Ireland vs. USA: How USMNT Should Line Up in the International Friendly

Jurgen Klinsmann and the United States Men’s National Team will face Ireland in international friendly play tomorrow, and there is a lot to think about going into the match.

The U.S. lost to Colombia by the score of 2-1 a few days ago after some questionable decisions by Klinsmann, so this next fixture will be watched very closely. Granted, Ireland is not on the same level as Colombia, but that won’t stop them from looking for a big win against the USMNT.

Not surprisingly, Klinsmann released Jermaine Jones, Lee Nguyen, DeAndre Yedlin and DaMarcus Beasley to join their MLS clubs. That means other stars will have the chance to shine, though the squad will be much thinner against Ireland.

That being said, now let’s take a look at how the USMNT should line up on Tuesday, as well as discussing which players need a big game to fight for their spot in the team.

As always, feel free to get involved in the discussion in the comment section below and let us know who you think will start for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side.

Defense

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After Brad Guzan was handed the start in the first friendly, expect Nick Rimando to start between the sticks for America. Rimando is fighting for a major role with Tim Howard out of the picture, and Guzan remains his biggest competition.

However, with a few young keepers in the squad, do not be surprised is someone like Bill Hamid gets a run out later in the game.

Jermaine Jones and John Brooks looked solid in the center of the defense against Colombia, but with the former back with his MLS club, Brooks needs a new partner alongside him.

Matt Besler looks like the perfect player to compliment Brooks as the two have familiarity playing together. Furthermore, they could be America’s center-back duo heading into bigger competitions in the coming years.

With DeAndre Yedlin and DaMarcus Beasley back with their MLS teams, the sides of the defense are in question. However, their absence will not be impossible to overcome.

After playing further up the field, Fabian Johnson should return to the left side of the defense to give the back line some stability. At the same time, Timothy Chandler is more than capable of holding down the right-back position and should start as well.

Missing three major players at the back is never easy to overcome, but this provides the U.S. defense the perfect opportunity to see others step up.

Midfield

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America’s defense was very strong against Colombia, but still has a lot to build on. Now, with so many out of the squad against Ireland, Kyle Beckerman has to start for the USMNT to give the defense coverage.

Klinsmann cannot afford to play without a defensive midfielder in this American system, therefore Beckerman is an absolute must and should be the first name down on the team sheet.

Choosing which two attacking midfielders will accompany Beckerman against Ireland is the real debate here.

Alejandro Bedoya and Mix Diskerud were fantastic against Colombia. Their ability to create chances and pull the strings behind the forwards was exciting and needs more time to develop into a stronger asset for the USMNT.

However, it is very unlikely that both will start together again. Diskerud should get the nod here as he has been fighting for a starting role for a few years now and is already seen as the creative spark in the middle of the pitch.

Diskerud has everything needed to turn into a leader in the midfield and it is friendlies like these that are vital for his development.

The third midfielder could very likely be Alfredo Morales who saw roughly 20 minutes of action against Colombia and is looking to break into the regular squad. He seems to play off Diskerud well and that could be a major factor in the American midfield.

Forwards

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Jozy Altidore was another bright spot for America against Colombia and will continue as the team’s center-forward on Tuesday. He is still the focal point of the attack and needs to keep building familiarity with new teammates.

After not featuring against Colombia, Julian Green should absolutely find his way into the lineup on America’s left-wing. The starlet still has fans beaming after his World Cup display, but he needs more matches under his belt to become a major contributor in the National Team.

Placing Green alongside Altidore would be something for fans to really get excited about, as well as a message that Klinsmann is out to win on Tuesday.

The last forward spot is really up for grabs at this point. Rubio Rubin started the last game, but he will likely not be doing that again.

Bobby Wood will likely feature on the right side of the attack as Klinsmann wants to get a good look at the young forward who has been plying his trade in Germany.

The attack will center solely around the partnership of Altidore and Green as the team looks to build their new attacking system. The likes of Chris Wondolowski should see a few minutes later in the game, but Klinsmann will be hoping that the match is settled before taking off Altidore or Green.

Who should start for the USMNT? Can Green and Altidore lead the attack? Is Diskerud becoming a leader in the midfield? Leave your thoughts and comments below!