By IVES GALARCEP
The U.S. Men’s National Team faces another match on Saturday where they are expected to win handily, but as they prepare to take on Cuba at Rio Tinto Stadium, Jurgen Klinsmann finds himself with some tough lineup decisions to make.
As much as the 6-1 win vs. Belize was a quality overall team performance, the fact that the U.S. team is in the midst of a three games in eight days stretch makes it very likely Klinsmann will use the Cuba match to rest some starters from the Belize match, and give some players who sat out that match a chance to impress.
The trio of Herculez Gomez, Stuart Holden and Oguchi Onyewu didn’t start vs. Belize, but if they are healthy, you have to think that group will get the nod.
There are several other tough lineup choices to make. Do you go with Brek Shea on the left wing, or bring Edgar Castillo back? Do you give DaMarcus Beasley a rest? Do we finally see the Stuart Holden-Mix Diskerud tandem in central midfield? Will Klinsmann start all three Real Salt Lake players on the roster in front of their home crowd?
So who do we see starting vs. Cuba? Here is starting lineup we can see taking on Cuba for the USMNT:
PROJECTED USMNT LINEUP vs. CUBA
———-Chris Wondolowski——–Herculez Gomez———-
Brek Shea————–Stuart Holden——–Landon Donovan
————————–Kyle Beckerman—————————
Edgar Castillo—————————————-Tony-Beltran
———–Clarence Goodson—–Oguchi Onyewu—————-
—————————Nick Rimando—————————-
Some thoughts:
Why no Mix Diskerud? The fact he just went 90 minutes suggests to me that Klinsmann isn’t planning on starting him vs. Cuba. That doesn’t mean he won’t start vs. Costa Rica. Beckerman needs to have a strong game if he’s going to keep the defensive midfield spot.
We originally listed Herculez Gomez on the bench, but it’s tough to see him out of the lineup if healthy. If he isn’t healthy, look for Alejandro Bedoya to get the nod on the right wing, with Landon Donovan playing up top.
DaMarcus Beasley is the U.S. captain, but he’s also not getting any younger, so we can see Klinsmann giving him a rest in this game, and giving Edgar Castillo a chance to start at left back.
And who wears the armband if Beasley isn’t on the field? I’d imagine it would be Kyle Beckerman given how much Klinsmann respects him, and the fact this game is at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Why no Jose Torres or Joe Corona? This gives them both a rest before the Costa Rica match, and we could certainly see either or both of them as second-half substitutes. If Brek Shea isn’t fit enough to start, then we could see Torres again, or Beasley in at left back with Castillo on the left wing.
Tony Beltran gets the nod over Michael Parkhurst here, but not strictly based on Parkhurst’s game vs. Belize. Parkhurst wasn’t at his absolute best, but still should get the nod in the knockout rounds. Here we have Klinsmann giving Beltran a look, and in front of his hometown fans, while Parkhurst gets a rest.
And if Klinsmann ignores concerns about resting players? Here is a lineup we could see:
———-Chris Wondolowski——–Herculez Gomez———
Jose Torres————-Stuart Holden——-Landon Donovan
————————–Kyle Beckerman—————————
DaMarcus Beasley—————————–Michael Parkhurst
———–Clarence Goodson—–Oguchi Onyewu—————-
—————————Nick Rimando—————————-
And if U.S. fans were allowed to pick the team? Here is the squad we would probably see:
————-Herculez Gomez———Jack McInerney—————-
Brek Shea—Stuart Holden—–Mix Diskerud—Landon Donovan
DaMarcus Beasley—————————————Tony Beltran
—————Clarence Goodson—–Oguchi Onyewu—————-
——————————-Nick Rimando—————————-
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What do you think of the projected lineup? What changes would you make to it? Who are you glad to see on the projected squad that you hope starts on Saturday? How much would you love to see our Fan’s Choice Projected lineup?
Share your thoughts below.