Blended Lineup Gives USMNT Best Chance to Open Hex with Win over Mexico

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: November 10, 2016

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Welcome to the wild, unpredictable rollercoaster ride that is the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. 

The Hex, as it's affectionately called, begins on Friday with the highest-profile matchup the North American federation is capable of producing. 

The United States men's national team, who won the Hex during the last FIFA World Cup cycle, host Mexico at their fortress Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. 

Friday's opener against Mexico isn't a strange occurrence since the Yanks started the Hex two World Cup cycles ago at home against El Tri, but this time around there is a new challenge awaiting Jurgen Klinsmann's men.

The USMNT is in the middle of a switch in generations. Eighteen-year-old wonderkid Christian Pulisic is emerging as the star of the team and face of American soccer, but the Yanks still rely on players over 30 like Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi and Tim Howard to get results in big matches. 



During the 10 games of the Hex, the Yanks will bring younger players into the mix to test their mettle on the international stage. Older players will also work their way out of the team. But these have been the hopes of the USMNT fan base since the end of the last World Cup in Brazil. 

Stalwarts and Klinsmann favorites Kyle Beckerman and Chris Wondolowski are only off the roster for the Mexico match and Tuesday's trip to Costa Rica due to injuries, and the USMNT boss replaced 22-year-old forward Jordan Morris with 35-year-old Alan Gordon after the Seattle Sounders man was ruled out of the match with an injury. 

If everything goes to plan, the Yanks will start eight players 27 or older on Friday against Mexico. Pulisic, right-back DeAndre Yedlin and center-back John Brooks would be the only players under the age of 25 in the lineup. 

There are younger options available on the bench, but the possibility that Klinsma...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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