Game Preview 10/15 vs Panama

Well the last game of the Hex is here, and the US has already clinched 1^st place in CONCACAF. Tonight’s game will really play more like a friendly for the US than a World Cup Qualifier, but it could be the difference between figurative life and death for the Panamanians. 

Panama is still alive on the road to Brazil, but will need a win and help from Costa Rica against Mexico. Anything other than a Panama win and Mexico loss will result in elimination for Panama and at least a playoff against New Zealand for Mexico.

But here at 50Stars we are all about the US national team, so that is what I will focus on in this preview. I will admit that this could be the first time in my life I might be rooting against the USMNT (fully depending on the Mexico result. If they get a point or more, I’m obviously 100% in the Stars and Stripes’ corner). While the game doesn't mean anything to the US National team, you can bet it means a whole lot to some of the players. As Kyle Beckerman said in an interview with ESPN today, "anytime you get a chance, it is an audition. So for a lot of us this is a stage to try and shine by helping the team win." With so many of the players who figure to be playing tonight fighting for a plane ticket to Brazil next summer, you can bet on 100% effort from every player on the field.

The game tonight will test the US’ depth maybe more than any game over this entire World Cup cycle. The list of players missing is ridiculous. Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Omar Gonzalez, Tim Howard, Matt Besler, and Eddie Johnson are all off the roster for one reason or another. Jozy Altidore was named captain, which seems to mean that Demarcus Beasley at least won’t be in the starting XI. For those keeping score at home, that’s nine of the eleven that Jurgen has seemed to favor recently, and all five of the midfielders. That leaves just Jozy Altidore and Brad Evans as players we would typically see starting with everyone healthy. This is very typical in a friendly, and in that case both teams tend to be missing a lot of key players. However, tonight’s game will be against Panama’s full squad. 

Defensively, tonight could be a bit of a nightmare, which won’t be anything new for goalie Brad Guzan, who is used to having to rescue the defense at Aston Villa. The center backs will be Clarence Goodson and Geoff Cameron. Cameron seems to have locked up a roster spot in Brazil, and Goodson seems to be competing with John Anthony Brooks and Michael Orozco for the 4^th spot at CB. Brad Evans has held down the right back spot throughout much of qualifying and will be there again tonight. At left back, the offensively talented but defensively challenged Edgar Castillo should be seeing a rare start.

I am personally a big proponent of the 4-2-3-1 when our roster is healthy. I think Jozy’s best fit is when he is alone up top and has three supporting midfielders and a team that doesn’t flow too centrally. I also have always been a little suspect of our defense, and the two midfielders at the back help with coverage as well as controlling the center of the field, which is hugely important to what Jurgen Klinsmann wants to do. However, with all five of our typical midfielders missing tonight’s game, I don’t think we have enough midfield depth to run a formation that requires five.

If we do run a 4-2-3-1, the midfield would almost certainly be Beckerman-Kljestan at the back, with Bedoya, Diskerud, and Zusi up ahead. The only real question is which side would Zusi and Bedoya play, as they are both strongest on the right. Zusi came on in the 2^nd half against Jamaica for Donovan on the left and changed the game. He was definitely one of our better players, so I would put him on the left again. This would leave only Brad Davis on the bench, who I do not think is an international level player.

But I would much prefer to see a 4-4-2 diamond with the roster we have. I think a midfield of Beckerman in the back, Zusi and Bedoya on the wings, Diskerud at the front with both Altidore and Johannsson up top is a much stronger lineup than what we could do with a 4-2-3-1. It also gives us the option of bringing Sacha Kljestan off the bench in the 2^nd half for Beckerman if we need more offense, or for either Diskerud or Johannsson if we need more defense. I think Beckerman deserves to get a start after his very solid Gold Cup, and Klinsmann seems to agree based on his extremely praiseworthy comments of Beckerman over the past week.

I doubt any American soccer fan will have a problem with both Diskerud and Johannsson being in the starting lineup again, as they are becoming quick cult favorites.

My prediction for the night is a 2-2 draw.

STARTING XI: http://americansoccernow.com/matches/53/starting_xis/8303?is_new=true