USMNT: Predicting the Starting Line-up against Panama
By Sean Curtis
After thrashing Honduras 6-0 on Friday night, the USMNT looks to get three more points against Panama Tuesday night. Here is what the starting XI could (should?) look like.
The USMNT needed to come out guns blazing on Friday night, and they did. Throughout the 90 minutes, the USA looked like the better team, and the scoreboard backed that up by showing 6-0 at the end of the game. The USA can move into one of the automatic qualifying positions for World Cup 2018 if they can manage a win on Tuesday in Panama City. Here is my best guess at a lineup based upon my three game read of Bruce Arena:
With how well the 4-4-2 diamond formation worked on Friday, there is no reason to change things up. On top of that, the USA does not have the best personal to really change things up.
Starting with the top three of Pulisic, Altidore, and Dempsey, there is no need to change anything. The three played brilliantly together on Friday, and if you don’t believe me just look at the explanation of their tactics by Stars and Stripes FC. The combo of Dempsey and Pulisic proved to be especially lethal as Pulisic had two assists directly to Dempsey on Friday night.
When it comes to the rest of the midfield, there was nothing that showed me Nagbe or Bradley deserved to lose their spot. Nagbe played a quietly great game on Friday, and there is a lack of options in the outside of the midfield right now anyway. The only real argument against Bradley is that Jones is now back from suspension, but Bradley played well enough to keep his spot over Jones.
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The right side of the midfield is the only part that is a little up in the air. Sebastian Lletget was sent home after getting hurt early in the Honduras game, so we know there will be a different starter from the Honduras game. The only two real options here are Bedoya and Arriola, who was called in just for this game. I find it hard to believe a guy who was not on the initial roster would start over someone who was, so we go with Bedoya. Not the mention Bedoya was the one who filled in for Lletget and is known for his consistency and defensive backtracking.
The defense receives a bit of a shake up for Friday. Villafaña stays at LB because he played well, and the USA doesn’t exactly have many other options. Cameron stays at RB because we all hope it is not Zusi. John Brooks was sent home, so we must slot someone else into the LCB role. Ream was the choice that Arena made on Friday when he subbed out Brooks, so my best guess says he gets the start. Finally, Gonzalez was probably the worst player on the field for the USA Friday, so I hope Arena changes things up and gives Walker Zimmerman a run after his great January camp. Don’t be surprised if Gonzalez gets another start thanks to his experience, however.
Lastly, it should be no surprise that Tim Howard gets the start in goal.
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