Folarin Balogun earned high marks for his World Cup performance, while Christian Pulisic scored lower. The Americans crashed out in disappointing fashion, but there were positives from the tournament on the whole. We look at how the roster performed, with stats from fotmob.com, Opta and Fifa; players listed in order of minutes played.
Weston McKennie: A Standout Performer
Weston McKennie (Juventus) started all five games, logging 444 minutes. He led the team in chances created with eight, though Malik Tillman, Sebastian Berhalter, and Brenden Aaronson created more per 90 minutes. McKennie covered an exhausting 57,573 meters in five games. Of the "Golden Generation" players, he and Tyler Adams were the most golden. Grade: A-.
Alex Freeman: Bright Future Ahead
Alex Freeman (Villarreal) made four starts and one substitute appearance, totaling 373 minutes, one goal, and one assist. Not in the picture a couple of years ago, US fans are thrilled that the 21-year-old now has World Cup experience. He led the team with 14 tackles (3.4 per game) and led first-choice players in duels won on the ground (67.6%) and in the air (73.7%). Solid debut, very bright future. Grade: A-.
Matt Freese: Inexperience Shows
Matt Freese (New York City FC) started four games, playing 360 minutes, making eight saves and allowing five goals. One of few players never to have played in Europe, his inexperience proved costly against Belgium when he came out of his box and hesitated to clear, allowing the Red Devils to dispossess him and shoot into the nearly open goal. He made some decent saves and had a clean sheet against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Grade: C.
Chris Richards: Defensive Anchor
Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) started four games, playing 360 minutes. The best bit of luck for the USA was learning Richards would be fit. He had a 100% completion rate on 84 passes against Paraguay. He led the team in defensive contributions (41 total, 10.3 per 90), mostly clearances (28). His Cup ended on a low note, embarrassed by Romelu Lukaku, but by any objective measure, he was one of the USA's top players. Grade: B+.
Tim Ream: Solid Veteran Presence
Tim Ream (Charlotte FC) started four games, playing 360 minutes. The 38-year-old captain completed almost as many passes (70.5 per 90) as Richards with a 91.6% completion rate. He was forced into too many foot races and saw Belgium's third goal sail past him as he covered for his stranded goalkeeper, but in his first three games, he was solid. Grade: B.
Malik Tillman: Free-Kick Specialist
Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen) made four starts and one substitute appearance, totaling 356 minutes, two goals, and one assist. He scored two free-kick goals, one against Bosnia and Herzegovina and another that briefly drew the USA level with Belgium. He created seven chances and showed stealthy ball-winning ability, tying with Robinson for possessions won (23). Grade: A-.
Antonee Robinson: Attacking Threat
Antonee Robinson (Fulham) started four games, playing 349 minutes. The one they call "Jedi" had the Force on his side as an attacking force. US fans may wonder if things would have been different if he and Pulisic had maintained their menacing play on the left flank against Paraguay. He tied for second in defensive contributions per 90 (9.0) and tied for first in possessions won (23). Grade: B.
Tyler Adams: Best Two-Way Player
Tyler Adams (Bournemouth) started four games, playing 342 minutes. Stats back up the argument that Adams is the best two-way player on the team. He completed 55.3 passes per 90 at an 89.4% completion rate, had a team-high 30 forced turnovers, and maintained his poise in fierce midfield battles. The Turkey game showed how much he's missed when not in the lineup. Grade: A-.
Folarin Balogun: Grace Under Pressure
Folarin Balogun (Monaco) started four games, playing 314 minutes, scoring three goals. He showed extraordinary grace after receiving a harsh red card and being bailed out in murky circumstances. On the field, he was spectacular against Paraguay and remained dangerous in every other appearance. He was second on the team in forced turnovers (29) behind Adams. Grade: A.
Sergiño Dest: Hot and Cold
Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven) made four starts and one substitute appearance, totaling 298 minutes. The fiery player listed as a defender but mostly freed of defensive duties in Mauricio Pochettino's lineup ran hot and cold. Few left-backs will see him across the field and think they're in for an easy night, but his decision-making isn't always the best. Grade: B.
Christian Pulisic: Microcosm of His Career
Christian Pulisic (Milan) made three starts and one substitute appearance, playing 224 minutes with one assist. This World Cup was a microcosm of Pulisic's career: a stretch of world-class play (first half v Paraguay), a nagging injury, a return with more flashes of brilliance, then an unexplained slump and a new injury. He completed 87.3% of his passes but created only three chances. Grade: B.
Ricardo Pepi: Attacking Intent
Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven) made two starts and three substitute appearances, totaling 202 minutes. Not a factor in his two starts, but he showed enough attacking intent in substitute appearances to make teams wary of a counterattacking threat. Brought on at half-time against Belgium but was starved of service. Grade: B-.
Sebastian Berhalter: Reputation Enhanced
Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps) made one start and four substitute appearances, totaling 185 minutes, one goal, and one assist. Few US players enhanced their reputation as much as the son of former US manager Gregg Berhalter. He was third in completed passes per 90 (56.4) and led the team in chances created per 90 (3.4). One of few MLS players to get significant time, he should have suitors lined up. Grade: B+.
Gio Reyna: Overcoming Drama
Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach) made one start and four substitute appearances, totaling 131 minutes, one goal. Getting past the drama of 2022 is a massive accomplishment. His goal against Paraguay was a shining moment of explosiveness and skill. He didn't have much impact in his lone start, but the fact that he contributed without unpleasantness reassures US fans. Grade: B.
Auston Trusty: Acquitted Well
Auston Trusty (Celtic) made one start and one substitute appearance, totaling 100 minutes, one goal. Pochettino opted for four new defenders against Turkey, and Trusty was the only one who acquitted himself well. If not for a late injury when the USA ran out of subs, he may have prevented Turkey's game-winning goal. Grade: B.
Miles Robinson: Erratic but Veteran
Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) started one game, playing 90 minutes. A bit erratic against Turkey, but he had a few good moments and 11 clearances. He can finally call himself a World Cup veteran after an achilles injury ruined his chances in 2022. Grade: C.
Mark McKenzie: Well-Deserved Bow
Mark McKenzie (Toulouse) started one game, playing 90 minutes. The veteran center-back got a well-deserved bow on the sport's biggest stage after years of service. Struggled a bit, but the experience will do him good as he contends for Ream's eventual replacement. Grade: C.
Matt Turner: Setbacks Continue
Matt Turner (New England Revolution) started one game, playing 90 minutes. The 2022 starter has had career setbacks in the past four years. His only playing time was in the dead-rubber match against Turkey. He didn't register a save and conceded three goals, though the second-string defense and confusion with an injured player didn't help. Grade: C.
Joe Scally: Solid Brief Run
Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach) made one start and one substitute appearance, totaling 87 minutes. Hasn't managed to duplicate his club success with the national team, but he had a solid brief run as a sub against Australia. The Turkey game didn't make any defenders look good. Grade: B.
Brenden Aaronson: Incomplete Grade
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds) started one game, playing 77 minutes. Completed 95% of his passes in his lone game but was unable to take advantage of opportunities. Was an unused sub in situations that seemed suitable for him. Grade: B or incomplete.
Tim Weah: Touch Deserted Him
Tim Weah (Marseille) made one start and one substitute appearance, totaling 76 minutes. After the 2022 World Cup, Weah seemed a sure bet to be a key player for years. For whatever reason, it hasn't happened. The Turkey game was an audition to be an early substitute in the knockout rounds, but his touch deserted him. Still young enough to put it back together. Grade: C+.
Not rated: Alex Zendejas (13 minutes), Haji Wright (2 minutes), Max Arfsten (1 minute), Chris Brady (did not play), Cristian Roldan (injured). US fans may wonder if the mercurial Wright could have made a difference if Pochettino hadn't waited so long to introduce him.
Manager and Federation Grades
Mauricio Pochettino: Fans chanted his name after victories. He learned the words to Country Roads. His tactics were spot-on in the three wins, but he was outfoxed by Belgium manager Rudi Garcia and failed to adjust a lineup that exposed center-backs Ream and Richards. His decision to delay substitutions was nearly costly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he was slow to reach for the bench against Belgium, never summoning Weah and leaving Wright to a pointless cameo. Grade: B+.
Federation: Two years ago, US Soccer voted to start paying its president. Cindy Cone deserves every penny. She resolved labor strife with the men's and women's national teams. The oft-fractious organization re-elected her without opposition. However, pricing out loyal fans and the Balogun controversy squandered goodwill. The irony that Donald Trump worked to eliminate the citizenship pathway that made Balogun eligible is the tip of the immigration iceberg. The sport needs a melting pot, not a silver spoon. Grade: C-.
Fans: Having celebrities at games is neat, but the team didn't need all that. The American Outlaws supporters group website says: "We realize this prices a lot of members out of this World Cup and prevents them from the option of the discounted Supporters tickets, which is not what we were hoping for." A wine-and-cheese crowd is a poor substitute for diehard fans. Grade: D for newbies, A++ for diehards who made it.
