By Graham Ruthven
Underneath strain
The US males’s nationwide group aren’t the place they need to be proper now. With the 2026 World Cup on residence soil now lower than a yr away, Mauricio Pochettino’s aspect are in unhealthy form. Supporters are beginning to panic.
Final week’s pleasant defeats to Türkiye and Switzerland solely added to the priority, extending the USA’s dropping run to 4 video games. The 4-0 loss to Switzerland was notably damaging because the USA regarded grossly out of their depth.
It is very important be aware that this present USA squad isn’t the one that may play on the World Cup. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and others are all lacking, which means Pochettino is counting on children and fringe gamers.
Nonetheless, it’s inconceivable to disregard the negativity across the USMNT proper now. Pochettino wants displaying on the Gold Cup to show issues round.
Trinidad and Tobago, however, enter Sunday’s match on the again of a reputable 2-1 loss to Costa Rica and a 6-2 demolition of Saint Kitts and Nevis in World Cup qualifying. They’re buoyant.
Key gamers
Diego Luna is the beating coronary heart of Pochettino’s USA. The Actual Salt Lake playmaker is among the few gamers who seems to be to have embraced the supervisor’s concepts, giving the US some much-needed depth and creativity within the remaining third.
Patrick Agyemang is one other who has earned Pochettino’s belief. The Charlotte FC centre ahead is uncooked and isn’t all the time probably the most exact in entrance of objective, however has the bodily attributes to trigger opposition defences issues in fast transition.
Tyler Adams will begin on the base of the midfield if match and out there whereas Luca De La Torre may come again into the lineup. The San Diego midfielder was missed within the loss to Switzerland.
On the again, Chris Richards is the dominant defensive presence within the US backline. It will likely be on the FA Cup-winning centre again to organise and lead the USA in defence.
Levi García discovered the again of the web for the Soca Warriors towards Costa Rica and will equally be a risk towards the USA. Coach Dwight Yorke will even want the expertise of Alvin Jones and Kevin Molino to safe a consequence.
Staff information
Adams missed the pleasant towards Switzerland with a minor damage after taking part in the second half of the slim defeat to Türkiye. The Bournemouth midfielder is essential to the USA who want him in central midfield.
Pochettino faces a choice over his beginning goalkeeper. Matt Turner’s rustiness was on show within the 4-0 defeat to the Swiss as he made a blunder which led to the third objective. New York Metropolis FC goalkeeper Matt Freese could possibly be given a possibility from the beginning on Sunday.
Josiah Trimmingham suffered a knee damage within the pleasant towards Costa Rica and received’t function towards the USA. Jones is eligible to play regardless of being proven a crimson card in Trinidad & Tobago’s final outing.
Prediction
Regardless of all of the absences and the media speak, we consider the US may have sufficient to get previous Dwight Yorke’s underdogs on this opening contest: USA 2-0 Trinidad & Tobago.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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