So many new faces. How does Jurgen Klinsmann put them together?
For the first time in the Klinsmann era, USMNT supporters have been able to safely predict the lineup in recent matches within the traditional 4-4-2, which has once again become the staple for the Americans.
TICKETS: USMNT vs. Belize at JELD-WEN Field on July 9
Will the US head coach maintain some consistency and carry over that general tactical of framework with this new group? Although he has the personnel to field a 4-3-3 for the Gold Cup, if any of these players are really going to be useful to the US in this World Cup cycle, they should stick to the 4-4-2.
And so assuming a 4-4-2, what can we anticipate for a starting XI on July 5 at Qualcomm Stadium against Guatemala in their Gold Cup tuneup? Here's my likely lineup, captained by RSL's Kyle Beckerman:
Nick Rimando
Oguchi Onyewu Clarence Goodson
Tony Beltran DaMarcus Beasley
Kyle Beckerman (C) Jose Francisco Torres
Josh Gatt Edgar Castillo
Landon Donovan
Will Bruin
BENCH: GK Sean Johnson, GK Bill Hamid, LB Corey Ashe, CB Michael Orozco Fiscal, RB Michael Parkhurst, CM Stuart Holden, CM/RM Mix Diskerud, CM/RM Joe Corona, LM/RM Alejandro Bedoya, FW Herculez Gomez, FW Jack McInerney, FW Chris Wondolowski
The substitutes at goalkeeper and defender are straightforward, as are the possible swaps at forward (McInerney for Donovan and Gomez or Wondolowski for Bruin).
It gets slightly more tricky in midfield, where Mix Diskerud and Joe Corona will likely have to operate out wide, unless Klinsmann switches to the 4-3-3.
What do you think the starting XI should look like? What formation should the UMSNT use during the Gold Cup?
CHICAGO (March 13, 2013) – The U.S. Men’s National Team was
drawn into Group C
of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup along with Belize, Cuba and Costa Rica. The U.S. will open group play against Belize on July 9 at JELD-WEN Field in Portland, Ore., before traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah to face Cuba at Rio Tinto Stadium in their second group match on July 13. The United States finishes the group in Hartford, Conn., against Costa Rica on July 16 at Rentschler Field. - See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/mens-national-team/2013/03/us-mens-national-team-drawn-into-group-c-of-2013-concacaf-gold-cup.aspx#sthash.VkAjQyrA.dpuf
