USA vs. Mexico: Possible Starters, Predictions for Saturday's CONCACAF Cup

It's always a big deal when the United States and Mexico's men's national soccer teams clash, but Saturday has a bit more on the line. 

From the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, a trip to the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia awaits the winner between these geographical rivals who just so happened to win the past two Gold Cups. 

Let's take a look at the possible starting 11 for each teams:

Mexico	Position	United States	Position
Moises Munoz	GK	Brad Guzan	GK
Miguel Layun	D	DaMarcus Beasley	D
Diego Reyes	D	Geoff Cameron	D
Hector Moreno	D	Matt Besler	D
Paul Aguilar	D	Fabian Johnson	D
Andres Guardado	MF	Kyle Beckerman	CDM
Jose Juan Vazquez	MF	Jermaine Jones	MF
Hector Herrera	MF	Michael Bradley	MF
Oribe Peralta	F	Gyasi Zardes	MF
Raul Jimenez	F	Clint Dempsey	F
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez	F	Jozy Altidore	F

Goals should be plentiful on Saturday night. The two teams have combined for six goals in their previous two meetings. But the United States has had the upper hand on Mexico. Over the past four years, they are 3-0-3 during a six-game unbeaten run.

But that means nothing to USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann, as he told SI.com's Brian Straus:

"

There’s a lot of respect for Mexico, always. How we approach them, how we analyze them, there’s admiration for them, for their individual players, for their program, for what they’ve done over so many years and for this rivalry. And every time you get to another clash, which happens tomorrow night, you start at 0-0 again. You have no idea how it will end, and that’s the exciting part about football. You can’t predict.

"

With the sheer numbers that Mexico has up front, I would expect them to roll out an aggressive 11 that could feature three strikers. With seven on their CONCACAF Cup roster compared to five midfielders, I don't think Mexico is going to be a side that will be sitting back often. 

There's plenty of quality up front, too. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez has 41 career goals with the national team, leading a forward group that most likely will feature Oribe Peralta, who is coming off of a four-goal outing at the Gold Cup. 

The third forward to join them might not be as easy to choose. Giovani Dos Santos is producing for the Los Angeles Galaxy and added a pair of goals for Mexico this season, while Raul Jimenez tallied two goals for the national side at the Copa America over the summer. 

If Mexico is searching for a forward who can set up his fellow strikers, Jimenez might be the man. If they're going for pure scoring, it could be Dos Santos. 

Then again, it would be hard to keep the kind of playmaker like Jimenez on the bench, as ESPN shows:

But the United States should be keen on Mexico's intentions and prepare for an aggressive opposition. 

If they are afraid that a trio of forwards could put too much pressure on their back four, the U.S. might want to place the likes of Kyle Beckerman to play below the midfield to add another defensive presence. 

Beckerman seems to be a favored player when it comes to playing Mexico, as U.S. Soccer points out:

This might leave the United States a bit short when it comes to an attacking presence, but this is when the big names have to shine. Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey have played on the biggest international stages and have shown the quality over the years. If they can catch Mexico on the counter, good things are going to happen. 

Having five bodies toward the back will help those chances of a counter materialize. If the three-man midfield manages to boss Mexico in possession and force them to chase the play, the easier things will open up for them. 

Prediction: United States wins, 3-2

Stats courtesy of ESPNFC.com.