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The United States men's national team opened the Copa America Centenario with a 2-0 loss to Colombia and a 4-0 win over Costa Rica. They face Paraguay in their last group match, and will advance with a win or a tie (provided Costa Rica doesn't beat Colombia by six or more goals).
Who will head coach Jurgen Klinsmann utilize at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? Here's what I think:
It's going to be the same lineup for a third straight match, but with a different formation: the 4-4-2 instead of the 4-3-3. They switched formations midway through the win against Costa Rica to increase possession and exploit gaps in the defense.
The back line and goalkeeper will remain in tact, as there haven't been any substantive reasons for switching them up. Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones are again the central midfielders, with Jones venturing forward and Bradley focusing on the six role.
Alejandro Bedoya will push out wide. Gyasi Zardes, despite the criticism and internet mockery, will remain in the starting lineup. Klinsmann likes his game, and the LA Galaxy player could be an asset in a match in which the U.S. plans on attacking instead of sitting back.
Jurgen Klinsmann made it very clear that the U.S. doesn't plan on sitting back and playing for the tie:
“It is a very clear situation,” Klinsmann said. “A point would take us into the quarters. But we don’t have the character to sit back and let them come and hope to counter. We have to be really involved in the game, set the tone, and keep a very high level of aggressiveness and determination going into this game.”
Bobby Wood and Clint Dempsey will partner up top. Wood will be closer to net and Dempsey will have an outlet who can draw defenders and get on the end of passes.
For all the talk of Klinsmann's tinkering and inability to establish lineups, he's been very consistent during the tournament and it's not expected that he'll deviate in the third match.
Tune in at 7 p.m. Eastern on FOX Sports 1 to see if the U.S. can advance out of the group at the Copa America Centenario.