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USMNT vs. Martinique: SBI Live Commentary

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The U.S. men’s national team takes on Martinique on Thursday night (10pm, FS1) at Children’s Mercy Park looking to secure its place in the quarterfinals, and also test out several new faces as Gregg Berhalter makes seven changes from the squad that beat Haiti.

Gianluca Busio, Eryk Williamson, James Sands and Matthew Hoppe will make their first USMNT starts against Martinique, with Busio becoming the second-youngest American player to ever start in a Gold Cup (second only to Juan Agudelo).

Here is the starting lineup Gregg Berhalter is deploying:

Here is SBI’s pre-match coverage, to get you ready for the action:

Episode 311 of The SBI Show previews USMNT-Martinique and breaks down the very starting lineup Gregg Berhalter has chosen (LINK)

The SBI match preview touches on the USMNT’s desire to improve on its performance vs. Haiti. (LINK)

After an impressive national team debut vs. Haiti, Gianluca Busio is poised to make an even more memorable encore. (LINK)


The SBI Editorial Staff will be sharing thoughts on the action in the comments section below. Please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions as well.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. Both USA and Canada through – not a surprise. 3rd group game about seeding but little else. We are starting to see some players already make a strong case for WCQ in September: Busio, Robinson, Acosta, Turner. Note it is 3 games per int’l break, so bench depth is key.

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  2. FT: Martinique 1 – USA 6. Daryl Dike (2), Nicholas Gioacchini, Gyasi Zardes, and Miles Robinson all scored goals tonight. Dominant performance from the Americans who saw a lot of fresh faces step up in starts. Up next a date with Canada on Sunday, but the quarterfinal spot has been clinched. Thanks for joining us tonight and be sure to check out our post game articles from the match over the next few days!

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  3. – Even with a weak opponent, you can see the quality Busio brings to the midfield. At 19, there is a high ceiling.
    – Good debut for Hoppe. Assume 60 minute cap as not in mid-season form. Easily moves ahead of Lewis, about even with Gioachinni for wing
    – Despite the lower level of competition, Dike is hard to defend inside the 18. Needs improvement on hold-up play
    – Mixed on Zimmerman. His main weakness was distribution from the back, but that has improved. Remains a solid defender.
    – Robinson should get a call for WCQ

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    • I agree with you on those points. Dike was a handful, Hoppe was technically very strong, Busio was lively, Zimmerman was quiet but did well defensively when needed and Robinson I think was the best defender on the field tonight. Will be interested to see how Gregg lines up the backline against Canada and also the quarterfinal.

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    • Well, to be the skunk at the garden party, I kept looking for Busio to distinguish himself and he didn’t stand out to me. I think people are so infatuated with him they see what they hope to see. When it came to dead ball deliveries, I can’t remember one that he took that was good quality. To me the biggest pleasant surprise was Hoppe.

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      • his free kicks were not all perfect but he delivered some dangerous ones too, right on the 6, near post…he tired as the game wore in imo and then his free kicks weakened

  4. Would do people think about Bello’s performance? Not sure he’s been any better than Vines. Not worse but not better either.

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    • It’s only one game, but Vines ahead right now. Vines is better with link-up play, despite having Lewis in front of him last game.

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    • disappointed by his perfomance. I wanna see Bello get another shot but right now him and Vines are pretty even. If WCQ tmw I wouldn’t wanna see either of them called up but I wanna give more games to Bello. Vines I’ve seen enough

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    • He was pretty quiet in the first half has found himself in better spots in the 2nd but I wouldn’t say a great performance given the opposition.

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    • As Holden pointed out, it was a scarcely deserved assist. Basically Dike picked it off. And good god… a guy wearing the 10 shirt finally picked up an assist after 21 appearances (still zero goals) and we are wanting to see more?!?! What is it that seduces some people with this guy?

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  5. Dike starts the play in the final third and finishes it with a chipped finish. 4-0 USMNT. The young forward has impressed all night. Where do you rank him in the USMNT striker pool?

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  6. Looks great but I wonder if after GB told everyone they’re not playing forward aggressively enough they’re over-doing it now. Could chill a little I think and look for opportunities.

    re Dike’s second goal isn’t the rule that an OG is when it was redirected into the goal? technically it was going in right?

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  7. I would like to see us get forward a lot more and better passing in final 1/3. Not overall bad. Hoppe brought his midfield skills IC!

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      • No disrespect Larry, but isn’t he showing you *exactly* what he has shown in every single performance he’s had to date? Decent enough, but also forgettable. And the crossing… jeez!

  8. Been impressed with Hoppe’s ability to drop deep and facilitate possession. Nice pass on Dike’s first goal as well.

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  9. Overall a strong first half so far. The second goal… just wow, that should have been scored twice before it was. Feel like it’s very comfortable so far. Thoughts on Dike being credited with the second goal?

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    • He does. Wonder how much that’s a function of how comfortable this match has been for the back line in general?

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    • He’s putting in a good showing as well. All over the place, picking up the ball in good spots. Would love to see him a little sharper in the final touch, but otherwise, he’s making a case.

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