Gregg Berhalter begins his second year as the United States men’s national team coach with a friendly at home to Costa Rica on Saturday, almost exactly one year after he beat the same opponent in his second game at the helm. The Stars and Stripes have won 11 of their 18 matches (five losses) under Berhalter and hope to carry their momentum after ending 2019 with back-to-back victories.
USMNT vs. Costa Rica
- When: Saturday, February 1
- Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
- TV: TUDN
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
Los Ticos travel to California hoping to build on four straight wins and an impressive record of four wins in their last seven encounters with the United States. Both teams will line up in the finals of the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League. Berhalter’s side will take on Honduras, while Costa Rica faces favorite Mexico.
These two teams exchanged 2-0 victories in their last two meetings, both in the United States. It was a loss at home to Costa Rica in September 2017 that had a major impact on the USMNT’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Of the current squad, D.C. United winger Paul Arriola was the only United States player involved in that defeat at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. Berhalter has been bold in his efforts to mix things up, with only 10 of his 22-man squad having previously been capped at the senior level. Among the potential U.S. players sits 20-year-old midfielder Christian Cappis, who plays for Mobro in Denmark, and 18-year-old Wolfsburg II forward Ulysses Llanez Jr., who was the only other European-based player selected.
Costa Rican coach Ronald Gonzalez Brenes has only seven uncapped players on his squad by contrast, with five of his men boasting at least 50 caps. His selection also includes seven who play in Major League Soccer, including LA Galaxy center-back Giancarlo Gonzalez, the squad’s most experienced asset with 80 caps to his name.
Arriola and Gyasi Zardes account for 87 caps between them, which is more than the rest of Berhalter’s squad combined (75). Costa Rica may not host the same amount of household names, but its experience and motivation to create an upset could cause the host problems.
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