The U.S. Men’s National Team is one step away from the Hexagonal round heading into a clash with Trinidad & Tobago. Barring a historic self-destruction, the U.S. is through, but there’s still plenty on the line in the final game of the World Cup qualifying stage.
After demolishing St. Vincent & The Grenadines on Friday, the U.S. hosts the Soca Warriors in Jacksonville on Tuesday night (8 p.m., Fox Sports 1). The U.S. would need to surrender a 12-goal advantage over Guatemala to see their 2018 World Cup dreams end, but could seize the top spot in the group with a win.
Headlining the USMNT lineup is Christian Pulisic, who earns a starting nod for the first time. Joining him are several other new additions, including Sacha Kljestan, Steve Birnbaum, Tim Howard and Omar Gonzalez.
The SBI staff will be offering updates and analysis in the comments section below, so feel free to follow along, and as always, please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions below.
Enjoy the action.
Nice placement on Jozy’s goal. Even better touch and movement to create his chance.
#NeverForget the fact that some ppl were certain he wasn’t capable of a “turn-dribble-shoot”
That “debate” really happened….on this site in fact
Would be good though if Jozy hungout with Gio Dos Santos sometime and got some help on chipping the ball over the goalie.
So many long balls out of the back to no one in particular. We are terrible at holding on to the ball.
Is it just me or is T&T attacking Bradley when he has the ball?
Funny thing about Bedoya is that the better the opposition, the better he looks.
That’s easy to explain. That’s because the better the competition, the more the USA gets pinned down and out-possesed on the ball. So USA ends up doing a lot of defending and Bedoya’s biggest positive attribute is that he runs alot and works hard defensively. Basically his engine. But that’s about all he offers. He needs to get replaced. I’m sure we must have someone that can be a hard worker defensively but has more talent than Bedoya.
Arriola, Gyau, k-sweat all in the running
Halftime thoughts:
Jozy/wood partnership hasn’t looked effective so far
Pulisic very active. Not everything is great, and there’s a ton of growth and learning to do. but when you are 17 with his potential, you take the good with the bad; and there was a ton more good than bad that first half. Work rate phenomenal, creative, he tries stuff. Love the kid.
Cameron is a CB. No reason Klinsi didn’t bring another RB.
Gonzo/Birnbaum don’t need to play together. Neither great with the ball at their feet and distribution.
MB90 is a liability. Bring on Nagbe.
All in all, didn’t play lights out. T&T were better for most of the half. But we have a 1-0 without playing great. Hope to see things cleaned up the second half.
Kinda disagree with some of your thoughts, but good discussion. I think it took a while for Jozy/Wood to really build up, but they started to look good.
Pulisic is very active. His last past was not great for most of the game, but he looks REALLY good for 17. REALLY good. Like you said ” Work rate phenomenal, creative, he tries stuff. Love the kid.” — have to agree.
RB-> he brought 2: Yedlin & FJ. He just put Cameron out there because I think, as Stu stated, he wants to see how the pairing of Birnbaum and Omar look. I actually like Birnbaum. Hes good position-ally and and with the ball on his feet, and only 24. Omar is only 27 is good except for the penchant for an occasionally gaffe of a game.
MB90 has looked ok not great. It is a reminder that if you have a good 10/attacking CM, his best position is 6.
All in all, good night.
A lot of young guys on the field now. Future looking solid for USMNT. Jozy also became the alltime leading scorer in USMNT team history in WCQ (ahead of Landon & Clint). Jozy is only 26. Hopefully, he can stay healthy.
Side note our CB pool is REALLY deep: Brooks, Cameron, Besler, Omar, Birnbaum.
Wouldn’t be upset if Nagbe came in for Bedoya at half.
Bedoya has been disappointing
I can’t be the only one that thinks Bedoya just isn’t good enough to deserve his status as consistent starter. He is consistently mediocre or bad with the USMNT. He always looks like the weakest link out there no matter what the starting 11 is.
He hasn’t been great tonight, but if you don’t think he played well at Copa America we’ll agree to disagree.
Ives, definitely agree to disagree. I didn’t think he played well throughout the Copa. Bedoya’s best attribute is his engine and that he works hard defensively. So when USA is playing against teams that boss possession and consistently have USA in a defensive shell (like against the Conmebol teams USA played in the Copa) Bedoya looks a bit better. But besides that he’s not good enough. Let’s not even get into his ability to pass/cross or create offense or score/set up goals or dribble at players, etc, because it doesn’t exist, atleast not at the required international level. Not even a Concacaf-International level.
Who are you and why are you one Soccer By Ryan? J/K Miss you on this site. Really need an ask Ives or maybe even an ask Ryan.
I’ve thought that for a long time. He’s decent in the middle of a 4-3-3. However he’s just not fast enough or skilled enough for the wing in a 4-4-2. He’s fine to have around as squad or role player but I’d like to someone else starting soon.
Gyau, kieswetter, gatt or arriola could surely take over his role IMO
I use to really like Bradley … Now a liability ?
Pulisic far and away the most active USMNT attacker, and he’s rewarded for his efforts with Saad Abdul-Salaam treatment. Shot clangs both posts. Crazy.
Keeping an eye on the other game: Oalex Anderson has given St. Vincent & The Grenadines a 1-0 lead over Guatemala.
Didn’t last long. Guatemala has already equalized. 1-1
Now 2-1 Guatemala and guess who? Carlos Ruiz. Guatemala still needs A LOT of help.
Now 3-2. Ruiz and Anderson each with another. Incredible.
I’ve had this conversation before here on SBI. If Carlos Ruiz was American, he’d be arguably the best American soccer player ever, and without argument in the top 5 of best American soccer player ever (with emphasis on attacking/offensive players. Hard to compare forwards to defenders and goalkeepers).
Guy is one of CONCACAF’s all-time greats. No doubt. Goalscoring numbers are almost unmatched. Quite a career.
He would definitely be in the conversation.
Good luck CP22, I know someone suggested CP18 the other day but how bout CP11 his national team number if that’s what he keeps?
He’s been rocking the 10 shirt for these two games. Can’t say he doesn’t have ambition!
You can see in the first 10 minutes or so that he’s feeling comfortable. Certainly not afraid to attack. Already forcing a big save out of the T&T keeper. Good start.
This lineup, with all things considered, is the best one in my opinion. It’s kinda the best available right?
Definitely feel the attack is best available, but a bit concerned about the defense. Against T&T’s speed, fullbacks will be vital. Interested to see how Cameron fares at fullback against this T&T team. Understand the logic of getting your best defenders on the field, but I wouldn’t have moved Cameron out of CB.
Fair enough but don’t discredit the year and a half he played at RB for Stoke (EPL…) in the past 3 seasons…..
?
Very true, so I understand the logic in playing him out there and, so far, he’s looked good. In my opinion, though, Cameron would be best suited just sticking with centerback permanently rather than riding the CB, RB, DM carousel.
Fair enough. I, for one, really appreciate the conversing with blog commenters live. Really adds value to the site IMO
DLOA, I agree with you. By the way, what happened to the trojans?? Just messing with you. Enjoy the game.
College football starts next weekend and you can’t tell me anything otherwise …. lol
LOL.
So many JK haters (happily) eating their crow right now
lol
So many Jozy haters eating crow as well.