Predicted USMNT starting XI vs. Trinidad and Tobago
This USMNT continue their quest to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday in Denver. Here’s our best guess at the starting XI head coach Bruce Arena will choose.
The U.S. Men’s National Team are currently in fourth place in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, better known as the Hexagonal. After a disastrous opening two games, the Yanks, after dismissing Jurgen Klinsmann and instating Bruce Arena, secured four huge points in their March qualifiers.
Two more giant qualifiers loom as the USMNT are set to face last-place Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park before traveling to the extremely unfriendly confines of Azetca Stadium to take on first-place Mexico on Sunday.
Arena has been a calming influence on the Americans since beginning his second stint in charge. He’s done the simple things a national team manager should do — selecting in-from players, playing players in their best positions, clearly defining roles, being consistent in formation selection — that were somewhat rare under Klinsmann.
The U.S. manager has favored some version of the 4-4-2 in recent matches, whether it be the straight-forward variation or a diamond midfield. The rise of Christian Pulisic as the No. 10 U.S. fans have been waiting for their entire lives has made a diamond midfield much more plausible than it was when Klinsmann stuck defense-first Michael Bradley at the attacking tip of his version.
It was this formation that Arena employed on Saturday in his side’s tune-up friendly against Venezuela that ended in a 1-1 draw. It was … OK. The Yanks created some good chances early, but were unable to find the killer pass in the final third. It took a moment of brilliance from Pulisic to salvage the draw.
At home against against Trinidad & Tobago, it seems likely Arena will use the diamond 4-4-2 once again. On the road, especially against Mexico, he may fall back on the more standard version of the formation to allow as much defensive help as possible. Let’s take a position-by-position look at our predicted USMNT starting XI.
Forwards
Here’s where we may see one of the few changes. Clint Dempsey and Bobby Wood started up top against Venezuela and were largely ineffective. Deuce can look that way at times, regardless of formation, but is a constant threat to pop up and score a huge goal. There’s no way he doesn’t start.
So it will be Wood who makes way for the vastly experienced Jozy Altidore. While Wood is dangerous in front of goal and has speed to burn, Altidore provides more of a target and his hold-up, back-to-the-goal ability can be great when he’s in the mood. This will allow Dempsey and Pulisic to run off him into space in the box. More of that is needed if the Yanks are to secure three points against T&T.
Midfielders
I don’t see Arena making any changes to his diamond midfield for Thursday. Fabian Johnson didn’t have a great game against Venezuela on the left side but shouldn’t be in danger of losing his spot. He did provide the pass that set up Pulisic’s goal. Hopefully his struggles on the ball were a one-off.
On the right side, Darlington Nagbe did nearly everything right — blowing by defenders, linking with teammates — until he got into the final third, where it kind of looked like he forgot how to play soccer. I expect him to occupy the same role against Trinidad. He’s clearly a better option than Alejandro Bedoya in that position.
Michael Bradley has struggled off and on for at least a year with the Yanks, though he’s looked much better under Arena, sitting in his natural No. 6 position in front of the center backs. Bradley still needs to cut down on his turnovers and look up a bit more for opportunities to slice open the defense with incisive passes, but the U.S. captain’s spot is secure.
Finally, Pulisic just needs to be Pulisic. It’s not ludicrous to suggest he’s already the best attacking player the U.S. has ever produced. He has to be on the field and he needs the ball at his feet as much as possible. The option to link with Altidore will pay dividends on Thursday.
Defenders
This is the other area in which Arena may make a change. Center-back John Brooks came out of the match against Venezuela in the second half on Saturday with an apparent injury. It has been revealed the newly-minted Wolflsburg player has a bruised right quad and may be unable to go against T&T.
While this is unfortunate, center-back is one of the deepest position for the USMNT at the moment. Arena can choose from Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, Matt Hedges and Tim Ream to partner with Geoff Cameron. Two of these, Besler and Ream, are left-footed like Brooks, with Besler being the more likely choice of the two. But I think Arena selects Gonzalez because of his experience and mobility. Besler and Ream are slow as hell.
The outside backs should remain the same as we saw against Venezuela: Jorge Villafana on the left and DeAndre Yedlin on the right. Villafana has shown he belongs in this lineup since he was given the chance under Arena, and we all know what Yedlin brings to the table. However, it would be nice if the Newcastle man could keep defenders from skipping by him to a minimum.
Tim Howard has reemerged as the clear No. 1 under Arena. He made a couple spectacular saves on Saturday, saving his side from a disappointing scoreline. In Timmy we trust.
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Starting XI
Two key things will need to happen for the Americans to come away with three points on Thursday: they need to be more clinical in the final third and they need to defend set pieces.
The lone Venezuela goal on Saturday came after the Yanks failed to properly clear the ball after a corner kick. It was served back into the box and the U.S. were caught flat-footed. That simply cannot happen against Trinidad & Tobago.
Four more points from these two qualifiers would remove much of the remaining fear of the USA not qualifying for the World Cup. Winning in Mexico is always unlikely. They must win on Thursday.