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Who Should the USMNT start vs. Colombia?

Photo by Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports

Even after losing the team’s semifinal match to Argentina, the U.S Men’s National Team has the chance to close the Copa America on a high on Saturday night.

The U.S. is set to take on Colombia in Saturday’s Copa America third-place match. The game presents a unique opportunity at revenge against an opponent that defeat the U.S. in the group stage, while also giving the team a chance to recover from a 4-0 thrashing from Argentina.

With that being said, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has some decisions to make. Does he start a strong lineup in an effort to really push for a third-place finish and the positive reception that comes with it? Does he play a group of talented youngsters in an effort to fully take advantage of the situation ahead of World Cup qualifying? Or does he go somewhere in the middle in an effort to balance a win-now mentality with a desire to blood future stars against a world power?

Here’s a look at a potential USMNT lineup for Saturday’s match:

USMNT XI vs. Colombia 2

Some thoughts:

When realistically assessing Saturday’s match, it appears to be little more than a consolation. However, in the aftermath of the USMNT’s resounding defeat to Argentina, Saturday will mean just a bit more to a USMNT looking to recover a bit of goodwill from what has generally been a positive tournament.

Another loss to Colombia would serve as a major damper to the USMNT’s public perception. Wins over Ecuador, Costa Rica and Paraguay are certainly achievements, but a trio of losses to Colombia and Argentina would give critics plenty of ammunition to state that the U.S. has not taken a true step forward. Because of that, expect Klinsmann to utilize a strong lineup in an effort to go out and win Saturday’s match, even if several newcomers are sprinkled in along the way.

Against Colombia, a first-choice defense is vital. Until the Argentina mess, the USMNT backline had been rock solid throughout the tournament and had only truly been undone on set piece plays. John Brooks needs to be in the starting lineup as he looks to bounce back from his worst game since the Gold Cup, while DeAndre Yedlin and Fabian Johnson are likely to play out wide because, quite frankly, Klinsmann hasn’t shown faith in anyone else. One possible inclusion is Steve Birnbaum, who could join for Geoff Cameron if Klinsmann is looking to prepare the D.C. United defender for tougher tasks ahead.

The midfield will probably feature a similar situation. Michael Bradley deserves a chance to redeem himself following his performance against Argentina, and depriving of that opportunity would send a mighty message throughout the program. It may be a message Klinsmann wants to send, but it may also come at the risk of alienating the USMNT captain. Expect Bradley to start in a game where he faces a lot of pressure to perform much, much better.

Alongside him, Klinsmann can go with either Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya or Darlington Nagbe. The former two are fresh after sitting out the Argentina due to suspension, while the latter has yet to be given a chance to truly shine at the tournament. Klinsmann has long stated that players should be at their best by the time they’re 25, Nagbe’s current age. Why not throw him out there and see if he’ll ever be what many U.S. fans expect him to be in the lead-up to the 2018 World Cup?

The same question could also be asked about Christian Pulisic. Klinsmann clearly has faith in the 17-year-old, who was thrown into the team’s defeat to Argentina before it was truly out of hand. Klinsmann added Pulisic as a potential difference-maker when the scoreline was just 2-0 with a substitution that shows that the USMNT manager does believe Pulisic has what it takes to create against high-level opponents. With expectations down a bit given the situation, Pulisic deserves the opportunity to get a significant run out, especially after looking fairly competent against Argentina last time out.

Up top, Bobby Wood returns to the picture after suspension, and should go right back into the XI. Wood still appears to be the forward of the future and, honestly, the present. Against Colombia, his creativity and ability to hold up play will be vital.

Alongside him, the U.S. has Clint Dempsey, who remains the USMNT’s best goalscorer despite his age. If the USMNT wants to win, Dempsey has to play, so expect to see the veteran lead the way as the U.S. looks to make one last statement before the close of the Copa America.

Comments

  1. Typically in a third place game coaches give bench players a chance to play. Some of these guys have been with this team for five or six weeks without seeing the field. This is a chance to try something a little different. I’m not sure what is to be gained from playing guys like Jones and Dempsey again. Lets try something a little different – if it doesn’t work, who cares? This is a meaningless game.

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    • I understand your point, but Perry Kitchen hasn’t had game action since PR and you would like him to start against Colombia?

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  2. ——WOOD——–DEMPSEY———ZARDES——-

    ——NAGBE——–J. JONES——–BEDOYA——–

    F. JOHNSON—BROOKS—-CAMERON—-YEDLIN

    ————————HOWARD—————————

    Bradley and Guzan need to have a “point of view” from the bench. Jermaine Jones (at 34) is the rock in our midfield (offensively and defensively) and it showed. His absence really left us exposed, idealess and demoralized. After sitting and watch a disappointing US vs Argentina I know he is more than ready to go…..
    Ever since he moved to TFC Bradley lost his edge, his mental sharpness and seems to be just going through the motions now (both him and Altidore). This third place game without Bradley and we will see a different USMNT.

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    • Brooks has deteriorated to my eyes since the group stages and FJ hasn’t been right the whole event. I do wonder if they were “real americans” playing in MLS if you would question their injuries. Somehow I doubt they would.

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  3. JK is feeling the pressure and will play to win, so I expect his first choice lineup. Jones, Bedoya, and Wood were all a huge part of our run in this tourney and all are fresh, I would be shocked if those three are not in the starting lineup. I think the back four are set. Zardes has played really heavy minutes so maybe Pulisic for him. Bradley has played every minute too, and I would love to see how Nagbe and Jones play together in the middle, but I’m not gonna hold my breath.

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    • It’s really a lose-lose situation for JK and the MNT. Lose to Colombia, and it’s evidence of a talent gap between top tier and middle tier nations. Beat Colombia, and it will be automatically discounted because it literally took place in the so-called “consolation game.”

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  4. FJ Wood Pulisic (since gyasi is probably tired as can be)

    Nagbe Bedoya

    Bradley

    Bester Brooks Cameron Yedlin

    Horvath

    give jones old ass a rest, same from deuce
    let the kid have a chance in goal
    give brooks and geoff as much time as possible together
    fabian with carte blanche to attack would be nice to see

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  5. It would be nice to see all the bench players play, to see how they do…especially since Colombia will likely field much of their bench. Though I suspect Jurgen wants to win this very important 3rd place game (insert sarcasm) and field the Copa starters, rather than give experience and time to the bench.

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  6. Here’s the way I look at it. It really looks like Jones and Dempsey are still going to be important for the US in the next year at least. Jones will especially want to play after sitting him out. So, you have to keep your stars happy and play our usual lineup. But, after half time I’d make some changes, remove Jones, Dempsey and Bradley so that you have Wood and Zardes up top, Pulisic, Nagbe, Cameron and Bedoya in the middle, then Fabian, Brooks, Birnbaum and Yedlin in the back. Have Cameron play defensive mid and see if Nafgbe can be the distributor to run the team. What have we got to lose?

    Reply
    • Nagbe makes everyone better, especially Michael Bradley. We keep him with Bradley to possibly break the turnover and impotent distribution that Bradley has displayed for some time now. One thing Nagbe doesn’t do is make long, looping passes across the field. He makes the simple pass most of the time. He IS a technical player, but not a quarterback per se.

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  7. I like this lineup. I could also see letting Jones (for Nagbe) or Bedoya (for Pulisic) reclaim his spot. Any other futzing around from the mad scientist will only confirm the worst suspicions about his fitness.

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  8. Jurgen played Wondo and Beasley in the Gold Cup 3rd place game. How can anyone assume he’ll let go of the reins? Highly doubt he’ll trot out anything different from his first choice XI from this tournament.

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    • JK announced Howard will start. Brooks and Johnson reportedly are hurt. Bradley needs to sit a spell. Give some younger guys some time together in match conditions.

      ————-Wood———-
      Zardes————-Pulisic
      ——-Nagbe—Bedoya–
      ————Kitchen———
      —-?——Besler–Cameron-Yedlin
      —————Howard——————

      Reply

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