Major lineup adjustments for USMNT
The United States Men’s National Team manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has implemented nine changes to the starting lineup for the final group stage match against Türkiye. This marks the most significant number of adjustments a USA team has made between two World Cup matches, surpassing the previous record of five changes between the Germany and Iran games in the 1998 tournament.
Only midfielder Weston McKennie, who will serve as captain, and striker Ricardo Pepi are retained from the previous 2-0 victory against Australia. These modifications are reportedly due to several factors, including the team having already secured its place in the knockout round.
Four regular starters—midfielder Tyler Adams, striker Folarin Balogun, defender Chris Richards, and fullback Antonee “Jedi” Robinson—are being rested. This decision aims to prevent them from accumulating a second yellow card, which would lead to a suspension for the upcoming Round of 32 match.
The changes also provide an opportunity for other players to gain experience and for key players to rest. Defenders Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson are set to make their World Cup debuts. Forward Brenden Aaronson and goalkeeper Matt Turner will also see their first minutes in this tournament. However, Cristian Roldan is unavailable due to a quadricep issue.
One notable decision is Turner starting in goal over Matt Freese. Freese has only 17 caps, and it was widely anticipated that Pochettino would keep him in goal to allow him more playing time in the World Cup. Turner, who started all four matches for the U.S. in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was unseated by Freese before last summer’s Gold Cup.
Pulisic’s status and team outlook
A significant question surrounding the match is whether star forward Christian Pulisic will participate. Pulisic did not play in the 2-0 win against Australia after sustaining a calf injury during the 4-1 victory over Paraguay. He has expressed feeling good and positive about his return, stating he hopes to play a part in the upcoming game.
The U.S., having won Group D, aims to maintain a perfect record in the group stage. The team’s strong performance has generated optimism among fans, especially given that many traditional tournament favorites have faltered. For instance, Spain drew with Cape Verde, and England was unable to break down Ghana.
The USA is projected to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, a team that finished third in Group A. This match is scheduled for July 1 in the San Francisco Bay Area. While this opponent is projected, it has not yet been officially confirmed.
The team’s path through the knockout stages could see them avoid some of the top contenders for a while. If they advance past Bosnia and Herzegovina, they would likely face the winner of Group G, potentially Egypt or Iran, or another third-place team. A potential quarterfinal matchup could be against Spain.
Despite the team’s strong showing, the path forward is not guaranteed, and the team could still face challenges from any opponent. The referee for the match is Mustapha Ghorbal, with Mokrane Gourari and Abbes Akram Zerhouni serving as the on-field crew. The VAR official is Antonio Garcia.
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Source: theguardian.com
