USMNT Vs Canada: 5 key players to watch

USMNT Vs Canada: 5 key players to watch – DeAndre Yedlin returns

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Deandre Yedlin of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammate Miguel Almiron during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth at St. James Park on November 09, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – NOVEMBER 4: Sergino Dest of Ajax during the Training Ajax in London at the Stamford Bridge on November 4, 2019 in London United Kingdom (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

4. Sergino Dest

Everyone saw this one coming. Sergino Dest effectively made October 28th a national holiday when he decided to ditch the Netherlands and their slight upgrade on Tim Ream in defense, Virgil Van Dijk. And now he is involved in the USMNT for his first competitive match.

‘The fans here were very happy,’ Dest said at training on Wednesday. ‘They were a big influence on my decision,’ before upping the stakes for himself and his team, saying, ‘What happened (in October) against Canada will not happen Friday.’ These quotes are emblematic of Dest’s significance for this USMNT.

He believes in the group of players, the fans, and himself. This confidence should be on display on Friday as Dest sets out to deliver on his promise and restore a sense of calm to this program. Hopefully, he can provide the USMNT with some much-needed creativity and swagger moving forward against a mediocre Canadian defense.

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