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Before the Copa America Centenario began, United States men's national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann stated that the goal for his team was to qualify for the semifinal round.
Now that the Yanks are in the final four, they have a chance to pull off one of the biggest wins in the history of the national team program. When they step on the field at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday against Argentina, the U.S. will be decided underdogs, a role that has suited them in plenty of past tournaments.
The USMNT will square off against a side full of world-class talent led by Lionel Messi, who has looked phenomenal during the tournament since his return from injury.
Earning a spot in Sunday's final at MetLife Stadium isn't an impossible task for the Yanks, as midfielder Michael Bradley pointed out to reporters on Sunday, per Steven Goff of the Washington Post:
Michael Bradley: "We don’t want to make this out to be a Mission Impossible. It’s 90 minutes. It’s a semifinal." #CopaAmerica— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) June 19, 2016
However, turning in a near-perfect performance with three regular starters missing will be a difficult task. The USMNT have improved with every game at the Copa, but so have Argentina, who put on a masterful 90-minute showing in the quarterfinal round against Venezuela on Saturday.
The USMNT ground out their last two wins despite red cards to DeAndre Yedlin and Jermaine Jones against Paraguay and Ecuador, respectively. The same fighting spirit must be on display on Tuesday in order for the Yanks to test Argentina.
The first key to pulling off a potential upset is for Klinsmann to set up the Yanks in a formation capable of absorbing the pressure that will come from all angles. Klinsmann will be forced to do some juggling due to the absences of Jones, Bobby Wood and Alejandro Bedoya, but if he uses the right personnel to replace the trio, the Americans stand a fighting chance. The USMNT appealed the bookings given to Jones and Wood but was denied, per U.S. Soccer:
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The protest against the cards issued to Jermaine Jones & Bobby Wood has been dismissed. Neither eligible for #USAvARG— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 20, 2016
If Klinsmann trots out his team in a 4-4-2 that features Fabian Johnson and Graham Zusi on the wings and Matt Besler and DeAndre Yedlin at the full-back positions, the Yanks will have enough defensive cover to deal with the runs made by Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and others in the Argentina attack. If the U.S. isn't overwhelmed by the talent in Gerardo Martino's side during the opening phase of the contest, it will be able to sit back and counter on occasion for most of the first half.
In addition to controlling the flanks, the Yanks must lock down the penalty area as well to keep Messi and Higuain from shooting in open space. The USMNT used an impressive defensive rotation to close down most of the open shooting lanes Ecuador had on Thursday. Klinsmann's men must do that again on Tuesday, but it will be a harder task given Argentina's skill on the ball.
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When the ball does reach the penalty area, the rock-solid defensive duo of John Brooks and Geoff Cameron must exude the same confidence they have over the last three contests. If the center-back pairing is able to deal with the pressure, the Yanks could limit the number of chances Argentina send on goal.
Make no mistake about it: The Albiceleste will put attempts on target. The Yanks will not be able to stop every single shot from getting to Brad Guzan, but if they limit that total through the first 45 minutes, they will set themselves up to potentially take the game to Argentina in the second stanza.
As much as Klinsmann wants his team to go for the win right away, it would be wise for him to field a conservative lineup to begin the contest. Kyle Beckerman's tackling ability will be key in the middle of the park, as the Real Salt Lake man is capable of breaking up any surge that confronts him. The same can be said about Michael Bradley, who will have more of a license to dart forward on the counter due to the presence of Beckerman.
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Striking fast on the counter will be key for the Americans, and luckily they have the speed needed to catch Argentina off guard. If Bradley and Clint Dempsey are able to build up possession in the center of the pitch, they should be able to feed Yedlin, Johnson, Zusi or Gyasi Zardes out on the wing. If Yedlin and Zardes receive the ball on the flank, they could create danger in the final third with their pace, which could lead to set pieces or a dangerous chance in the box through a cross.
Argentina showed they are susceptible to conceding on Saturday against Venezuela. During the final 10 minutes of the first half, the Cinderella side of the tournament consistently pressed for a goal but proved unable to get back into the game because of a failure to finish.
If the Yanks are able to take advantage of the few attacks they produce in the first half, they could strike for a surprising early goal. If the USMNT find a way to beat Sergio Romero before Argentina get one past Guzan, the resilient spirit we've witnessed in the wins over Paraguay and Ecuador will grow immensely.
However, if Argentina pounce early and the Yanks need a boost off the bench in the second half, Klinsmann could insert Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic into the contest to add a few extra elements to the team's attacking buildup. These potential moves would sacrifice the defensive qualities in the starting XI, but that is fine if the Yanks attempt to fight for the win, like Klinsmann noted they would, per Goff:
Klinsmann:"We are ready to bite, fight, chase them, be all over them. If we repeat that and add a couple more % to it, it’s going to be fun"— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) June 19, 2016
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