The U.S. Men’s National Team’s is coming off its third consecutive victory under Gregg Berhalter and will look to close the month of March by keeping that perfect record.
After a 1-0 win over Ecuador last Thursday in Orlando, the USMNT will entertain Chile in Houston on Tuesday. Berhalter has already stated several changes will be made with his players returning to domestic action next weekend.
Chile brings talented midfielders to the table with Arturo Vidal and Charles Aranguiz being the marquee names. The Chileans are coming off a 3-1 loss to Mexico last week, where they conceded all three goals in the second-half.
Midfielders Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie are unavailable for the USMNT while Wil Trapp left Thursday’s match after halftime with leg contusion. Ethan Horvath has already been labeled as the starter against Chile, giving Berhalter a chance to see the Club Brugge goalkeeper in action.
It is unsure whether or not Christian Pulisic will be starting after a busy shift five days prior and the same can go for John Brooks and Tim Ream.
Here’s a closer look at one USMNT lineup Berhalter could go with:
Ethan Horvath will earn his fourth cap for the USMNT and start in goal. The Club Brugge keeper has had a fine season abroad and now will hope to carry that into National Team duty.
The backline will see the most changes as it comes with the most depth on the roster. With Adams returning to Leipzig, Nick Lima should get the start at right back. Lima shined in January camp and will get another shot to impress Berhalter.
Aaron Long was stellar against Ecuador, winning numerous duels and helping keep a clean sheet. The New York Red Bulls defender’s rise has seen him put himself into the starting centerback conversation, but he will have Matt Miazga next to him on Tuesday night.
Miazga has earned valuable minutes with Reading and will get his chance to translate that back over to the USMNT. Miazga and Long both should provide physicality against the Chilean attack that is versatile and technically sound with the ball.
After not earning minutes on Thursday, Impact left back Daniel Lovitz should start. The only natural left back on the roster also did well in January camp and will look to take advantage of several other defenders not included this month like Antonee Robinson.
With Trapp’s availability up in the air, Michael Bradley will slot into his spot. The longtime USMNT veteran will continue to play a strong leadership role under his new head coach and should provide cover allowing playmakers like Pulisic and Roldan to roam.
Pulisic may not play the full 90 but he will start in the middle of the park like he did against Ecuador. Playing as the No. 10 is what Pulisic is best at and he will need to continue growing at that role with new teammates next to him. Roldan adds another element to the attack and should be fresh after a short cameo last week.
In attack, Gyasi Zardes deserves another start up top after scoring the lone goal against Ecuador. Although he didn’t have plenty of chances, Zardes did better in holding the ball up and passing in tight spaces, both of which he has been criticized for before.
Out wide, DeAndre Yedlin will get his chance to start further up the field on the right wing. Yedlin’s pace should pose problems for Chile’s backline and he can also track back and provide help defensively.
Sebastian Lletget is another player trying to earn minutes and he will take the place of Paul Arriola on the left wing. Lletget brings skill and creativity to the attack and will get his chance to prove to Berhalter he belongs with the National Team.
Corey Baird and Jonathan Lewis are two additional options offensively that could be used should Berhalter want to give some other players a look.
I think this would be a dynamic line-up
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——————————–RAMIREZ————————
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– ZARDES ——–———–—————————PULISIC
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——————LLETGET———-ROLDAN——————–
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LOVITZ —-BROOKS––Gonzalez—-Miazga——YEDLIN
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——————————-HORVATH————————
Im no Trapp fan but he outplayed Bradley easily… so Bradley starts. I think Chili will fun circles around him
If GB insists on staying with a 4-4-2 (and it seems likely)
—–Zardes—————-Moris
Pulisic——–Roldan———–Yedlin
—————-Bradley————
Lovitz–Miazga–Long–Lima
—————-Horvath
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Ia as likely as any lineup. GB seems to think of Pulisic as a central mid and I don’t think that is his best spot so GB will likley switch Pulisic and Roldan (who probably isn’t suited to the central spot either).
Stop with the Bradley nonsense. I hope if he does take the field that he is boo’ed each time he (or Omar) touches the ball.
give it a rest bro, we need to let last years debacle go now, that’s the only way this team and the fanbase can move forward!
Personally I’d like to have seen Jesse Gonzalez. A lot of this roster is annoying so I just went creative with it.
Horvath
Lima Long Brooks Ream
Zardes Lletget Arriola
Yedlin Ramirez Pulisic
I hear what your saying, but shouldn’t it be just as annoying that some of our more promising players can’t get game time with their clubs?? Are we just supposed to keep overlooking that because certain players are in europe? The only way we move this pool forward, and the program as a whole is if there is an environment creating competition and making players earn it by playing regularly for their club teams. People can say what they want about MLS but if you are playing regularly there, as opposed to sitting the bench in the Bundesliga or only playing 15min in the SPL you shouldn’t be called in. Meaningful games are a ways out, so there is time for those players to figure it out.
For me, Pulisic is not a number ten. Far from it. On his very best day he is like a very poor man’s Arjen Robben. Classic play-making midfielders tend to dribble with their heads up and look for the pass. Pulisic plays like a classic winger, putting his head down and trying to speed or cut past the opponent. Unfortunately, unlike Sancho, Mane, Sterling, Dembele, Mbappe, Robben, and Ribery (to name a few), Pulisic doesn’t have the dribbling ability to set him above the rest. I hope it is something he acquires over time, but, at this point, 18-year-old Pulisic was a much more exciting player to watch than current Pulisic.
He’s good playing wall/combo balls with similarly gifted technical or speedy players like Dortmund has, and cutting back inside. I don’t see high level Brad Davis crossing precision but we did fine for years with DmB and Donovan just basically running at people. What he needs is someone like Sargent central that has the spacing savvy and foot skills to combine with. One thing I think he needs that Landon had is fitness. Not that he isn’t pro player fit but I am talking run at you and run at and run at type fitness.
I think that is a fair point about the quick interplay of Dortmund’s front line. I’ll say though (and I know I’m in the minority here), I would take a healthy Donovan in his prime over Pulisic at this moment in time. Donovan seemed fearless with the ball. I loved watching him run at defenders (along with DmB).
Miazga starting? Heck no
it sickens me but I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least some of Omar Miazga Lovitz ie empty the bench. Bradley Roldan etc.
Miazga needs reps. Why not
WITH PLAYERS REMAINING IN CAMP:
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5-3-2
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—————-ZARDES—————-RAMIREZ————–
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PULISIC———————LLETGET—————–YEDLIN
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LOVITZ ——BROOKS—-AARON—–MIAZGA—- LIMA
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——————————HORVATH————————-
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OR
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4-1-4-1 (Which I do not like)
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——————————–RAMIREZ————————
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– ZARDES ———LLETGET———-PULISIC——YEDLIN
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——————————-ROLDAN————————–
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LOVITZ ———-BROOKS———–AARON———-LIMA
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——————————-HORVATH————————
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Morris, Zardes and Ramirez are our only pickings for striker up top ? ??? I never thought I’d say this but……..WHERE IS NoScoreAltidore ? ?????!!!!!!!!
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Either way the line-up goes, lets see what Berhalter does with players and formation
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GO USA!!!! ?? ?? ??