3 ways the USMNT could line up at the 2017 Gold Cup
The 23-man squad for the U.S. men's national team has been announced, and head coach Bruce Arena has called up a cast of new contenders for various spots ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Regular senior-team players like Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Christian Pulisic, and Tim Howard were left out of the team, but can be added for the knockout rounds. For now, here are three ways Arena could line up his side in the Gold Cup's group stage:
The modern 3-5-2
More and more teams are setting up with three-man backlines as high-flying full-backs dominate the flanks allowing more central attackers to flourish down the middle. In this current roster, Arena has the kind of personnel to build a 3-5-2 system utilizing the attacking and defensive acumen of Toronto FC's left-back Justin Morrow and Sporting KC's Graham Zusi out wide.
In fact, it's in this formation where Zusi and Morrow are preferred to Eric Lichaj and Jorge Villafana, with three center-backs all offering equal measures of skill and physicality. Putting Alejandro Bedoya at No. 10 is a bit of a gamble, but the option of going with a 3-4-3 instead could also see Kenny Saief or Gyasi Zardes slot in up top to the left of Juan Agudelo.
A midfield duo of Kellyn Acosta and Dax McCarty is preferred, too.
The tried-and-true 4-3-3
The U.S. has played well in flat-midfield 4-3-3 formations in the past and in this model, Alejandro Bedoya enjoys a more traditional No. 8 role while Zardes, Agudelo, and Morris share attacking responsibility up top. Dom Dwyer can also slot in ahead of Agudelo, but he'll more likely feature off the bench, along with fellow newcomers in midfield Cristian Roldan and Kelyn Rowe.
Choosing a back-four, particularly a center-back pairing, is down to preference, but we imagine Matt Miazga isn't simply going to be a bystander in the Gold Cup. Omar Gonzalez is the best option in the middle, while Matt Hedges and Matt Besler are also available when needed.
This formation also calls on Villafana and Lichaj out wide, which offers a bit more defensive solidity, despite Morrow offering Arena plenty of versatility in his own play, capable of slotting in out wide or at center-back.
The flat 4-4-2
This formation sees Arena call upon a pair of wide talents in Kenny Saief and Paul Arriola, both of whom don't quite fit in the other two formations. Saief is a new face in the U.S. squad, having recently applied for a one-time switch of international team allegiance having played for Israel in the past.
The KAA Gent attacker is juxtaposed by Club Tijuana winger Arriola, who has a handful of international appearances in the last two years after establishing himself as a key component in the Mexican outfit's starting XI.
Other options Arena could look to include Arriola's Tijuana teammate Joe Corona in midfield instead of Dax McCarty; the two have built a solid relationship in the right-hand segment of Tijuana's 4-4-2 and could translate that understanding into Arena's national team, if needed.