufficient in the end.
It was the corollary of the U.S.-Jamaica game in March. On that night, and on many others, the U.S. has struggled to break down low blocks. On this night, Pulisic made that conversation moot less than three minutes in, and the U.S. cruised without really being challenged. Might the game have looked different if Pulisic hadn't curled a beauty into the top corner? Who knows.
The positive takeaways:
Pulisic is the guy. He's in form. He loves the responsibility that the captain's armband gives him. He is ready to drive this team as far as he can.
Folarin Balogun got his first goal in six U.S. games. Could it boost his confidence, which seemed to be in the basement for the game's first 40 minutes? We'll see.
Tyler Adams started and came away unscathed.
The negatives?
Ricardo Pepi didn't get his confidence-boosting goal, despite a flurry of chances.
The U.S. was somewhat sloppy and ragged in possession. A better team would've taken advantage.
All in all, though, this is a game that we will forget. The next two, three or more will define the USMNT's Copa América.
After a mostly quiet second half, the U.S. seems comfortable riding the 2-0 scoreline to the final whistle. But not Ricardo Pepi, who took another shot from 5 yards out and was denied by Bolivia's Guillermo Viscarra. Then denied again after the deflection!
Ream appears to be struggling with something, though it's unclear what.
Matt Turner just tossed the ball out of bounds so that he Ream could figure it out. Ream dropped into a crouch. Athletic trainers never came to check on him, so it looks like he'll continue. But we'll see if that concern lingers, and we'll see if Ream lasts 90 minutes.
Adams is surely on some sort of minutes limit. Whether the pre-determined limit was 45, or whether it was more but Berhalter decided the game was in control, we don't (yet) know.
Yahoo Sports Staff
46' Substitution
Yunus Musah replaces Tyler Adams for the U.S. On the Bolivian side, Miguel Terceros comes in for Cesar Menacho.
Yahoo Sports Staff
HALFTIME: USA 2-0 Bolivia
The USMNT heads into the half with a comfortable 2-0 lead after goals from Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun.
"Balo" has been struggling for club and country. He had a pretty rough first 43 minutes tonight. His confidence seemed to be on the basement floor.
Perhaps the goal will ignite him. If so, it would be a massive development for the USMNT at this Copa América.
Henry Bushnell
2-0! Balogun!
Just as it seemed the first half was petering out, and familiar problems were plaguing the U.S. in the final third ... Folarin Balogun peels off the back shoulder of his Bolivian defender, takes a pass from Christian Pulisic, shifts the ball onto his left foot, and finishes across Bolivian keeper Guillermo Viscarra.
That's 2-0 and, probably, game over. (Bolivia has offered nothing going forward.)
Folarin Balogun gives the USMNT a 2-0 lead thanks to a Christian Pulisic assist.
Henry Bushnell
If not for the early Pulisic goal ...
... the USMNT fan base would be on edge right now. Over the past 30 minutes, it's been a B-minus performance, at best. And all the momentum of the opening 10 minutes has fizzled. Crowd has quieted. Possession has been neither progressive nor clean.
Still 1-0. And if it stays that way until halftime, honestly, from an American perspective, that'd be a bit disappointing.
Henry Bushnell
Another Bolivian yellow card ...
And this one was all about a clever U.S. buildup.
The American defenders swung the ball right to left, to Antonee Robinson. He found a line-skipping passing lane into Folarin Balogun's feet. Balogun laid the ball off to Gio Reyna, who skipped past Bolivia's Luis Haquin. Haquin's only option was to take Reyna down.
Yahoo Sports Staff
31' Yellow card
Reyna causes another booking, this time against Bolivia's Luis Haquin
Yahoo Sports Staff
27' Yellow card
Bolivia's Leonel Justiniano was just booked for a rough tackle on USMNT's Gio Reyna.
This is not at all the game many expected it to be — Bolivia bunkering, U.S. cautiously possessing, slow pace.
Instead, the U.S. has been relatively eager to play forward. Its possession game has been a bit ragged. But chances are coming freely, because the American players are simply better and making plays. Bolivia is trying (but mostly failing) to stand up to the U.S.
Of course, we'll never know how much the early goal influenced this rhythm. But my guess is not much.
The USMNT has been on the front foot since the very first minute.
Tim Weah had a chance to make it 2-0, and forced a good save from Bolivian keeper Guillermo Viscarra.
The only worry, now, is that the U.S. might take its foot off the proverbial gas. A couple players have gotten caught on the ball over the past few minutes. Bolivia, though, didn't have the quality to take advantage in transition.
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 23, 2024
Henry Bushnell
Christian Pulisic captains the U.S. today
Even with Tyler Adams back in the lineup, Pulisic will wear the armband.
When he first wore it over five years ago, he was an introvert somewhat ill-prepared for the role. But he has absolutely grown into it, and takes pride in the responsibility. Teammates listen to him. They follow him. He is, in a way, finally "Captain America."
AT&T Stadium will not be anywhere close to full, especially at the 400 level. But fears that it would be alarmingly empty seem to be unfounded.
And this will be a pro-U.S. crowd, for three main reasons:
1. There are far fewer Bolivian Americans than, say, Colombian Americans or Peruvian Americans — less than 200,000, per U.S. government data.
2. Soccer, generally, is not quite as central to Bolivian national identity as it is in, say, Argentina or Uruguay.
3. Related to No. 2, the men's national team hasn't been all that good. Not many fans would travel all the way here from Bolivia for the Copa América. And not many have come from within the U.S., especially given the exorbitant ticket prices.
All of that said ... never doubt the ability of Latino soccer fans to be loud.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Some light reading ahead of kickoff
From Yahoo Sports senior writer Henry's Bushnell's USMNT preview:
The U.S. men’s national team will get its first formidable, official test since the 2022 World Cup at the 2024 Copa América, a stateside soccer extravaganza that begins Thursday and, as U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said, “feels big.”
“It's not quite the World Cup,” Adams added earlier this month. “But I think it's the next best thing.”
It’s a rare opportunity for the USMNT to confront A-list opponents in meaningful matches, and measure progress ahead of the 2026 World Cup (also stateside).
It’s big enough, therefore, for a grand, all-encompassing, World Cup-style preview — 20 questions and answers about the USMNT as it prepares for this pan-American Copa. [Read the full preview here.]
Henry Bushnell
Not a 'must-win,' but... the USMNT better win
This is an opener. No opener can make or break any team in a three-game group stage. That being said, though ...
Bolivia is bad. Bad enough that it's necessary to explain why they're bad. Anything less than a win for the U.S. today would be a massive letdown. Even a draw would put extreme pressure on the players and head coach Gregg Berhalter entering their second match against Panama on Thursday in Atlanta.
(They'd still be comfortably favored to advance from the group, but the vibes would be, uh, quite bad.)
The only question mark coming into today was whether Tyler Adams was fit enough to start. He is. The question now becomes whether Adams can go 60, 75 or even 90 minutes.
Here's the official team sheet from CONMEBOL, the tournament organizers:
(via CONMEBOL)
Yahoo Sports Staff
Hello and welcome to Yahoo Sports and our live coverage of the USMNT's Copa América opener vs. Bolivia.
The USMNT kicks off their #CopaAmerica journey tonight 👀
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