Tyler Adams 'is set to be named USA captain' - Mail 19/11/22
Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams, 23, 'is set to be named USA captain' ahead of Christian Pulisic and Walker Zimmerman for the World Cup in Qatar after Gregg Berhalter let his team VOTE on who should wear armband
Tyler Adams is expected to be formally named captain on
Sunday for the USMNT
He's worn the captain's armband on nine occasions before for
Gregg Berhalter
But the midfielder is just 23 years old and it's still a
massive responsibility
The US kick off their World Cup vs. Wales before facing
England and Iran
BRAD FRIEDEL: USA's World Cup group is SCARY, and the
scariest game is Wales
By JACK BEZANTS and JAKE NISSE
Tyler Adams is reportedly set to be named as the USA captain
for the World Cup in Qatar.
The midfielder, 23, is going to be awarded the armband by
coach Gregg Berhalter, according to FOX Sports.
Their report adds that Berhalter allowed his team to vote on
who should take on the captaincy for the tournament and it is Adams who came
out on top. It adds that Berhalter plans to confirm the call officially at a
Sunday press conference in Qatar.
Other options for the role could have been Christian
Pulisic, 24, widely regarded as the team's top talent, or Walker Zimmerman, 29,
who is a projected starter at center back and one of the oldest players in the
squad.
Both have captained the side before.
USA starts its World Cup on Monday against Wales in Group B,
followed by games against England and Iran. Adams has played 32 times for the
United States and has scored once.
He plays his club football for English Premier League team
Leeds United. He was signed by American coach Jesse Marsch for the team in
July, leaving German side RB Leipzig to head to England.
Adams has impressed in his 13 appearances so far for Leeds
but was sent off in his last game before the World Cup, which was a narrow 4-3
defeat to Tottenham.
Writing for The Athletic about the USA team ahead of the
tournament, Marsch drew particular attention to Adams and his defensive skills.
Marsch said: 'It’s one of the beauties of Tyler Adams. He
takes pride in not allowing his defensive responsibilities to slip.
'And you need players that are committed to that — that are
disciplined, focused, concentrated on exactly those strategies.'
Adams has worn the captain's armband nine times for the
USMNT prior to the World Cup.
He first wore it on June 9, 2021 in a 4-0 friendly win vs.
Costa Rica.
Adams ascended to the USMNT first team through the ranks of
the U-17 and U-20 squads.
He played in a World Cup at each of those levels, in Chile
and South Korea respectively.
He made his debut for the USMNT senior squad on November 14,
2017, in a 1-1 friendly vs. Portugal.
At that time, Adams was playing for the New York Red Bulls
of MLS, where he broke through the first team at 17.
He spent two more seasons there in Harrison, New Jersey,
becoming a starter for his now-Leeds manager Marsch, who hailed the USMNT
Golden Generation, before moving to New York's sister club RB Leipzig in 2018.
There, it was an up-and-down four years for the young
American, who often found himself a bit-part player at the Champions League
club as he struggled with injuries.
He did however start 21 league games in the 2020-21 season,
and scored a winning goal in the 2019-20 Champions League to send Leipzig to
the semifinals.
He moved to Leeds last summer in search of more regular
playing time, and has found that again under Marsch as he's quickly established
himself as a regular starter.
Off the field, Tyler is supported by girlfriend Sarah
Schmidt, who will be in Qatar to cheer him on along with his family.
