The US males’s nationwide crew is all set to return to the Copa America dialogue this summer time having final featured within the competitors in 2016.
Earlier than the USMNT sq. off towards Bolivia on June 23 at AT&T Stadium, Gregg Berhalter’s facet will participate in part of worldwide friendlies vs Colombia and Brazil.
So as to maximize preparations for the highly-anticipated event, Berhalter may look to make a number of tweaks to his formation and in addition give a few new gamers an opportunity to show what they’ll do within the XI. It will be higher for Berhalter to experiment with new ways and formations when outcomes do not actually matter forward of the event vs attempting to make chaotic modifications throughout aggressive play.
Listed here are 5 methods the Stars and Stripes want to check within the Allstate Continental Clásico towards Brazil.
As many already know, Berhalter prefers to stay his 4-3-3 setup and usually would not deviate from that formation.
Nevertheless, his job may very properly be at stake ought to the US in some way not qualify for the quarter-finals, which implies it would not be a horrible thought to tinker with a distinct formation earlier than the outcomes begin to matter.
A 4-2-3-1 formation would enable Tyler Adams — if he is match — to supply safety for the backline alongside Weston McKennie whereas Gio Reyna may tackle an attacking midfielder position.
Gio Reyna is among the most gifted USMNT gamers to return by way of the ranks in fairly a while.
Nevertheless, Berhalter hasn’t at all times performed him in his most well-liked place — we have seen Reyna take up store on the wing and in central midfield, but when the US are to make a press release this summer time, Reyna ought to function as a No. 10 proper behind the beginning center-forward.
Towards Brazil, USMNT followers would like to see Renya lined up as an attacking midfielder simply in entrance of McKennie and Adams to actually see how the trio may work collectively at Copa America in a distinct setup.
Though the USMNT beginning lineup nearly picks itself when everyone seems to be wholesome, there might be gamers who could make a distinction off the bench late in video games.
Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun are prone to begin at their respective left-wing and striker positions, but when Tim Weah is not as much as scratch, Malik Tillman may take some minutes away from the Juventus participant.
Giving Tillman minutes towards Brazil could be a superb thought to assist additional combine him into the squad earlier than he will get his likelihood to shine in Copa America.
With Sergino Dest set to overlook Copa America by way of an ACL damage, Joe Scally is in primed to make the right-back place his personal this summer time.
Which means Berhalter ought to give the Borussia Monchengladbach participant the beginning nod at right-back towards Brazil as he has simply 9 appearances to his title on the worldwide stage and hasn’t regarded all that convincing when he is suited up.
Because the USMNT have have two friendlies towards Colombia and Brazil forward of Copa America, Berhalter ought to look to check out a brand new center-back pairing towards Brazil.
Berhalter usually selects Chris Richards and Tim Ream because the beginning defenders in entrance of Matt Turner. However Ream is not getting any youthful and would not have the identical tempo that Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers has.
Pairing Carter-Vickers together with Richards would enable Berhalter to see how the 2 work collectively and if they’re even match towards the quite a few fast forwards they’re going to come up towards throughout Copa America.
READ THE LATEST COPA AMERICA 2024 NEWS, PREVIEWS & PLAYER RATINGS
