The USMNT begin their Gold Cup campaign on Saturday, July 8. Here are five players to watch.
U.S. Men’s National Team manager Bruce Arena decided to bring an inexperienced, young squad to the this summer’s Gold Cup. Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Christian Pulisic and Jozy Altidore weren’t selected for the tournament, as Arena opted to give an opportunity to some less proven talent ahead of next summer’s World Cup. However, the U.S. still have a team capable of winning. Here are five players to keep an eye on.
5. Alejandro Bedoya
Alejandro Bedoya is the most experienced player on the United States roster with 60 international caps. After playing in Europe for seven years, Bedoya signed with the Philadelphia Union in August 2016. He will likely start somewhere in midfield, and provide a link between defense and attack. He’s not the flashiest player in the world, but in what is likely to be a young side, he could have a big role to play.
4. Omar Gonzalez
Omar Gonzalez debuted for the national team in 2010 and has made 39 international appearances. However, the defender has fallen out of the USMNT picture over the last few years, as John Brooks and Geoff Cameron have moved above him on the center-back depth chart. He’s likely to start alongside either Matt Besler or Matt Miazga at the back, and a commanding tournament could put him back into Arena’s plans ahead of next summer. It’s going to be tough for Gonzalez to supplant either Brooks or Cameron, but if Arena wants to play with three center-backs, as he did in the U.S.’s last World Cup qualifier against Mexico, more often, Gonzalez could be a crucial player.
3. Brad Guzan
After nine years in England, Brad Guzan returned to MLS, signing with Atlanta United at the close of the 2016-17 season in Europe. The Gold Cup represents a major opportunity for Guzan to put some pressure on Tim Howard for the starting keeper job for the U.S. Howard wasn’t named in the Gold Cup squad, but seems to be first-choice for the World Cup. Still, at 38 years old, Howard’s days as USMNT start are numbered, and a good performance by Guzan would put him in a strong position. There’s also a lot of pressure on the former Aston Villa player. At 32 years old, next summer’s World Cup could be his last realistic opportunity to start a World Cup match. This is not an opportunity he can afford to miss.
2. Matt Miazga
Matt Miazga signed with the New York Red Bulls as an 18-year-old. After two seasons with New York, Miazga was signed by Chelsea. However, he has only played twice for the Blues. Last season the center-back spent the season on loan at Dutch club Vitesse, making 23 appearances. At 21 years old, Miazga could be the future of the American defense for the next decade. Miazga has the size and pace to develop into a solid defender in the Premier League. With John Terry’s departure from Chelsea, Miazga could parlay a strong showing at the Gold Cup into a bigger role with the Premier League champions next season. Even if he doesn’t, this will be his first real opportunity to impress Arena.
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1. Jordan Morris
Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris made his international debut in 2014 as a 19-year-old while still a student at Stanford. In his first season in MLS, Morris scored 14 goals as the Sounders won the MLS Cup. Morris hasn’t been quite so lucky with the national team, however, where he finds himself competing with Jozy Altidore, Bobby Wood, Clint Dempsey and even Christian Pulisic for minutes. There’s no shame in missing out to players of that caliber, but Morris will be relishing the opportunity he should get at the Gold Cup to play consistently from the start.