USMNT must draw on World Cup experience against Uruguay – Adams

Tyler Adams says the USMNT can draw on their backs-against-the-wall victory over Iran at the Qatar World Cup as inspiration ahead of their crucial Copa America clash with Uruguay.

Both Gregg Berhalter’s side and the Iranians had the chance to qualify for the knock-out stage with in 2022, and Christian Pulisic’s strike ensured it was the U.S. who went through after sealing a 1-0 triumph.

They have to rise to the occasion again in Kansas City on Monday night, with three points likely essential if they are to qualify from Group C.

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The U.S. suffered a shock defeat by Panama in Atlanta on Monday in a game that saw midfielder Tim Weah red-carded in the first half.

“It’s a good experience to have in our back pocket,” said the Bournemouth midfielder. “I think going into the Iran game we knew what we needed to do and we accomplished that goal.

“It’s a similar situation now, obviously, a win in the best circumstances to go into the next round. But we’re all confident again, when we have 11 players on the field that can go toe to toe with anybody.

“The training was good today. I think we saw the intensity and we’re going to need that from the first minute against Uruguay.”

Pulisic was the match-winner against Iran in Qatar (Photo: Getty Images)

There is even a small chance that a win over Marcelo Bielsa’s highly-rated side may not be enough, if Bolivia beats Uruguay by a bigger margin on the same night.

But Adams’ team-mate Antonee Robinson says nobody in the U.S. camp is dwelling too much on that.

He said: “In terms of it being an oddity, there’s also a lot of different circumstances that can happen in the game that can still pull us through to the next stage.

“So in terms of our head, we just have to think that a win definitely gives us the best chance of going through. And if we take care of business on the day and we don’t go through then that’s unfortunately what will be will be, then we have to look back to the fact that we let ourselves down in the previous game.

“But I’d like to think that if we win that we will be going through so give ourselves the best chance and go from there.”

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(Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)