USA vs. Guatemala: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Schedule for 2015 Friendly

Matt JonesJul 3, 2015

The United States will be looking to carry some glittering form into their preparations for this summer’s Gold Cup, which gets underway in earnest with this friendly match against Guatemala.

It’s a game that’ll give U.S. men's national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann the chance to run the rule over his squad before the CONCACAF showpiece. After some stellar friendly wins in Europe recently, they’ll be big favourites to get the better of their upcoming opponents.

Here are all the key details you need on where to catch this crucial encounter for the United States and a closer look at how things are likely to play out in the Nashville friendly.

USMNT Looking to Preserve Marvellous Form

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Even though their female counterparts have caught the imagination of the country with their superb run to the Women's World Cup final, it’s worth remembering just how much of a buzz there was around the men’s team after their recent forays to Europe.

Klinsmann’s team went toe-to-toe with the Netherlands and Germany, who finished third and first at the 2014 World Cup, respectively, in their own backyards, securing a precious victory on each occasion. As we can see here courtesy of Paul Carr of ESPN.com, they did it in style too:

Indeed, it takes something special to get the better of these two illustrious nations away from home. Even though Germany and the Netherlands fielded experimental squads, the mentality needed to come away from iconic venues with big results is a testament to Klinsmann, and he’ll be expecting these players to preserve that attitude this summer.

Klinsmann will be desperate for his players to preserve their recent levels of performance.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

But there’ll be a pressure which accompanies this USMNT squad at the Gold Cup. In their finest performances as of late, Klinsmann’s team have relished assuming the role of underdogs, but can they cope with teams doing to them what they’ve done to the likes of the Netherlands and Germany?

Perhaps that’s why Klinsmann has picked a squad for their upcoming friendly which is made up primarily of players that were vital to the United States’ success at the World Cup last summer.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

But as noted here by sports journalist Simon Evans, regardless of who he selects, the German can’t appease everyone:

One player they will have to do without in this friendly—and for the Gold Cup—is the injured midfielder Brad Davis, who will be replaced by Greg Garza, per MLS. In addition, according to Brian Sciaretta of American Soccer Now, impressive young forward Jordan Morris is “highly unlikely” to take part in the tournament.

Nonetheless, it seems as though supporters remain keen to check out this burgeoning side in action, as is evident in this post from Steven Goff of the Washington Post:

Guatemala will be looking to build some steady foundations for their own Gold Cup campaign, and in Carlos Ruiz and Marco Pappa they have a couple of players that can cause the United States defence, which was a little flimsy in recent friendly matches, some problems.

But the USMNT will be far too strong for their opponents in this one. Expect the starting XI selected by Klinsmann to give us an inkling into what his team is likely to be when the United States begin their Gold Cup campaign against Honduras, before tinkering with various systems and personnel throughout the second period.

Prediction: United States 3-0 Guatemala