Coach Gregg Berhalter will be forced to make changes to his starting lineup for the first time in the Copa America after Tim Weah was suspended for the U.S.’ 2-1 loss to Panama. The team came into this match with the same lineup after their win over Bolivia, so Panama was expected to dominate, but soccer can be entertaining at times. The U.S. now faces a win-or-lose scenario against Panama. Uruguay Even if they win, there’s no guarantee they’ll advance to the Copa America quarterfinals, making this a crucial match for coach Gregg Berhalter’s future.
Regarding who will replace Ware, coach Berhalter said:
“There are options. There are several players who can play in the winger position, Haji is fine, [Wright]Brenden [Aaronson]”The other guys have played there before so it will all work out,” he said.
How to watch and odds
- date: Monday, July 1st | time: 9pm ET
- positionArrowhead Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri
- tv set: FS1 | Live Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
- Odds: USA +145; Draw +220; Uruguay +195
On the wing, Gio Reyna, Aaronson and Wright can all play on the right wing, but Aaronson might be the best option against an opponent like Uruguay. Reyna plays deeper in midfield and can be pushed up in attack, but having an outlet in the midfield is important to counter Uruguay’s press. Reyna is a player who can win the ball in tight spots and dribble or find the right pass to get out of there. Being on the wing can sometimes put Reyna in situations where he doesn’t see the ball much, but having him play deeper allows Reyna to find the ball and control the game.
The game dictation also leads to another move Berhalter will have to consider. Tyler Adams His form has also been an issue going into this tournament. Adams was taken off after 45 minutes in both Copa America matches and didn’t feature prominently in either game. Adams is the best player in the USMNT midfield when healthy, but he’s not in this form and Yunus Musa It could be a way to attack Uruguay.
Musa has similar qualities to Reina in terms of being able to dribble out of tight spots, but also has a different profile to Adams at the base of the midfield. Able to push up and show passing range, the USMNT could use him in the midfield for continuous build-up play. Their defensive set-up would be lighter, but the best defense against La Celeste is possession.
The USMNT are in a tough spot without Weah, but it’s something they’ll have to manage — even if they make it to the quarterfinals, Weah won’t be able to play because he’ll be serving a two-match suspension for a violent conduct red card — but they can’t worry about what happens in the next round because they need to beat Uruguay first and hope for help.
It’s also worth noting that goalkeeper Matt Turner was replaced by Ethan Holbert after he was injured against Panama, but there are indications Turner will be fit to play against Uruguay.
Predicted lineup
XI: Matt Turner, Anthony Robinson, Tim Ream, Chris RichardsJoe Scali, Yunus Musa, Weston McKennieJoe Reyna, Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Brenden Aaronson
America’s Group C scenario
- With the US victory: If Panama draws or loses, the U.S. advances to the knockout stage. If Panama wins, the U.S. advances, but they will need to have a better goal differential than Panama. As it stands, the U.S. has a two-goal advantage.
- In case of a tie with the USA: The United States will only advance if Panama draws or loses.
- If the US loses: For the US to advance, Panama must lose and they must have a better goal differential than Panama. If the US loses 4-0 and Panama loses 1-0, Panama will advance.
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Copa America tiebreakers
If two teams are tied on points after the group stage, it is always important to check the tiebreaker as each tournament may apply certain rules slightly differently. Below is how tiebreakers are applied in the Copa America.
- Team with the biggest goal difference in all group stage matches
- Team with the most goals scored in all group stage matches
- A head-to-head match between two teams with the same score
- Fewer red cards
- Fewer Yellow Cards
- lottery
