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Who Should the USMNT start against Venezuela?

The U.S. Men’s National Team has its final tuneup on Sunday against Venezuela before the start of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

After a 1-0 loss to Jamaica on Wednesday in what proved to be a lackluster affair offensively for the USMNT, Gregg Berhalter will look to give some guys a rest to avoid any injuries before the June 18th Gold Cup opener.

Christian Pulisic joined the USMNT after a long break but Gregg Berhalter said on Saturday he will not play against Venezuela. Several players who did not dress on Wednesday will also make a case to play in order to bolster their case for starts in group stage play. Veteran Jozy Altidore is expected to play some part, while Michael Bradley has also been ruled out. Newcomer Tyler Boyd is available to make his first USMNT appearance but will be limited.

Venezuela will bring speed into the mix but also a pair of well-known strikers. Salomon Rondon is a tall forward who can be a handful for the USMNT in aerial battles and corner kicks, while Josef Martinez came into camp on strong form with Atlanta United.

Here’s a closer look at one USMNT lineup Berhalter could go with:

Zack Steffen

Nick Lima —  Aaron Long —  Matt Miazga — Daniel Lovitz

Wil Trapp — Weston McKennie

Jonathan Lewis — Cristian Roldan — Paul Arriola

Jozy Altidore

Gregg Berhalter stated that several players will be given a rest following Wednesday’s 1-0 to Jamaica. Other players are continuing to recover from injuries and may not be used in order to save them for the Gold Cup. Rotation is expected, but also look for some players to earn some minutes off the bench in order to earn at least some playing time before the meaningful matches begin.

Zack Steffen deserves another crack in goal as he continues to prove his worth to be the No. 1 for the USMNT going forward. Steffen was beaten by a wonderful strike by Shamar Nicholson on Wednesday, but did make several other saves to keep the score-line at only one.

With Tyler Adams not in camp yet, Nick Lima is the likely choice to start at right back. The San Jose Earthquakes defender is having a strong campaign in MLS after winning his job back and only appeared off the bench against Jamaica. His pace and ability to get up field can give the USMNT another option to get crosses into the box.

With Omar Gonzalez and Tim Ream both starting in defense against Jamaica, Matt Miazga and Aaron Long should get the nod on Sunday. Miazga played 79 minutes in the loss but needs more minutes to continue to grow as a National Team player. Especially with John Brooks unavailable for this Gold Cup, Miazga is the No. 1 option at centerback.

Long’s rise up to the USMNT is one of the better stories in American soccer and he will look to put in a strong performance after missing out lately with injury. Paired with Miazga, both defenders will have the tough task of dealing with Rondon/Martinez.

With Antonee Robinson out of the squad, Daniel Lovitz is the lone natural left-back on the roster. To get him more minutes under Berhalter, Lovitz deserves a chance in the starting XI and would add a more-physical presence than Robinson brought.

Rotation should continue through the starting XI with Wil Trapp and Weston McKennie starting slightly above the backline. With Michael Bradley ruled out, Trapp can continue his role as the No. 6, allowing McKennie the ability to move up-field in attack.

With Christian Pulisic not playing, Cristian Roldan will play in an advanced role to help with the attack. Roldan did well in the opening 20 minutes as well as Paul Arriola, but outside of that was left frustrated at the end of Wednesday’s friendly. The Seattle Sounders man will also get help at times from McKennie, who has the ability to get back and defend.

On the sides of Roldan would be Jonathan Lewis and Paul Arriola. Lewis has found life in Colorado after hitting a dry spell with NYCFC earlier this season. The 22-year-old adds pace to the team and is a player that can get after wingbacks, something that was lacking against Jamaica.

Arriola’s role with the team continues as an attacking player, but also one that can track back if needed. With Arriola and Lewis both bringing the same traits to the field, they can interchange and take their abilities on against different defenders.

Unlike Josh Sargent, Jozy Altidore should have a better time in front of goal. The veteran striker brings physicality and international experience to the squad and would be a pest for the Venezuelan centerbacks to deal with. Should Altidore not be chosen, it will be unclear who else would start with Gyasi Zardes and Jordan Morris recovering from injuries in time for the group stage.

Tyler Boyd is another option to play on the wings and can be an option off the bench, as well as midfielder Duane Holmes who added a spark on Wednesday.

Comments

  1. I remember when the USMNT used to be decent. Now they are just flat-out not good & boring. THIS is the best we can do?

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  2. I guess nobody gets this pro MLS lineup is definitely not our best team. This is the best team GB can assemble using the guidelines set forth by Garber and Company. In other words play our guys screw the results. Adding Morales, Ventura and Lichaj make this team instantly better defensively. Adams should replace Morales when he becomes available Trapp should never wear the colors again after the roasting he took against Jamaica. Someone said it before me but Sargent made excellent runs all night but rarely got proper service. GB is an MLS shill.Go MLS beat Venezuela!

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  3. That is an uninspiring starting 11. I become resigned to the US currently having a very shallow talent pool with players who have a strong upside. Instead, I see a talent pool with a large number of mediocre players. The long-standing problems with finding a left back now seem to be endemic to a number of positions on the field including forward, winger, attacking mid, defensive mid and the two outside backs. Even goalkeeping depth where we used to have a string of really high-end players has deserted the team. This team is essentially a good group of centerbacks, plus the big three CP, WM and TA, plus Zack and Josy when he shows up. I’m really not expecting much from this group. That lost generation of early 90s players is killing this team as is the lack of elite talent.

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  4. We should all be concerned about Trapp. We have Adams and Mckennie, two young cebtral midfielders who are good enough to start in the Bundesliga, but cannot facilitate possession by any stretch of the imagination. Bradley can and should start over Trapp, but his inability to close players down defensively in certain situations hurts. Trapp will continue to start and this is a huge concern. Bradley is a better player in every way shape and form – just compare what the two players have done at Trapps current age. Bradley was already a tested international who’s been chosen to lead by every coach he’s ever played for. Trapp by comparison is a joke. We will not be playing attractive soccer this gold cup. Pomykal is the only player on the u20 team that can transition almost seamlessly into the full men’s team. They need to do fast track him. Good range of passing and high IQ. He could come in right now and put in the shift that Trapp will never be able to.

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    • You and i have the same take on the U20s and pomykal. He was the only one that could win 50 50 tackles and coyld possibly slide in now. Most peiple crushed him in their posts though so we are prob in the minority. In the paat, US has been more about athletes than skill. I think they went too far the other way with U20s this time and werent athletic enough. Do you agree? Im sure most would not …

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      • I do agree, that Pomykal is a stud! He’s a pure #10. We don’t have many distributors like him, Carleton, or Gio Reyna in US youth history. If you bring him to the MNT, too soon, he has a chance of getting played out of position (T. Adams). If he sticks to the MNT, he won’t be able to contribute his experience to his age group, (Sargent, Pulisic). If he doesn’t get playing time for his club, he won’t be seen. (Carleton, S. Moore, Keaton Parks). I think, the powers that be, should have all players born from ‘97 – ‘01, focused on Olympic qualifying & winning it. We haven’t been in a Olympic tournament in a long time. US has a rep, for pulling up youth players b4 it’s time; keeping players for multi- WC cycles; & in-game personnel decisions that mess up continuity. Playing Pomykal @ defensive mid, (6), would be in line with this reputation. I DO AGREE, that Trapp’s offense, & MBs defense, @ the pivot (6), is VERY concerning! I’m in favor of letting this ‘ol generation, fall on their shield. You don’t have to agree, with my comments. …but look @ the rosters from YNTs, U17s- U20s in the last 2 cycles, and you’ll see my point of view.

  5. Why did Berhalter not include Miles Robinson from Atlanta United? He is the best young defender in MLS. Shuts down everyone he faces. Fast, strong, smart. Any ideas on this?

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    • GB talent evaluating is thrash and it smells like an rotten egg smelling fart. This is the same Man that rates Roldan, Lewis, Omar, and Trapp. He also starts Adams at RB. Heck bring Back Geoff Cameron over Omar and bring Miles Robinson too. Fire GB. If we we get knocked out this Gold Cup to anyone but Mexico I will be pissed!

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    • GB talent evaluating is thrash and it smells like an rotten egg smelling fart. This is the same Man that rates Roldan, Lewis, Omar, and Trapp. He also starts Adams at RB. Heck bring Back Geoff Cameron over Omar and bring Miles Robinson too. Fire GB. If we we get knocked out this Gold Cup to anyone but Mexico I will be pissed!

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  6. Unlike Josh Sargent, Jozy Altidore should have a better time in front of goal. The veteran striker brings physicality and international experience to the squad and would be a pest for the Venezuelan centerbacks to deal with.

    How will Jozy “the log” have a better time when the same crew that couldnt do it against Jamaica is again going to be feeding Jozy? Plus GB said he wont play the whole game…. what then? Zardes bahaha…. We are doomed and GB is the worst coach we’ve ever had. Mexico beat them 3-1. Venezuela scored 1 goal against Mexico. That’s more than we could do against Jamaica. We could easily lose this game

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  7. While I know it’s a friendly, I’m disappointed to see so many of what I consider marginal players likely starting for this US team. We potentially have a pretty good team, but we have yet to play a lineup that has nothing but first stringers. I know that we have some injuries and lack of availability, but I find it frustrating that we keep putting out a makeshift, sometimes experimental team, so long after Arena left.

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    • That’s what happens when U.S. soccer drags it’s feet on naming a coach, or should I say settling for a coach. The new coaching staff is still in the sniffing butt stage of player evaluation. They really haven’t had the time to evaluate the player pool up close to really get a sense of how all the parts are going to come together.

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