ASN: 5 Issues to Take into account Forward of U.S.-Puerto Rico Sport

The Yanks shall be closely favored to win Sunday in Puerto Rico, however this pre-Copa America Centenario warm-up may present clues as to Jurgen Klinsmann’s pondering forward of the summer time’s massive event. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
Might 21, 2016
12:25 PM

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THE UNITED STATES males’s nationwide group will tackle Puerto Rico Sunday (12pm ET, FS1) within the first of three friendlies within the run-up to Copa America Centenario. Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad is closely favored within the first-ever assembly between the groups however this sport may provide key insights into how the German coach will handle a number of excellent points earlier than the massive event begins.

Listed below are 5 issues I shall be waiting for on Sunday.

Uncertainty at each fullback roles

Each the left and proper again positions are up for grabs, and the dialog at fullback begins with DeAndre Yedlin.

Up to now below Klinsmann he has primarily performed as a winger and solely appeared to have earned his coach’s belief at his most well-liked proper again towards weaker opponents. After a profitable season at Sunderland, the place he featured prominently in a profitable relegation struggle, Yedlin seems prepared to assert the best again place. Puerto Rico is a weak group and gained’t provide any set conclusions however maybe it’s going to provide perception. If Yedlin performs on the wing Sunday, it’s going to recommend Klinsmann is just not satisfied the Seattle native is prepared for that defense-first function.

If not Yedlin, the best again job may fall to Nottingham Forest’s Eric Lichaj (in his first nationwide group camp since 2012) or central defenders Geoff Cameron or Michael Orozco, who’ve each performed proper again below Klinsmann. A closing chance could be Fabian Johnson.

Left again can also be a bit unsure. With the U.S. Johnson has performed extra minutes at left again than another place. Whereas he’s extensively regarded to be a greater midfielder, Johnson has supplied stability on the left again place that has troubled the nationwide group for many years. For what it is value—not a lot—Johnson is listed as a midfielder on this roster.

If Johnson does play in his most well-liked midfield function, who will play left again? Tim Ream has an excellent probability regardless of primarily taking part in as a centerback. Lichaj, who has frolicked on that aspect of the sphere on the membership stage, additionally may play on the left.

The almost certainly state of affairs is Yedlin beginning at proper again and Ream beginning on the left. After all, Timothy Chandler and Edgar Castillo additionally stay in rivalry for the Copa Roster whereas taking part in with their golf equipment.

Stress on John Brooks

It is onerous to think about a U.S. participant who has extra stress in these pre-Copa friendlies than John Brooks. There may be a lot of competitors for the 2 beginning central protection spots and Brooks is just not a lock. The Hertha Berlin product had an ideal season within the Bundesliga however has but to have a constant run of sturdy defensive outings for the U.S. He’ll get possibilities primarily based on his membership kind, however will it translate to the worldwide stage? If it doesn’t, he wouldn’t be the primary American participant to carry out a lot better for his membership.

It is fairly doable that Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler begin in central protection within the Copa America Centenario opener gainst Colombia on June 3. Along with Besler, Ream is one other contender for the left-centerback spot. Each gamers have loads of expertise below Klinsmannn.

If Brooks will get the prospect towards Puerto Rico or the friendlies that observe, he has to benefit from it.

Will any younger gamers emerge?

There are seven gamers on the roster for the Puerto Rico pleasant who should not a part of the 40-man preliminary Copa America roster. The gamers to look at listed below are Fafa Picault and Emerson Hyndman who’re each prone to see minutes towards Puerto Rico. Picault is an intriguing possibility as a result of the U.S. ahead pool is skinny resulting from advancing age and injury-prone gamers like Jozy Altidore and Aron Johannsson.

Hyndman appears to be a Klinsmann-type participant. He’s very technical and may actually assist his group in possession. As a disciplined central midfielder, he may be part of Christian Pulisic as a key member of the subsequent era of U.S. internationals.

In the meantime, Julian Inexperienced has made a sequence of poor selections for the reason that World Cup when he was seen as an enormous a part of the nationwide group’s future. It’s too early to name Inexperienced a bust however he’s teetering. A robust exhibiting towards Puerto Rico might be simply what he wants to show issues round.

Perry Kitchen or Danny Williams?

One other potential roster battle I am curious to see: Perry Kitchen vs. Danny Williams for the defensive midfield place. Kyle Beckerman has owned this function for a while now, taking part in behind Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones in key U.S. matches. Beckerman’s consistency in a deep-lying place has allowed Bradley and Jones the liberty to push ahead in assault.

The issue, after all, is that Beckerman is now 34 years previous and has misplaced a step or two. Williams and Kitchen each seem like sturdy candidates to take his spot—if not this summer time than within the years forward. Sunday’s sport may present some readability on who’s subsequent in line for the essential No. 6 function.

Tim Howard or Brad Guzan?

It what has traditionally been the U.S. nationwide group’s strongest place, there are a shocking variety of questions among the many prime two goalkeepers.

Tim Howard misplaced his beginning job at Everton in the course of the second half of the season and doesn’t resemble the stalwart who carried out so properly towards Beligum within the 2014 World Cup spherical of 16. Equally, Brad Guzan is coming off an terrible season with Aston Villa. The Birmingham-based membership was horrible all season lengthy however Guzan didn’t assist his trigger in the course of the 2015-16 marketing campaign. It might be comprehensible if he was even a bit shell-shocked nowadays, contemplating the nonstop onslaught he confronted earlier than dropping the beginning function.

If Guzan will get the nod towards Puerto Rico, he should seize the second. It all the time appeared doubtless that Guzan was going to the be the subsequent U.S. nationwide group beginning keeper after Howard however that’s much less clear now than ever earlier than.