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After a hard fought quarterfinal victory over Canada, the US men’s national team continues its quest for another Gold Cup title with Wednesday’s semi-final against Panama. While Sunday’s game showed the impressive tenacity of a young and unproven team, it also raised several questions about how the team would line up against Panama.
With only two days of rest after 120 minutes of play, interim head coach BJ Callaghan is likely considering a switch in his starting lineup for the semifinals. However, the appearance against Canada increases the chance that there will be starting places up for grabs. The USMNT really struggled to dominate and individual mistakes proved costly before the reigning champion secured a spot in Wednesday’s game through a penalty shootout.
That said, it isn’t all bad news. Several players have locked in their starting positions at this point, while a handful have also argued for themselves against Canada.
Here’s what you need to know before the game:
1. What to do in case of an attack?
Inconsistency was the name of the game at the top for the USMNT as the starting trio Julian Gressel, Jesús Ferreira and Alejandro Zendejas struggled to create chances. Example: The first shot on goal of the game came from Ferreira in the 10th minute… of first half stoppage time.
Things improved when Callaghan started introducing substitutes into the match Cad Cowell and Brandon Vázquez, who scored the opening goal in Cincinnati in the 88th minute. World Cup participants Jordan Morris And Christian Roldan also earned playing time, albeit mainly as fresh legs in extra time.
All three starting spots could be available on Wednesday, especially Zendejas’ spot on the wing. Our Chuck Booth has him as one of the players that is see their stock fall. The 25-year-old has yet to impress going forward, despite having competed in all of the USMNT’s games so far in this Gold Cup, which could warrant a spot on the bench based on both performance and need peace.
2. Is rotation elsewhere a must?
The attacking substitutes against Canada may be first in line for a starting role against Panama, and the same echoes all over the pitch. Callaghan is stuck on the back four combinations of Bryan Reynolds, Miles Robinson, Jalen NealAnd The John Jones since the second group stage match against Trinidad and Tobago, so rotation could be in the cards for at least one member of the group.
However, Wednesday’s game comes after an inconsistent performance for centre-backs Robinson and Neal against Canada. Robinson conceded one penalty and almost conceded another, but his resume makes the performance look more like a fluke than a showcase of his true self. As for 19-year-old Neal, his inexperience showed at times, making him the most likely contender to sit out Wednesday’s game. With Matt Miaz could fill in here, as could Aaron long.
Callaghan also seems to have a midfield of choice Gianluca Busio, James Sands, and Djorde Mihailovic, who all played all 120 minutes. If the coach chooses to rest some mainstays, a spot in midfield could become available for someone like Aidan Morriswho started the opener against Jamaica.
3.Consistency over freshness?
Several players have been the epitome of reliability throughout this Gold Cup run, so count on them to kick off the USMNT’s most important game yet. Matt Turner is expected to keep his starting spot, while tournament breakouts Jones and Busio are likely to join him in Wednesday’s lineup.
A preference for consistency could also benefit players like Roldan and Jordan Morris, especially with the uncertainty in attack. Both know the practice of international tournaments and everyone knows what they get when they enter the field because of their experience. The same could be true for Miazga and, in particular, Long.
However, if Callaghan picks a younger player, it could be a vote of confidence as fringe players look to boost their USMNT credentials ahead of next summer’s Copa Amércia.
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