USA vs. Costa Rica: Predicting the USMNT lineup

The USMNT face Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena on Friday in the first of two big September World Cup qualifiers. Here’s the lineup we think Bruce Arena will select.

The U.S. men’s national team have overcome a horrifying start to the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. After losing their first two Hexagonal matches, the United States have climbed back into the automatic qualifying zone of the table. The Yanks are now in third after two wins and two draws in their last four games.

Bruce Arena has certainly steadied the ship since taking over in late 2016. His side is now preparing for two more big 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The USMNT will face second-place Costa Rica on Friday at Red Bull Arena before traveling to fifth-place Honduras on Tuesday. The realistic goal will be securing four points from the two matches, but two wins would all but secure their place in Russia.

Here’s our best guess at the starting XI Arena will choose.

Forwards

The U.S. manager has been utilizing a two-striker formation as of late. Jozy Altidore figures to be a lock at one of the two spots. He has been impressive for Toronto FC this season, scoring 11 goals while assisting on five more in 21 appearances in MLS play. The big striker’s national team play has also been good: Altidore scored a goal in each of the Yanks’ final two games of this summer’s Gold Cup.

Bobby Wood is healthy again and seems the logical choice to partner with Altidore. He picked up his first Bundesliga goal in Hamburg’s second match of the season last Friday. The two have developed a decent chemistry up top for the USMNT.

Jordan Morris has played well for the national team this year, but has struggled for the Seattle Sounders this summer, scoring only three goals in 21 appearances. Clint Dempsey will surely be the first attacking sub for the U.S. in these two matches. Deuce was insanely efficient as a super-sub during the U.S.’s trophy winning Gold Cup run. What a wonderful luxury for the Yanks.

Midfielders

It’s safe to assume Arena will deploy his midfield in a diamond at home against Costa Rica, with Christian Pulisic behind the forwards and captain Michael Bradley in front of the back four. Pulisic is now firmly established as the key to the USMNT attack. If he plays well, the U.S. will qualify for the World Cup. It’s as simple as that.

Arena has an interesting decision to make in the wide midfield positions. Darlington Nagbe certainly starts as the Portland Timbers man has proven he needs to be on the field for the U.S. But which side will he start on? That will depend on who Arena chooses as his final midfielder.

Paul Arriola has shown well out wide for the Yanks in 2017. He will be deployed on the right if he’s in the lineup. But it’s hard to see how he beats out a healthy Fabian Johnson, even though the 29-year-old has only seen 10 minutes on the field in Borussia Monchengladbach’s two league matches. I expect he’ll be handed the left midfield role against Costa Rica on Friday, pushing Nagbe to the right.

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Defenders

Geoff Cameron is the only U.S. defender I’m 100 percent sure will get the start on Friday. Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez both received a lot of minutes in the Gold Cup and will be fighting for the left center-back spot against Costa Rica. I think Arena goes with Besler as he’s left-footed and tends to get caught out of position less than Gonzalez. Matt Hedges can keep his rear end firmly planted on the bench, thank you very much.

Jorge Villafana seems poised to start at left-back, although DaMarcus Beasley or even Fabian Johnson wouldn’t be that surprising. That being said, Arena has favored the Santos Laguna defender this year.

And here we are, once again, at right-back. I swear DeAndre Yedlin is staying injured just to spite me. All signs point to Eric Lichaj being the Newcastle man’s backup for the foreseeable future. But, when given the choice, Arena has elected to start Graham Zusi. He certainly has more experience, and he’s OK getting forward, but the Sporting Kansas City defender strikes fear into the heart of every USMNT fan when he is, you know, defending.

Tim Howard starts in goal.

Starting XI

Altidore – Wood

Pulisic

Johnson – Nagbe

Bradley

Villafana – Besler – Cameron – Zusi

Howard

The front three of Altidore, Wood and Pulisic should provide more than enough firepower to beat Costa Rica if the USMNT defend decently. That has been a big “if” at times this year. Nagbe and Johnson will help bridge the gap between Bradley and the attack, and they’re also more than capable of assisting their captain on the defensive end.

Villafana and Zusi will pick their spots to overlap the wings going forward. Zusi needs a steady game to justify his inclusion. He likely needs a steady game for the Yanks to collect all three points. I’ll be holding my breath until the final whistle.

Howard and the center-backs should be up to the challenge of cutting out any dangerous Costa Rican forays into the U.S. defensive third. If the USMNT are looking to hold onto a lead late, expect Kellyn Acosta to join Bradley in midfield.

Dempsey likely enters the game at some point no matter what. Morris and Arriola will be additional attacking reinforcements should the Yanks need a goal in the second half.