CARSON, Calif. – Does Wil Trapp's appointment as US national team captain for Sunday's friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina signal something more than just reward for a fine January camp?
Hard to tell, although praise of his leadership skills has long been sung, but coupled with his performance in Sunday's 0-0 draw at StubHub Center, it might say plenty about Trapp's future with the national team.
The 25-year-old Columbus Crew SC midfielder, sitting behind Tyler Adams and Cristian Roldan in a three-man midfield, provided the foundation of the Yanks' territorial dominance in the first half. His ability to link with attackers, win balls in front of the backline, and organize a tight defensive effort from an unfamiliar group seemed to impress everyone around him.
“He did great,” US left back Justin Morrow, who enjoyed a fine game himself, told MLSsoccer.com. “I thought he moved the ball well in the middle. He commands the middle of the park. [Bosnia and Herzegovina] were doing a lot of things in the middle of the field, so he had to make adjustments, and I thought he did a good job.”
The US's best scoring opportunity came through Trapp, whose gorgeous chip from inside the center circle six minutes into the second half found Jordan Morris behind the Bosnian backline, and led him into space for a shot that rolled just wide.
Otherwise, a midfield trio with no No. 10 among them offered only so much to the attack, which looked more dangerous with Kelyn Rowe on the flank in the second half and Juan Agudelo playing underneath Morris from the 68th minute. They also conceded more in the other direction, giving Trapp more defensive challenges after halftime.
Trapp had never started before for the US and said wearing the armband “was a little unexpected.”
#CrewSC midfielder @wil_trapp describes captaining the #USMNT for the first time ever as a "pretty special moment." 🇺🇸
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) January 29, 2018
🎥: @ussoccer_mnt
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“It's special, of course ...,” he said. “It's a huge vote of confidence fro Dave [Sarachan, the interim US coach], and that's a special thing. I don't know that it [galvanized my play], but, certainly, you have the armband on, guys are going to look to you to lead.”
Sarachan two days before the game said Trapp was one of the players who had grown the most during the camp.
“Will had been with us last year as well, and was maybe in the middle of the pack, getting his feet a little wetter,” Sarachan said. “This time around, he has come in with a lot more confidence and presence, and he's been consistently solid in the camp, and he's very focused.”
Goalkeeper Bill Hamid, among the more veteran players in camp, also came away impressed with Sunday's captain.
“I think he's solid,” Hamid said. “He's got a great personality. He's a strong young man, mentally and physically. He's still young, so he's got a ways to go, but as a captain, as a leader, as a central midfielder, I think his all-around game in solid.
“Giving him that responsibility I think is big for him and his future as a young man growing in this game and growing as a holding midfielder. And I hope he can continue getting opportunities like that.”
What does it all mean going forward?
“Who knows,” Trapp said. “We don't know who the next coach is going to be. Is it going to be Dave, or is it going to be someone else. You just take it as it comes.”
