The U.S. men’s national team, facing a fight to stay alive at the 2024 Copa América, is making as few changes as possible for Monday’s clash with Uruguay.
With Matt Turner a major injury worry and at least one change assured thanks to Tim Weah’s red card against Panama, coach Gregg Berhalter had a chance to freshen up a side that has not exactly impressed in Group C.
Instead, the USMNT will take the field at Arrowhead Stadium having made just one alteration to the 11 that started against both Panama and Bolivia.
Turner’s place in the lineup was the biggest question mark looming for Berhalter, but the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper got the nod to take on La Celeste.
Turner was injured in a collision with Panama forward César Blackman in Thursday’s 2-1 loss, eventually coming off at halftime.
Berhalter told reporters that Turner was a “limited” participant in training heading into this group-stage finale, and ultimately the USMNT staff must have seen enough to gamble on his fitness.
Meanwhile, Berhalter’s lone change is to bring Yunus Musah in for the suspended Weah. In all likelihood, Gio Reyna will move up to the front three, with Musah coming into a midfield role.
However, it is possible for the USMNT to set up in a diamond 4-4-2, with Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun playing as a front two ahead of Reyna in a No. 10 role.
No matter how the team shapes up, a win is likely required for the USMNT to advance to the knockout stages.
Technically, the U.S. must simply match or better Panama’s result against Bolivia in a match that will be played simultaneously at Inter&Co. Stadium in Orlando.
The right result would put the USMNT into the quarterfinals, but scoreboard watching is a must for the team and fans. A one-goal U.S. win, for example, would still not be enough if Panama were to beat Bolivia by a margin of three or more.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa, meanwhile, made no changes to the side that crushed Bolivia 5-0 on Thursday. Only a very unlikely scenario involving a four-plus-goal U.S. win would put Uruguay in any danger of missing out on the knockout stages.
USMNT lineup vs. Uruguay
(4-3-3): Matt Turner; Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah; Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic (capt.)
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