USA vs. Canada, 2022 World Cup qualifying: What to watch for

The United States Men’s National Team will take on Canada tomorrow night before more than 40,000 fans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The USMNT, who drew Thursday night at El Salvador, will look to get their first win of the Octagonal round of World Cup qualifying. Standing in their way is a Canada team that could be the 3rd best team in Concacaf right now and has the motivation to make a statement on the road after drawing Honduras at home. The USMNT will want to defend home turf in convincing fashion against their neighbors to the north.

Latest Form

USA

D (0-0) - El Salvador - World Cup qualifying

W (1-0) - Mexico - Gold Cup Final

W (1-0) - Qatar - Gold Cup Semifinals

W (1-0) - Jamaica - Gold Cup Quarterfinals

W (1-0) - Canada - Gold Cup Group B

Canada

D (1-1) - Honduras - World Cup qualifying

L (1-2) - Mexico - Gold Cup semifinals

W (2-0) - Costa Rica - Gold Cup Quarterfinals

L (0-1) - USA - Gold Cup Group B

W (4-1) - Haiti - Gold Cup Group B

What To Watch For

Finish chances. Much of the frustration from Thursday night’s draw was the lack of finishing in the final third. The USMNT need to be more diligent in getting shots on goal and finishing them. Whoever are the strikers should accept the challenge of getting behind the defense and forcing Canada to make saves, with others coming in to poach the rebound and hammer balls into the net.

Feed off the home crowd. This is a crowd that this young group will be used to seeing. The crowd at Nissan Stadium will be jacked up for this match. The team should feed off that to give them the intensity they need to have the edge.

Keep Alphonso Davies on lock. It will be easier said than done, but Canada will try to have their offense go through Alphonso Davies. The fullbacks will need to be on point to keep him covered to frustrate the Canadian attack. And, where he is, there is a hole behind him. Turn and go to get a counter going whenever he is dispossessed.

Lineup Prediction

Some players should be back in the lineup, and Gregg Berhalter comes out with this possible lineup:

Zack Steffen may not be ready to go, so Berhalter goes with the hot hand in Turner at goalkeeper. John Brooks is back at center back alongside Miles Robinson, with Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest as the fullbacks.

in the middle, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie are back in the lineup, with Kellyn Acosta joining them. Up front, Christian Pulisic is back and ready to go, so he gets the start on the left wing. Gio Reyna is on the right wing, with Jordan Pefok getting the start ahead of Josh Sargent at center forward.

Prediction

The United States will struggle against Canada, but in the end, Jordan Pefok is the hero. He scores the lone goal in a 1-0 victory.