Ronaldo scores as Portugal blank Israel
This schedule was designed to mimic pandemic-delated World Cup qualifying, where the U.S. opens with three matches from Sept. 2-8, a window FIFA designed for two.
“What I realized is that it’s going to take a group to get this done. It’s not going to take 11 starters,” Berhalter said. “We think we have a young, talented group. And to gain that CONCACAF experience was massive. And when we turn around and we go into World Cup qualifying, we’ll have a good idea of what that’s going to be like and what the three-game rhythm’s going to be like.”
Reyna was the only multiple goal scorer over the four games, which began with a 2-1 friendly loss at Switzerland on May 30 and was followed by last Thursday’s 1-0 win over
Honduras in the Nations League semifinal. Pulisic, McKennie, Jordan Siebatcheu and Sebastian Lletget also scored.
“I think there’s guys that will be able to go three games and 90 minutes, but it’s not going to be many, especially given the way we want to play and the way we want to press,” Berhalter said.
Europe-based players will go on brief vacations and then skip next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup to report for preseason ahead of 2021-22 club seasons.
The 20th-ranked U.S. improved 11-1-1 in its last 13 matches and won its 10th consecutive game against a regional opponent since a 2019 Nations League loss to Canada, matching the American high set in 2013.
LISBON, Portugal, June 10, (AP): Cristiano Ronaldo scored to lead Portugal to a 4-0 win over Israel in its final warm-up match before defending its European Championship title.
Ronaldo scored in the 44th minute to take his international tally to 104 goals. He will enter Euro 2020 five goals away from tying the all-time scoring record for a men’s national team. The record is held by former Iran striker Ali Daei, the only other male soccer player to surpass the 100-goal milestone.
Bruno Fernandes and João Cancelo also scored for Portugal, which was coming off a 0-0 draw at Spain in its first warm-up match last week.
Ronaldo missed a few good chances before finally finding the net with a leftfooted shot from inside the area at the José Alvalade Stadium. His goal came two minutes after Fernandes had opened the scoring with a low shot from near the penalty spot after a pass by Cancelo, who added to the lead with a nice low strike into the corner in the 86th.
Fernandes scored his second goal by hitting the top corner with a shot from outside the area in stoppage time.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos started with Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Diogo Jota playing alongside Ronaldo, who was substituted in the 72nd. João Félix was not included in the match squad. Pepe and Rúben Dias led the defense.
Portugal will play Euro 2020 in a difficult Group F that also includes Germany, France and Hungary. It will open against Hungary on Tuesday in Budapest. It then faces Germany on June 19 and France on June 23.