USMNT Defense Handling Rotation with Poise and Experience at Gold Cup
With little time in between matches at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, each player on the United States men's national team 23-man squad has to be ready when his name is called.
Rotation has become normal at the back for the USMNT at the Gold Cup due to a few different situations. On Saturday, Omar Gonzalez paired Ventura Alvarado at center back because of John Brooks' yellow-card suspension. Timmy Chandler and Fabian Johnson manned the flanks once again for the Yanks.
Gonzalez benefited from the start in muggy Baltimore as he netted his first career international goal in the 45th minute. Although it was a momentous occasion for the Los Angeles Galaxy player, he had little energy left by the end of the half to celebrate in style.
"I wish I had enough energy to celebrate that goal more. But I'm extremely happy to get my first goal, and it was hot today. I think it kept on getting hotter and hotter as the first half went on," Gonzalez told reporters after the match.
The 6-0 win over Cuba also presented Gonzalez and Alvarado with a difficult task as the match progressed since the Yanks held long spells of possession in Cuba's half of the pitch. The center back pairing had very little to do, but both still needed to be ready when called upon.
"That's the key thing. Staying focused and continuing to talk to your teammates to make sure they're in the right positions. If (the opponent) does get the ball, we can put out the fires before they start," Gonzalez said.
Being prepared when manager Jurgen Klinsmann calls the name of a specific player has been a theme the defensive unit has taken with it throughout the first two weeks of the competition. Every player listed as a defender on the current roster has seen some type of action. Even midfielder Alejandro Bedoya shifted to left back late in the Cuba match after the entrance of DeAndre Yedlin.
The positional depth has forced Yedlin, whom some already saw as a winger, further up the field. That move will certainly benefit the Yanks at the Gold Cup as they have someone with excellent pace to come off the bench in a time of need. But whether that dampens his potential as a right back remains to be seen.
Speaking of the right side, we saw an unexpected change at right back to start the second half Saturday as Timmy Chandler left the match with right knee soreness. In his place, Brad Evans picked up right where he left off in the 1-1 draw against Haiti. He also combined well with Yedlin on the right wing, which came as no surprise to many since the two used to play together in Seattle.
As for the competition at center back, there are four players who have a worthy claim of earning a starting gig. Brooks and Alvarado have been Klinsmann's first-choice pair at the Gold Cup, but Gonzalez and Tim Ream also earned starts in place of the young duo against Haiti.
"I think it's a healthy competition. We have a few great center backs here. We've all been playing pretty well. Even though Jurgen's been switching up the lineup, the team's not suffering from those switches," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez went on to describe the selflessness of the other players at his position on the roster.
"I don't think the guys are too worried about it. I think the guys are pretty selfless. If their name isn't called, then they're cheering the other guy on," the Galaxy man said.
"It's up to the coaching staff. Do I want to be on the field? Of course. But that's something that's out of my control. I'm approaching every single practice to be ready in case my name is called," Gonzalez continued.
Gonzalez is also using a similar situation to Alvarado's to relate to what the Club America player is going through on the international stage at the moment.
"I think (Alvarado)'s doing well with his opportunities. I was thrown into the Hex, which was very difficult as he's been thrown into a few very difficult games, and he's done well. I'm obviously proud of him," Gonzalez said of his center back partner Saturday.
On the left side of defense resides one of the most experienced players in the competition in DaMarcus Beasley. The owner of 121 caps sat out Saturday's match after he picked up a knock in training. If he's all set to go for Wednesday's semifinal against Jamaica, we should see him enter as a calming influence.
If Beasley comes into the starting lineup for the first time since receiving a call between the group and knockout phases, he would most likely shift Johnson over to right back. Johnson could also move up to midfield, but Bedoya and Gyasi Zardes seem to be doing fine in those positions.
Regardless of who starts where for the Yanks, they will have four capable players ready to work selflessly as a unit to achieve the ultimate goal.
"We're making sure we get to the final and meet our collective goal, and that is to hoist the trophy," Gonzalez said.
Joe Tansey covers U.S. Soccer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")
.png?w=600 "New NBA Mock Draft 📝")
