Coping with DeAndre Yedlin’s Absence Key for USMNT to Advance to Copa Semifinal

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 15, 2016

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For the last two weeks, the United States men's national team has received plenty of praise for its performances in defense.

The main reason for the successes against Costa Rica and Paraguay to close out play in Group A was consistency. For the first time since the 1930 FIFA World Cup, the Yanks started the same lineup in three straight matches.



However, that streak will come to an end on Thursday, when the USMNT hosts Ecuador in the first of four quarterfinal contests at the Copa America Centenario.

Right-back DeAndre Yedlin had a rush of blood to the head during the start of the second half against Paraguay, committing a pair of unnecessary challenges to earn two yellow cards and an ejection.



With the 22-year-old Tottenham Hotspur man unavailable for selection, USMNT boss Jurgen Klinsmann must alter his defensive setup to best deal with the dangerous wingers in the Ecuador squad. There is no shortage of options for Klinsmann to choose from, as four different players could line up on the right flank of the back line.

Klinsmann handed Michael Orozco, a natural center-back, an audition in the second half versus Paraguay after Yedlin was sent off. The 30-year-old did nothing to cement his status as a starter for Thursday's match at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. One has to assume the Club Tijuana man is out of the running for a starting gig based off his second-half showing.

The other straight swap Klinsmann could make is to bring in D.C. United's Steve Birnbaum, who like Orozco plays regularly in the middle of the back line. Birnbaum showed signs of being a contributor on the international stage during the January camp friendlies against Iceland and Canada, but starting in the quarterfinals of a major tournament is a big leap from a pair of friendlies against weakened sides.



If Klinsmann opts to keep Orozco and Birnbaum on the bench, he will have ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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