USA : Upholding Big Aspirations

The United States senior men’s football team tied with Costa Rica on 25 points in the CONCACAF qualifiers but ended third and qualified automatically to Qatar on a goal differential advantage (+11 to +5). They are coming back into the showpiece after missing out on the 2018 edition in Russia. In all, before the 2022 qualification, they have participated in 10 editions of the World Cup but have not won any. Their best performance was in their first participation in 1930 where they were booted out in the semi-finals. The best result in the modern era is the 2002 World Cup, when the U.S. reached the quarterfinals. 
The team has since then been struggling in vain in search of a trophy. They are hoping that the 2022 edition will be the life-changing time. Now coached by Gregg Berhalter and boasting arguably their best-ever generation, headlined by Christian Pulisic and boasting players owned by Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Juventus and Manchester City, USA are targeting a place in the knockout phase and beyond. 
To have an honourable show in the competition, they have been having an elaborate preparation punctuated by several friendlies. They recently dropped two spots in the latest FIFA ranking following their disappointing pair of tune-up friendlies in Europe last month, losing 2-0 to Japan and drawing with Saudi Arabia 0-0.
The US Soccer Federation reported that the US men’s national team have since October 25, 2022 been holding fitness workouts in Frisco, T...