The U.S. men's national team will open a new year and new four-year World Cup cycle tonight when the Americans take on Chile at Home Depot Center (10pm, Telefutura/ESPN3.com).

Bob Bradley will be fielding a young squad against a Chile side made up of domestic league players. The match should offer a good test to some of the defensive newcomers on the U.S. roster, while also showcasing many of the exciting new attacking players in the current U.S. camp.

I will be providing a live commentary on tonight's match so be sure to follow along.

For now, share your pre-game thoughts, and check out a look at potential lineups, as well as the latest video preview from the folks at USSoccer.com. (I'll update periodically right up until game-time):

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PRE-GAME– I'm about to launch the Match Night Commentary, so be sure to move on over to SBI's live match night coverage when it launches (and we close this post down). (THE MATCH COMMENTARY POST IS NOW LIVE).

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PRE-GAME- Lineup should be out soon. Here's the lineup I'd like to see (in a 4-3-3):

————————-Bunbury————————

———Agudelo————————Bedoya——–

———————–Diskerud————————

————-Larentowicz—-McCarty——————

De La Garza—-Ream——Gonzalez——–Franklin

———————–Rimando————————-

 

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PRE-GAME– Here is the full USA match-day roster: 

Goalkeepers– 1-Sean Johnson 18-Nick Rimando

Defenders– 6-A.J. DeLaGarza 4-Omar Gonzalez 12-Zach Loyd 15-Sean Franklin 5-Tim Ream 3-Anthony Wallace 2-Marvell Wynne

Midfielders– 19-Eric Alexander 7-Alejandro Bedoya 16-Mixx Diskerud 8-Jeff Larentowicz 10-Dax McCarty 14-Brek Shea

Forwards– 17-Juan Agudelo 9-Teal Bunbury 11-Chris Wondolowski

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PRE-GAME– I'm sure some folks are a bit disappointed that Eugene Starikov didn't make the match roster but considering how new he is to the U.S. national team set-up (not even on the youth level) it shouldn't be a surprise.

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PRE-GAME– As a reminder, we'll be having a live commentary on tonight's match. Seems like there are about a thousand live commentaries on the web tonight for USA-Chile, but I'll recommend SBI's as the one you're going to want to follow.

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PRE-GAME– Apologies for having Franklin on the players not dressing list earlier. I thought he would start this game so that seemed a bit surprising. He's in and I think he could start.

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PRE-GAME– The players who won't dress for tonight's match are Dom Cervi, Matt Pickens, Ryan Miller,  Sam Cronin, Eugene Starikov.

Not that surprised about Sean Johnson, but it's a great step for a talented young goalkeeper. I'm betting a lot of teams are kicking themselves for passing on him in the 2010 MLS Draft.

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PRE-GAME– If I were a betting man, and I am, I would bet against a straight 4-4-2. I think a 4-2-3-1 is more likely, or perhaps a straight 4-3-3.

Let's talk defenders. I wonder if we'll see Marvell Wynne. He enjoyed a good season for Colorado at centerback, but I don't see him being an international centerback. Does Bradley give him a run at right back?

Bigger question. Which of the natural right backs starts at left back tonight? I don't think Anthony Wallace, the lone natural left back, will get the call. So will it be Sean Frankline, Zach Loyd or perhaps A.J. De La Garza?

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PRE-GAME– No word on which players aren't dressing tonight yet, but it's a safe bet two of them will be goalkeepers. I'll post as soon as the info is released.

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PRE-GAME– Since formations and lineups are always fun to consider, here's another lineup idea, in A 4-3-3 formation:

————————-Bunbury————————

———Shea—————————Agudelo——–

————————–Bedoya————————

————-Larentowicz—-McCarty——————

Franklin—-Ream——–Gonzalez—–De La Garza

———————–Rimando————————-

Okay, so maybe a 4-3-3 against a Chile team that could run out a 3-4-3 might not be ideal, but it would sure be fun to watch. Also remember that Bradley used a 4-3-3 against Colombia, at least that's what he called it. Brek Shea didn't get forward nearly enough for it to be a true 4-3-3.

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PRE-GAME-So what lineup might we see tonight: So many possibilities. Here are a few:

4-2-3-1

————————Bunbury————————-

Agudelo—————Diskerud—————-Bedoya

————-Larentowicz—-McCarty——————

Franklin—-Ream——–Gonzalez—–De La Garza

———————–Rimando————————-

If Bradley chooses a standard 4-4-2, we could see this:

————–Bunbury———-Agudelo—————-

Shea———————————————-Bedoya

————-Larentowicz—-McCarty——————

Franklin—-Ream——–Gonzalez—–De La Garza

———————–Rimando————————-

If Bradley decides to sit Agudelo and slow down the hype machine:

————————Bunbury————————-

Shea——————Diskerud—————-Bedoya

————-Larentowicz—-McCarty——————

Franklin—-Ream——–Gonzalez—–De La Garza

———————–Rimando————————-

If Bradley decides to bring young standouts Agudelo and Mikkel Diskerud off the bench:

————–Bunbury———–Wondolowski——–

Shea——————————————-Bedoya

————-Larentowicz—-McCarty——————

Franklin—-Ream——–Gonzalez—–De La Garza

———————–Rimando————————-

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Yes, we keep the same back four, but not because it's a lock. The idea of having three Galaxy defenders wouldn't be that surprising, but Marveil Wynne and Ryan Miller could definitely crash the party. At this point it definitely seems like a Ream-Gonzalez pairing in central defense is a safe bet. In goal, it should be Rimando. 

Some other thoughts. Brek Shea was pretty abysmal in his national team debut against Colombia, but I think he could get another run-out on the left tonight. 

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Here's a video preview on the match from U.S. Soccer:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL9_RIfmjMo]

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Remember to share your pre-game thoughts on tonight's match in the comments section below.