ASN: This is What to Look For As U.S. Males Tackle Cuba

Will the U.S. males’s nationwide workforce make fast work of an inferior opponent, or will it get CONCACAF’d? We’ll all be tuning in to seek out out, and Brian Sciaretta shares his pregame ideas beneath.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
October 06, 2016
5:20 PM

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AT LEAST ON PAPER, the US ought to have little hassle with Cuba on Friday (4pm ET, ESPN2, UniMas).

Within the newest FIFA rankings, 116 areas separate the No. 22-ranked American aspect from Cuba, presently slotted within the 138th spot. However that solely tells a part of the story as a result of the subpar situations in CONCACAF street video games are by no means simple and the rocky political historical past between the 2 international locations ought to solely add depth to what would usually be a uninteresting pleasant.

Due to this, the sport towards Cuba will most likely be ugly however will probably be helpful preparation for the Yanks as they put together for the Hexagonal spherical of World Cup qualifying, which begins subsequent month. Over the following 11 months, the U.S. will face tough and hostile street video games in Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Mexico.

Right here’ s what I will be searching for on Friday.

Can the U.S. get off to a powerful begin?

Cuba is terrible, having gained only one out of its final seven video games. The one targets it has scored in that span got here in a 2-1 win over Bermuda. Within the different six video games it has been outscored 21-0, together with a 3-0 loss to French Guyana in March—it is most up-to-date contest

Cuba will likely be motivated on this recreation however the one factor it has going for it towards the US is an enthusiastic crowd and poor discipline situations—which has a method of neutralizing a expertise benefit.

The primary 10-20 minutes will likely be vital for the US to not permit Cuba to hold within the recreation longer than it ought to. If the US can soar out to an early lead, it ought to lead to a very simple afternoon.

Set items will likely be pivotal

With Cuba prone to bunker, set items could possibly be a deciding issue. The U.S. has gamers that may ship stable nook kicks—Sacha Kljestan is among the many greatest this season in MLS and this could possibly be a terrific event to show his price to Jurgen Klinsmann. Michael Bradley may also be harmful at occasions.

Whereas Jozy Altidore and Jordan Morris can get on the top of those deliveries, Cuba can have a tricky time marking American central defenders who’re all offensive threats on set items. Steve Birnbaum and Omar Gonzalez are each superb within the air whereas doubtless starters John Brooks and Geoff Cameron may even profit from a peak benefit.

Set items will supply Cuba, like every steep underdog, uncommon possibilities to get the ball into harmful positions. In dealing with most of these video games, the power to persistently defend free kicks is essential.

Debuts await Gooch and Horvath

Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and midfielder Lynden Gooch will doubtless obtain their first caps in Havana.

For Horvath, getting the within observe for the No. 3 goalkeeping spot is vital as a result of Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are each within the twilight of their respective careers. It’s no small feat that he has secured the beginning job at Molde at a younger age however at this second he is only one of many Individuals vying to be the following in line for the U.S. behind Howard and Guzan. It may be an attention-grabbing competitors.

For Gooch, will probably be very attention-grabbing to see how Klinsmann makes use of the California native, who may be very versatile and may play all throughout the midfield and even up high. Anticipate Gooch to see motion on the wings, which might make for 3 very younger exterior midfielders on the roster: Gooch, Paul Arriola, and Christian Pulisic.

Can Arriola be the X-factor?

Whereas he isn’t a lock starter for Liga MX-leading Membership Tijuana, Paul Arriola has carried out very effectively in his first two video games with the senior aspect, scoring two targets and registering an help. Like he did with the U.S. U-20 workforce, Arriola has raised his recreation on the worldwide stage and has been a welcome supply of power.

This roster continues to be lacking some high U.S. gamers there’s competitors to be a part of the World Cup qualifiers forward. So will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Arriola can proceed to be a sparkplug off the bench and drive his method onto the workforce. If he intends to develop into a daily invitee, he must reap the benefits of alternatives like this one.

Danny Williams vs. Perry Kitchen

It is uncommon that each Kyle Beckerman and Jermaine Jones are usually not a part of a U.S. roster on a FIFA worldwide date. However that ought to open door for his or her eventual predecessor(s). Both, or each, must make a declare to play alongside Bradley as veterans start to age out.

Williams, 27, has had many possibilities with U.S. relationship again to October 2011 however has at all times drifted out and in of the workforce, unable to grab his possibilities. Kitchen, 24, solely has 4 caps however is stuffed with confidence after being named the captain of Scottish membership Hearts.  

Expectations rising for Morris

In his first yr with the nationwide workforce, Jordan Morris was only a school child and expectations had been modest—so something he completed appeared spectacular. However now Morris is a longtime Main League Soccer striker who’s having fun with a terrific rookie season. He has improved steadily and has stepped as much as fill the void left by an ailing Clint Dempsey, taking part in a pivotal position because the Seattle Sounders push towards the postseason.

Morris doubtless will not begin forward of Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wooden however there’s a clear opening for him to safe an even bigger position on the workforce. And with two injury-prone strikers—Altidore and Aron Johannsson—of the chance forward of him within the pecking order, Morris will likely be totally conscious of what is at stake. 

The Sounders have a large midweek recreation on October 12, so it would not come as a shock to see Morris returning to his membership after Friday. The Cuba contest could be his solely probability to placed on a present. He’d higher ship.

Predictions

I predict the US wins 2-0 and I believe that Klinsmann will ship out this Beginning XI.

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