Yes US Soccer fans, it’s that time of year. Last season is a memory, the SuperDraft has come and gone, MLS pre-season training has begun, and the USMNT is set for two friendlies post-January Camp. This past weekend, Jurgen Klinsmann announced his 23-man squad for the friendlies. Now that we have the roster in front of us, what should we look for on Wednesday?
Road To The Gold Cup: US vs Chile Preview
It’s about the performance more than the result:
Chile is a really good team. Although a rung below Brazil and Argentina, they are part of the class of South American soccer nations. However, their roster for Wednesday is very inexperienced. Alexis Sanchez, Eduardo Vargas, and captain goalkeeper Claudio Bravo are not with the team. Five of the 21-man squad have fewer than 10 caps. Over half of the roster have yet to appear for the national team. And you thought Klinsmann was experimenting with new players.
That said, this Chile roster is still very talented, Klinsmann will be experimenting, and Estadio Nacional is a very hostile venue. Ultimately, these two friendlies are about the performance not the result. The young players can’t fall on their faces if they get an appearance. The regular first team players need to be leaders and make plays. Guys who are coming off an injury, like Matt Besler and Michael Bradley, need to show they’ve recovered well.
If the U.S. lose 2-0, but don’t let Chile dominate possession, get several set piece chances, and the keepers don’t need to make 10 saves, then they’ve got something to build on. If the squad earn a draw and look good doing so, January Camp was a complete success.
Chile’s going to show something the USMNT hasn’t seen in awhile:
In the World Cup, Chile ran mostly a 5-3-2, but does a bit of 4-3-3 as well. They are going to show a formation and style of play that the US hasn’t really seen, save some disappointing trips down to Costa Rica. Formation aside, La Roja are excellent in the high press, and they victimize anything but quality buildup out of the back. They turn you over, move the ball around on very well, and make the back four’s life miserable by throwing numbers forward. This match is about preparing for Copa America next summer and Chile is an excellent warm up for a potential show down with Brazil or Argentina.
This is an excellent challenge for the defenders. Besler’s ability to stop fires before they happen will be tested. So will Deandre Yedlin with his speed and recognition about when to go forward or not. The back four need to stay organized and communicate. If there is a designated holding midfielder, he needs to have an excellent game acting as the shield to the back line. Furthermore, Chile will augment their formation at times. When they throw numbers forward, it’s like changing gears. The 5-3-2 becomes a 3-5-2 as the full backs push up. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the US responds to this. Matt Hedges and Besler have shown in MLS they can stop fires before they start. They’ll have plenty of chances to do that on Wednesday.
How the midfield skill players move the ball around:
This is a very technically sound midfield. Lee Nguyen is coming off an MVP-nomination campaign. Wil Trapp and Luis Gil have shown flashes of chance-creation greatness. Then there’s Brek Shea back from the dead. The only question mark may be Miguel Ibarra simply because he hasn’t been tested beyond USL-Pro.
Going off the previous point, playing against an unfamiliar formation is going to be challenging for the midfield. The one thing this roster is missing is a true holding mid (Perry Kitchen is listed as a defender). If Mix Diskerud is put there again, he needs to show improvement. Klinsmann has a knack for using uncomfortable situations as motivation. Beyond that, this roster can plug multiple guys anywhere else in the middle of the field.
The formation itself doesn’t matter so much as long as everyone individually are in a position they thrive at. Shea’s going to play out wide. Having played very few minutes across the pond, does he still have the pace to run the channel and stretch the field? Lee Nguyen made an excellent pass against Columbia. He needs to get more minutes in this match and show he can be an attacking centerpiece. Bradley is going to be in a box-to-box role and should dictate the direction of play in the middle third. Everyone will have a supporting cast member. If they can do their jobs individually, things will work tactically regardless of who is where and substitutions.
Between the experience of the vets, youthful exuberance of the new players, and their combined ability on the ball, this midfield should be able to string several passes together. They will be asked to be release valves when the back line is under pressure. Jermaine Jones creating a turnover should lead to service and a good counter attack opportunity. Furthermore, at some point in the match, the US should be able to hold possession and attack in waves for 15 minutes or so.
Several players have something to prove:
Yes, it’s just a friendly and most of these players are in preseason form (which is an oxymoron), but several of them need to show up in these next two friendlies in some capacity.
Jermaine Jones: If he’s lined up at center back, he’s got to produce. He can’t be constantly going to ground and giving away restarts, and no silly yellow cards. Bonus points if he does well defending set pieces. If he doesn’t, this position experiment needs to be over and he should go back to the midfield. This is more a reflection a coaching decision than him as a player.
Chris Wondolowski: Make no mistake, he’s great in MLS, but with his age and questionable finishing at the national team level, I really don’t get why he’s in this camp. If he’s trying to stick around for the Copa America, finish a chance you get or create something out of nothing like a good poacher.
All the young players and Brek Shea: I wouldn’t say their performances will make or break their national team careers. But a solid performance or one outstanding play will go a long way to getting another call up soon. Show the coaching staff something your peers aren’t. For many of them, this is an audition to make the preliminary roster for the Gold Cup.
Think I missed something? What are you looking to see on Wednesday? Get at me on twitter or in the comment section below.
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