Here’s what to expect from Inter Miami as it makes MLS debut Sunday at Los Angeles FC
At long last, after a six-year saga of failed stadium plans, political hurdles and unfounded rumors of celebrity player signings, David Beckham will settle into a seat at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday afternoon and watch his Inter Miami team play its historic Major League Soccer debut on the road against Los Angeles FC.
When fans around the country tune in to ESPN at 5:30 p.m. to watch the much-anticipated game between the nascent Miami squad and the L.A. juggernaut that smashed league scoring records last season, they won’t see the star-studded Miami lineup that many people expected.
Despite Beckham’s status as a global sports icon, his ownership group’s deep pockets and Miami’s glamorous image, the team’s most recognizable face remains Beckham.
An international superstar might still be signed in the coming months to fill the remaining striker position, but for now the starting lineup will look something like this:
Luis Robles (GK), Nico Figal (D), Roman Torres (D), Dylan Nealis (D), Ben Sweat (D), Wil Trapp (MF), Lee Nguyen (MF), Rodolfo Pizarro (MF), Matias Pellegrini (MF), Luis Argudo (MF), and at forward either MLS veteran Juan Agudelo, coming off a hamstring injury, or No. 1 SuperDraft pick Robbie Robinson of Clemson, who scored the lone goal in a 1-0 preseason win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Rodolfo Pizarro biggest name
Of that group, the biggest name is Pizarro, the Mexican national team star with the distinctive hair who signed with the club two weeks ago. The club reportedly paid Mexican team Monterrey a $12 million transfer fee for Pizarro, making him Miami’s most expensive player.
Pizarro, a skilled playmaker who will wear the No. 10 jersey, showed in his first preseason game why Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso, Pizarro’s former coach at Monterrey, wanted him here. The day after arriving from Mexico, without a single practice, Pizarro scored a goal on his fourth touch against a veteran Philadelphia Union squad. He also made a handful of perfect passes around the goal.
Inter Miami will rely on Pizarro’s ball skills and vision against LAFC, which last year broke the league’s scoring record and on Thursday night advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal with a 3-0 win over Leon, one of Mexico’s top teams.
All eyes will be on the matchup between Pizarro and LAFC’s Carlos Vela, his teammate on Mexico’s national team. Vela won the MLS Golden Boot and MVP last season with 34 goals in 34 matches. He scored twice in Thursday’s win over Leon.
“I’m very emotional and excited, committed to make history with this team,” Pizarro said. “It’s something really nice to face Mexican players here. Carlos and I have been in contact. A win for us would turn a lot of heads and make a statement.”
Although Pizarro was the last player to join the squad two weeks ago, his transition has been seamless because of his history with Alonso and his coaching staff.
“I know him very well, know what he’s looking for, his style of play,” Pizarro said. “I feel very comfortable here with him. We are going to play a very similar style as Monterrey, maintain possession and pressure up top.”
Luis Robles is captain
Inter Miami’s roster is a blend of MLS experience and youth. Robles is the team captain after many years with the New York Red Bulls, while Trapp, Nguyen, and Torres are also league veterans who have taken on leadership roles. Young talent includes Argentine defender Figal, draft pick Nealis out of Georgetown, and 19-year-old Argentine Pellegrini, who was signed as a young Designated Player, with a price tag in the millions.
Julian Carranza, a promising 19-year-old Argentine forward who was expected to start, injured his left foot early in preseason camp and is expected to be out through April.
Alonso plans to employs an attacking, proactive style that relies on possession, short passes and pressuring opponents in their half of the field. It is a similar style to what LAFC uses, but LA is more experienced, which could expose Inter Miami on opening day.
Despite the risk, Alonso says he doesn’t plan to sit back and rely on counterattacks.
“We’re going to have a style of play that we maintain because we believe in it,” Alonso said. “Do we have to work on it? Of course. Are we going to have errors? For sure. We need to get better individually and collectively and work more. I have no doubt it’s not going to come out perfect on the first day. But we have a lot of confidence in our ability and in the style of play. It has made us champions almost everywhere we have been and we believe in our idea until the death. We’ll defend it 100 percent.”
Wil Trapp: This is litmus test
Trapp said Inter Miami players are fired up for their debut, that making history is “a rallying point” in the locker room.
“I feel a buoyancy in the group of excitement and anticipation,” Trapp said. “It’s an anxiety that’s brought up by the fact that we know it’s going to a tough game, but an exciting game and wonderful atmosphere. It’s history. We’re playing the first game for this club, wearing this badge for the first time. That’s fun and exciting for all of us. This game is a litmus test you want early in the season.”
Although some players might be a bit nervous, Trapp said he is eager for the challenge.
“It’s a tall order, being the first game for an expansion team going up against the Supporters Shield winners from a year ago,” he said. “Their success last year was something to marvel at, the way at which they can score goals, the talent on their roster, their combinations in the middle of the field. We need to be aware of that. But it’s the challenge you want as a competitor. For us, it’s not shying away from the big moments. It’s being brave and taking the lessons we’ve done in training every day, involving each other with the ball, passing and connecting.”
Inter Miami coaches and players watched LAFC’s 3-0 win over Leon on Thursday night, so they know what to expect.
“It gives us the last snapshot of how they’re playing, a very clear picture of their group,” Trapp said. “Pizarro against Vela will be a fun heavyweight bout, you could say. The El Tri (Mexican) fans will be very excited to see that for sure.”
Beckham to “enjoy occasion”
As will Beckham, who makes no apologies for the lack of global stars on his roster. He insists he is happy with the players Miami has, and will patiently await a striker during the European summer transfer window. Co-owner Jorge Mas agrees.
“We’re looking at someone who can score north of 25 goals,” Mas said. “This is about winning. This isn’t just about bringing in a name for marketing and PR and selling a thousand more jerseys. That’s not the objective. There are very high-profile players who we’re extremely interested in. We’ve been linked to a lot of them. We’re looking for a 9, and I think that’s where our final DP spot will go.”
“Sunday will be great,” Beckham said, smiling. “The league has been very helpful giving us our first game against a very good team. We’re excited about that. You want to picture yourself against the great players and great teams of the league and L.A. in only a couple of years, what they’ve already created is what we all want to create. The atmosphere within the stadium, togetherness within the team. There will be a lot of franchises that look at LAFC and want to do that exact thing.
“Talking about them as a team, they’re a very good team. It’s going to be a tough game for us, an interesting opener. At this point, we’re just very excited to get to LA. The players might be slightly nervous about the game, but we have an experienced manager who understands exactly what he needs to do, what team he needs to pick and we’re going to enjoy the occasion.”
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 5:05 PM.