The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) has made nine changes to its starting lineup for the final group stage match against Türkiye. Manager Mauricio Pochettino implemented these adjustments for the game at Los Angeles Stadium. Among the few players retaining their spots from the previous match against Australia are midfielder Weston McKennie, who will serve as captain, and striker Ricardo Pepi.
These modifications come as the USMNT has already secured its place in the knockout round as group winners. The changes allow for resting key players and providing playing time to others. Four regular starters—midfielder Tyler Adams, striker Folarin Balogun, defender Chris Richards, and fullback Antonee “Jedi” Robinson—are being withheld due to having one yellow card each. This measure aims to prevent them from accumulating a second yellow card, which would result in a suspension for the upcoming Round of 32 match.
Defenders Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson are set to make their World Cup debuts in this match. Additionally, forward Brenden Aaronson and goalkeeper Matt Turner will see their first minutes of the tournament. Cristian Roldan is unavailable for selection due to a quadricep issue.
A notable decision is the starting role for Matt Turner in goal over Matt Freese. Turner had started all four matches for the U.S. in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but was replaced by Freese before the Gold Cup last summer. Freese has faced 13 shots and four on-target in 180 minutes during the tournament so far. His command of the area has been noted as lacking, with both Paraguay and Australia managing to deliver crosses to targets within eight yards in the opening 10 minutes of their respective games.
Another point of interest for the match is the potential involvement of star forward Christian Pulisic. Pulisic did not play in the 2-0 victory over Australia due to a calf injury sustained in the 4-1 win against Paraguay. He expressed feeling positive about his recovery, stating he has rejoined the team in recent days and hopes to play a part in the match.
The USMNT is aiming for a perfect record in the group stage. The team’s strong performance, including two convincing wins, has generated optimism among fans. This contrasts with some typical tournament favorites, such as Spain, which drew with Cape Verde, and England, which could not overcome Ghana.
The team’s success means they are likely to avoid some of the stronger contenders for a period. FIFA’s website has confirmed that the United States’ opponent in the Round of 32 will be Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of the outcomes of tonight’s or future group games. This match is scheduled for July 1 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The officiating crew for the match includes referee Mustapha Ghorbal from Algeria, with fellow Algerians Mokrane Gourari and Abbes Akram Zerhouni as the on-field assistants. The UAE contributes Omar Al Ali as the fourth official and Mohammed Alhammadi as the reserve official. The VAR official is Antonio Garcia of Uruguay, supported by Mahmoud Ashour from Egypt and Juan Lara from Chile.
The atmosphere at Los Angeles Stadium is described as boisterous, despite the lack of tension regarding qualification, as the U.S. has already advanced. Dignitaries expected to be in attendance include Kamala Harris and Second Lady Usha Vance. Security measures are in place, with Secret Service agents positioned at the front of the VIP boxes.
The match also provides an opportunity for players like Gio Reyna to make an impact in his first World Cup start. He was less effective in a previous start against Senegal and is currently behind McKennie and Tillman in the midfield pecking order. A strong showing could help him secure more playing time. Similarly, Ricardo Pepi will look to add to his international scoring record, having previously struggled to score consistently outside of Concacaf competitions.
The USMNT will play their next match in the Round of 32 on July 1.
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Source: theguardian.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.