At the end of a summer filled with disappointment for fans of the U.S. men's national team, the success of the men's Olympic team here has been a welcome change. At first, the idea that the U.S. had qualified a men's team was something to celebrate (the Americans last competed in an Olympics in 2008), but now the goal is bigger.
With the U.S. in the City of Lights for a quarterfinal match on Friday against Morocco, here are some questions (and answers!) to get you up to speed on how the U.S. is faring in this under-23 tournament, as well as what it faces at the Parc des Princes.
1. What has been the biggest lesson from the US group stage?
Men's Olympic tournaments are always a bit tricky to guess, as the rosters (which can include three over-age players per team) aren't as well-defined as those for each country's senior team. That said, U.S. coach Marko Mitrovic was clear from the start that he expected the Americans to be able to play against anyone, and so far they have.
Tactically, they have shown different approaches depending on the situation and have generally been able to deliver what they promised. In the tournament opener against France, they looked composed and collected, managing to draw the hosts level in front of a packed crowd for an hour before finally faltering at the last moment. (Afterwards, French coach Thierry Henry specifically praised Mitrovic for putting together a solid game plan.)
In the last two games, Mitrovic has opened up the formation much more and the players have responded, creating a number of quality chances and scoring seven goals to seal a place in the knockout stages for the first time since 2000. That ability to adapt to the moment speaks to the quality of the players and the astuteness of their coach.
2. Which players deserve a proper call-up to the senior national team based on their performances?
The player who has always stood out for the U.S. team has been Kevin Paredes, a former D.C. United winger who has played the past two seasons for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. Paredes, who is just 20 years old, has been a whirlwind on the wing for the Americans, constantly moving up and down to make an impact in every phase of the American game.
Mitrovic said after the U.S. game against Guinea (in which Paredes scored two goals) that he believes this could be a defining tournament for Paredes internationally. It's also hard to argue: Whether outpacing his opponent and delivering perfect crosses or passes to teammates entering the box or finishing with precision when presented with an opportunity, Paredes has been a genius.
Against Guinea, Paredes partnered Paxten Aaronson and Griffin Yow to present an attacking trio full of energy and enthusiasm. Whether Mitrovic will give that group another chance against Morocco remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that whichever way he plays, Paredes will have a prominent role.
3. What is the United States' greatest strength and weakness heading into the match against Morocco?
The biggest concern is undoubtedly how the U.S. will handle an outstanding Moroccan attack. Soufiane Rahimi, who is the tournament’s leading scorer, and Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi (who will be playing at his club stadium) are as good as any players the U.S. has faced in the tournament, save for France’s Alexandre Lacazette. Mitrovic brought in first-team defenders Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson as two of his older players because he knew there would be times when the U.S. would have to struggle a bit, and this match figures to be one of them.
On the positive side, the U.S. has shown offensive creativity (Aaronson's pass to Paredes that led to a goal against Guinea was as pretty as anyone could wish for) and has handled the pressure of playing decently in front of a partisan crowd against France for much of the night. Friday's game promises to be a similar pressure cooker, as Morocco will have strong support at the Parc des Princes.
Can the American players rise to the occasion?
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Salazar: Morocco is a “pretty good” rival for the United States
Sebastian Salazar joins “SportsCenter” to preview the men's soccer quarterfinal match between the United States and Morocco at the Olympic Games.
4. Prediction time: How far will Team USA go in the Olympics and why?
There's a lot going against the United States in this matchup, whether it's the comparisons to big-name players or the fact that much of the stadium will likely be against them. And Morocco, while not as much of a household name as Argentina or France, has recently emerged as an upstart in international soccer, with talent at every level of its roster.
Ultimately, it seems like too much. The Americans have been impressive in many ways in France and I expect them to score and give Morocco the run for their money. However, at the end of this back-and-forth match, I think Morocco will find a way to win in overtime and oust the U.S. after a hard-fought 2-1 loss.
