Bruce Arena selected 26 United States players (three extra players) for his 23-man roster for September’s World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Honduras. The only real surprise on the roster was Chris Wondolowski, who was selected despite the roster having three other center forwards and Clint Dempsey.
Formation
The roster appears set up to use a 4-1-3-2 formation with Michael Bradley playing as the lone defensive midfielder and Christian Pulisic playing as the center attacking midfielder behind two forwards.
Goalkeeper
Tim Howard and Brad Guzan were the first and second choice goalkeepers respectively on this U.S. roster, and Howard will probably start both games.
The Defense
With starting right back DeAndre Yedlin and starting center back John Brooks injured, Arena has two hard lineup choices to make. At right back, Arena seems to favor starting Graham Zusi, but, since it’s a World Cup qualifier, Eric Lichaj is the more experienced right back who has played the position longer.
For John Brooks spot, look for Omar Gonzalez or either Tim Ream or Matt Besler to start. Geoff Cameron as the team’s best defender will be starting at one of the two center back spots, and Besler might be the likely starting left center back because Cameron has been playing right center back for the United States.
At left back, Jorge Villafaña is the first-choice starter, and he has provided the U.S. with constant attacking play down the left sideline and plenty of balls played into the box or into dangerous positions at the top of the penalty box. Villafaña has a good understanding with Nagbe at left wing, and Nagbe frequently cuts inside where he can be more dangerous and Villafaña overlaps him down the left sideline.
Look for Lichaj, Cameron, Besler, and Villafaña to start as the U.S. Back Four.
Midfield
The U.S. midfield is pretty set as of right now. Bradley will play as the defensive midfielder behind a line of Paul Arriola, Christian Pulisic, and Darlington Nagbe from right to left as the line of three attacking midfielders.
There’s a chance that Fabian Johnson could start at right wing over Arriola, but Arriola has built up some momentum and credit with Arena at right wing. Johnson’s recent U.S. performances haven’t stood out enough to make him a lock as a starter.
Arena was smart enough to also include Kellyn Acosta, Dax McCarty, and Cristian Roldan on the roster. There’s a possibility of Acosta starting with Bradley, but that would change the formation to a 4-2-3-1, which would force either Dempsey or Pulisic to play wide. Alejandro Bedoya is also on the roster with Kelyn Rowe injured.
Forwards
Up top, World Soccer Source predicts Clint Dempsey and Bobby Wood starting as the two forwards. Dempsey is simply too good and too in form to not start, and Wood is a more dangerous, more talented, and faster forward than Jozy Altidore. Wood provides more movement than Altidore, and he’s more direct and clinical than Altidore.
It’s possible Wood and Altidore could start up top with Dempsey on the bench, but that’s risky considering how much the U.S. needs to get six points from these two games to get closer to first place in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
Complete USA Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 14/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 36/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 34/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 11/1), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 22/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 15/0), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas; 0/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 0/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 5/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 3/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 18/3)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 4/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 3/1), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 9/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 35/7), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 16/1), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 7/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 9/5), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 0/0)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 38/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 39/18), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 10/4)