Will USMNT earn its "Golden Generation" tag at Copa America? - ESPN

When the term «Golden Generation» is attached to a group of players, it's the ultimate mixed bag.

On the one hand, the expression points to the high level of excitement surrounding a team. The talent level is so high that fans — and yes, even a few pundits and coaches — begin to dream about what might be possible. They can let themselves dream about previously unexplored heights, the kind that if they're achieved, they warm the heart years later as you sit by the fire.

But such a label can be a trap as well — the expectations are so high that they become unrealistic and, rather than inspire the players, they can weigh heavy on a group.

It is precisely this scenario that the U.S. men's national team finds itself dealing with now as it heads into the 2024 Copa America.

Historically, the U.S. men's program hasn't had a whole lot to crow about. It's high water mark at a World Cup was its semifinal showing in the inaugural edition back in 1930. In the modern era, the U.S. managed a quarterfinal finish at the 2002 World Cup. In the context of a Copa America, there have been two semifinal appearances, one in 1995 and another at the Copa America Centenario in 2016. Credible showings all, but nothing worth jumping up on a table and screaming at the top of one's lungs.

So why the excitement about this generation of U.S. players? It all has to do with the caliber of the clubs that pay their wages, as well as what they've achieved with those clubs.

U.S. winger Christian Pulisic hoisted the UEFA Champions League trophy with Chelsea back in 2021 and is coming off a career season with AC Milan. Midfielder Weston McKennie enjoyed a similarly successful spell this season with Juventus, helping them to the Coppa Italia in the process.

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