Tyler Adams wore the captain’s armband as the United States played out a tense 1-1 World Cup draw with Wales on Monday – and Taylor Twellman raved about the Leeds star, claiming he is his country’s most-important player.
Adams, 23, was awarded the captain’s armband before the game – replacing Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic. He put in a wonderful performance, constantly cutting out passes, making tackles. His passing too, was excellent.
Indeed, the Leeds summer signing acted as the midfielder we know and love. But also, embodied Marc Roca at times, attempting long balls and trying to find his teammates with incisive forward passing. He pushed his side close to a win.
But it was not to be. Timo Weah opened the scoring after a lovely pass from Pulisic – but Gareth Bale equalised late on from the penalty spot. Twellman, an ex-US striker and now a pundit, claims Adams is USA’s most-important player.
Twellman: Leeds star Adams is his country’s most-important player
What a performance it was from Adams. His WhoScored stats do not do it justice – claiming he made four tackles, two interceptions and completing 61 of his 68 passes. But it was his energy, his aggression that really stood out.
MORE LEEDS STORIES
Somehow, avoiding a yellow card, Adams constantly harried the Wales players into mistakes. He was here, there and everywhere ad Gregg Berhalter’s side came close to securing a win. Another superb showing on the World Cup stage.
Certainly, Twellman’s claim that he was USA’s most-important player was fully on show. He was easily their best player and most influential, despite Antonee Robinson’s runs, Weah’s goal and Pulisic making things happen. Superb display.
Adams, Aaronson and USA are next in action on Friday when they take on England. Wales, meanwhile, face Iran on Friday morning. Group B looks as though it is going in the direction of England – with second still all to play for.
