The top spot in the Concacaf World Cup qualifying standings is on the line on Sunday as the U.S. men’s national team travels to Canada to try and hand its neighbor to the north its first loss of the Octagonal and Gregg Berhalter shouldn’t have too tough a time deciding on a lineup.
The news that Tim Weah won’t play in the match due to failing to meet Canadian vaccination requirements for Covid takes one big option off the table for Berhalter, but the good news is he has two key contributors in line to return to the lineup after being left out against El Salvador.
Ricardo Pepi and Brenden Aaronson are good bets to return to the starting lineup, especially Aaronson given Weah’s absence. Berhalter’s decision to start Jesus Ferreira over Pepi against El Salvador was one of the bigger surprises from Thursday, and Ferreira did enough to keep himself in the conversation for playing time. That being said, Pepi is a safe bet to return to the lineup.
The USMNT defense posted another shutout, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see any changes to the back four. The big question is whether Berhalter gives Chris Richards another start, or he turns to Miles Robinson, who was in such good form in the second half of 2021. Ultimately, Robinson could lose out due to the fact he isn’t in season and Richards is in mid-season form and fully match fit.
With all that in mind, here is a look at the lineup we could see the USMNT deploy against Canada on Sunday, and the lineup SBI would like to see:
Projected USMNT Lineup vs. Canada
SBI’s Preferred USMNT lineup vs. Canada
Goalkeeper
Who will start: Matt Turner
Who should start: Matt Turner
Another start, another shutout for Turner, who should remain in the lineup with Zack Steffen still sidelined by back spasms.
Defenders
Who will start: Sergiño Dest, Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman, Antonee Robinson
Who should start: Sergiño Dest, Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman, Antonee Robinson
Walker Zimmerman has cemented his place in the lineup with continued steady play, leaving the big question of who partners with him in the middle? Chris Richards hasn’t put a foot wrong in his qualifying starters, and is in midseason form, but Miles Robinson has been dominant at times in qualifying. It will boil down to how close to fully fit Robinson can be given he hasn’t played a match in months.
The fullback spots are locked in with Dest and Antonee Robinson, but Reggie Cannon’s strong defensive qualities could be called upon during the match if Canada’s wingers cause problems for Dest (or Robinson).
Midfielders
Who will start: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah
Who should start: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah
The MMA midfield was solid once again, and it’s getting tougher and tougher to see anyone breaking this trio up. That is, unless the Americans win on Sunday, which might then open the door for Berhalter to look at some other options against Honduras.
Forwards
Who will start: Brenden Aaronson, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic
Who should start: Brenden Aaronson, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic
Weah’s absence hurts, but there’s also a chance he wouldn’t have started even if he was available. Aaronson’s Red Bull Salzburg is in its winter break, but Aaronson should still be fit and ready to start.
And what of Christian Pulisic? The effort is clearly there, but the sharpness isn’t, and while it’s nearly impossible to envision him being benched, Pulisic will need to be be much better on Sunday if the Americans are going to earn the win.
Could Berhalter throw a wild card and start Paul Arriola or Jordan Morris? Bringing one or both of them off the bench seems like a safer bet.
At striker, Pepi should get the nod, even though you can argue Jesus Ferreira showed some good things playing as a false nine. His combination play is superior to Pepi’s but Pepi gives the Americans a dangerous target up to, and Canada’s central defense could struggle to deal with his combination of aerial ability and good movement.
What do you think of the projected starting lineup options? Which lineup would you go with?
Share your thoughts below
It is interesting that MLS is often criticized for the poor quality of defending, with the justification being that with limited budgets, clubs spend their money on attackers that draw eyes. And yet, the only MLS players posted here as potentially starting are the two center backs and the goalkeeper.
I expect a lot of changes (not saying this is what I would do, just what I think GGG will do). McKennie and Dest took knocks at the end of the ES game and Adams is on a yellow. I think GGG sees the likelihood of getting 3 points vs Hondorus much greater than vs Canada so he will rest a lot of players (and not risk a yellow for Adams). Musah has also shown he gets winded so I don’t think he is going to be able to play 3 games in 7 days. Unpoularly, I would not be surprised to see a 5-3-2 and for GGG to play for a tie and just boot the ball long and hope for individual brilliance on a counter which is essentially how Canada seems to play in all their games I have seen.
Turner
Cannon-Mrob-Zimm-Richards-Yedlin
Roldan-Acosta-de la Torre
Aaronson-Pulisic
Remember when the US beat Canada 4-1 with a front line of Lletget-Zardes-Morris? I know Lleget is playing worse, Morris blew out his knee again, and Gyasi is still Gyasi. Also Tajon! And Eustaquio! And David is better and Larin has regained his Orlando form.
I posted what I think GGG will do which will be incredibly unpopular but it hasn’t shown up yet. I remeber when US played Canada with a midfield of Acosta, Letget, and Roldan and had over 70% posession.
Weston, zardes, and Arriola, we’re all in the starting lineup when USA defeated Canada 4-1.