It marks yet another impressive milestone in Turner’s late-blooming Cinderella story. And while Thursday will be the New England Revolution standout’s first career World Cup qualifier, the same could be said for Steffen, Horvath and most of the current roster as well.
“It’s tough to sum up just in one sentence or one paragraph, even,” said Turner, who’s helped the Revs charge atop the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings and led the USMNT to the Gold Cup title during his first extended run at international level this summer. “It’s been quite the journey, especially 2021’s been an amazing ride for me. And so I’m just taking things as they come, try not to get too high, get too low, when things are coming and going. And just trying to continue to challenge myself to become a better goalkeeper, a better person, every single day in, day out.”
Berhalter also acknowledged that he harbors concerns about his curtailed options in wide areas, with Pulisic left at home and Tim Weah the most recent in a string of injury absences. They both come from high-profile club situations, with Pulisic at reigning UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea and Weah at reigning Ligue 1 champions Lille.
“One of my concerns is verticality,” admitted the coach, then referencing injured Seattle Sounders and D.C. United standouts. “When you think about Jordan Morris, Paul Arriola, Christian to a certain extent, Timmy Weah, they give you that verticality that you need that really threatens opponents.
“And when you think about a guy like Gio [Reyna] and Konrad [de la Fuente] and Brenden [Aaronson], potentially, it’s more difficult for them. So that’s something that we’re really talking about with our winger group, is stretching the opponent, being vertical, using our pace, using our speed to get behind the opponent. We know that’s an important part of our game.”
