IRVINE, Calif. — The group stage conclusion on Thursday between the U.S. men’s national team and Türkiye may not alter the Group D standings, yet it still offers significant opportunities for the USMNT to gauge their readiness for the knockout rounds.
Having secured the top position in Group D following wins over Paraguay and Australia, the U.S. will want to maintain their momentum. Türkiye, on the other hand, has unfortunately been eliminated from the tournament.
Although neither team technically has stakes in this match, both will be eager to perform. The U.S. aims to build on its recent successes while Türkiye will seek to regain some dignity, showcasing their talent in their final outing.
U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino faces some challenging lineup decisions. Should he rotate his squad entirely, or keep a few key players to maintain consistency and rhythm?
The choices he makes could significantly influence the U.S.’s performance against a still-formidable opponent.
Evaluating U.S. Depth
With the top spot already assured, Thursday’s match presents a great chance to rest some players and give benchwarmers a chance to showcase their skills. Therefore, Pochettino is likely to opt for a rotation strategy, which would help prepare more players for upcoming matches.
When it comes to players sitting out, there are clear candidates. At least four players holding yellow cards — midfielder Tyler Adams, forward Folarin Balogun, center back Chris Richards, and left back Antonee Robinson — should sit out to avoid risking a second yellow card, which would lead to suspension in the round of 32. This approach would allow players like Sebastian Berhalter, Ricardo Pepi, Mark McKenzie, and Max Arfsten the opportunity for more playing time.
An injury concern arises with midfielder Cristian Roldan, who seemed poised to substitute for Adams but might miss the game due to a muscle strain. Consequently, Weston McKennie or Malik Tillman may need to step in as defensive support alongside Berhalter.
Tillman has performed well as a No. 8 in Pochettino’s setup, balancing defensive duties and offensive contributions, while McKennie brings valuable World Cup experience that may be crucial if a less experienced lineup fields.
Ultimately, Pochettino will gain insights into the depth of his squad.
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Robson: Pulisic must start vs. Türkiye to gain match fitness
Should Pulisic Play?
Before the match against Australia, discussions around Christian Pulisic‘s left calf injury captured widespread attention. Was it merely a ploy to confuse Australia, or was he truly hurt? It turned out to be the latter, and while the U.S. won the match, their offensive cohesion seemed to falter after Pulisic left the game at halftime.
This raises another complex decision for Pochettino. He might choose to play Pulisic to help him regain match fitness for the knockout rounds, but there’s also a risk of exacerbating the injury. Alternatively, Pochettino could use a measured approach, substituting Pulisic for a short stretch of about 20 minutes.
Pochettino will likely assess the game’s flow before deciding to introduce Pulisic. Is the action intense or somewhat lackluster? Is the game turning aggressive towards the end, or simply winding down? The safest choice might be to keep Pulisic on the sidelines, but Pochettino is focused on ensuring the team is in peak condition and may opt for a brief appearance.
Challenges Posed by Türkiye
While no two teams are identical, the U.S. faced similar tactical styles in their initial matches against Paraguay and Australia, both of which employed gritty defensive strategies and favored counter-attacks.
In contrast, Türkiye represents a different challenge. With talented players like Real Madrid‘s Arda Güler, Inter Milan‘s Hakan Çalhanoglu, and Juventus‘ Kenan Yildiz, the Crescent-Stars have the capability to maintain possession and create goal-scoring opportunities, unlike Paraguay and Australia. Türkiye has dominated possession with a staggering 74.3% across their matches and created 46 scoring chances, the highest in the tournament thus far. However, they have yet to find the net, despite an expected goals (xG) tally of 3.53.
This suggests the U.S. might be spending more time on the defensive than in their previous matches. This situation could be beneficial, as the U.S. will likely need to tighten up defensively in the round of 32, and it could provide a chance for them to counterattack effectively.
So, while Türkiye may have already exited the tournament, they are poised to challenge the U.S. more than any previous opponent. The match will shed light on the U.S.’s defensive capabilities and help in their preparation for the challenges ahead.