With one Gold Cup group stage game remaining, the USMNT players know there's still so much to prove
ARLINGTON, Texas – The permutations for the U.S. men's national team's are straighforward. They've already locked in a spot in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup, booking that in their 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Thursday. A win on Sunday vs Haiti would see them top the group. So, too, would a draw.
Even a narrow loss would probably be fine, given the six-goal difference standing between them and Saudi Arabia. But rest assured that Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT won't be doing a deep dive into the mathematics of it all.
This is still a prove-it summer, and there's still so much to prove.
That continues on Sunday against Haiti in their Gold Cup group stage finale, kicking off at 7 p.m. ET in Dallas. Having built momentum with consecutive victories over Trinidad and Tobago and Saudi Arabia, Pochettino's side will have plenty to play for on the macro level, as players continue to establish themselves with many of the team's top stars – Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, et al – not in this pool.
On the micro level, there are spots up for grabs and, after two consecutive games with the same XI, there will likely be different players looking to make their cases. Rotation backfired for Pochettino in the pre-Gold Cup friendly against Switzerland, but Haiti – which lost to Saudi Arabia 1-0 and then drew T&T 1-1 in its first two matches – doesn't present that kind of threat.
That makes it an opportunity for some potential new starters on Sunday.
GOAL looks at five keys for the U.S. against Haiti.
Getty Images SportRotation or continue riding the wave?
There will be some rotation on Sunday. It would be silly not to. Pochettino has stuck with the same XI for each of these first two games and, even with the time off between this match and the knockout rounds, there will surely be some changes to the XI.
The question, of course, is how much? Does Pochettino shake things up, giving other guys a good look, or does he stick with many of the regulars in pursuit of more momentum heading into the knockout rounds?
It's a delicate balance. Players will no doubt be tired after a hot one in Austin on Thursday, and several who logged heavy minutes should almost certainly be given the time off. However, Pochettino will have memories of that Switzerland game just before the Gold Cup, when he rotated heavily after a decent performance against Turkey. Against the Swiss, the U.S. were battered, partly due to a lack of chemistry and partly due to the fact that there were several players who just weren't up to that level.
Haiti are a notch below, to be sure, but even so, there's a case to be made for building momentum and continuing to uplift those who have performed well. Is it more beneficial for Malik Tillman to continue to develop confidence? Could this be a game for Patrick Agyemang to get a few shots on goal? Is it worth continuing to see how newer faces such as Sebastian Berhalter and Max Arfsten adjust to different game situations?
Pochettino has some decisions to make, not just to set his team up for Sunday, but also for the rest of the tournament.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe center-back situation
If Mauricio Pochettino had to pick a center-back duo to play one game right now, all indications point to it being Chris Richards and Tim Ream. There is data behind the assumption. In a tournament that allowed him to mix and match pairings, Pochettino stuck with Ream and Richards in each of the first two games.
Heading into game three, though, is it worth seeing what else is in the pool? Richards is CB1. Ream could not possibly gain any more experience. As for the others, there are points to prove.
Mark McKenzie has plenty to gain as he fights to usurp Ream and claim that second spot. He had a rough game against Switzerland, but who didn't? For most of this cycle, McKenzie has been on the fringes, in the team but not quite in a starting spot. With a World Cup looming, nothing feels locked in and, having missed out on the last tournament as one of the team's final cuts, McKenzie doesn't want to leave anything to chance.
"It's something that's stuck with me and something where I don't want to leave a doubt going forward," he said this week. "Every time I step into camp, I try to showcase what I can do and, ultimately, showcase that I'm a player who deserves to be part of the team."
Both Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson will have the same feeling. Both are veterans, and both have also been left out of the starting XI to start this tournament. They, too, will be looking for a chance to bring some stability to the backline, just as Richards and Ream have at the start of this tournament.
Getty Images SportThe Tyler Adams dilemma
After coming on as a second-half substitute against Saudi Arabia, Tyler Adams was asked about that pesky foot injury that had been bothering him all tournament. He responded that he's at 100 percent.
"I'm on the right path," Adams said. "I'm ready to plan, man. I'm ready to play."
Adams may be ready, but does this team need him in this game? With the USMNT already through to the quarterfinals, the most important thing is having Adams ready for the tougher challenges to come.
No disrespect to Haiti, but they aren't one of those challenges. There are two lines of thinking here: play Adams and let him get some minutes in his legs before the knockouts, or rest him and make sure hes's good to go for the quarterfinals.
It doesn't necessarily have to be one or the other. Pochettino could give him a half or so. He could use him as a late sub, as he did against Saudi Arabia. There's merit to each of these choices. Adams will no doubt want to play, and the U.S. will certainly be better if he is on the field. But is it worth the risk?
Getty Images SportUSMNT's mystery man
Damion Downs is the USMNT's big mystery. He's gotten a total of 43 minutes so far this summer, featuring against Switzerland and Saudi Arabia with a bout of illness in between. Having played so little, Downs is an interesting player heading into this final group stage game. Can he be a difference-maker in the attack?
After a breakout season in which he hit double figures for FC Koln in the 2. Bundesliga, Downs has been used as a second striker in his two USMNT cameos, featuring behind the No. 9. It offers a different look for the U.S., and it put another legitimate goalscorer on the field, which could be vital as this tournament moves on.
"I think he brings something a little different than everyone," Adams said of Downs. "I feel like we have different profile players in every position, and he can play as that No. 10 as well. He can play underneath as that second striker or play up top. He offers runs in behind and he's good around the goal, too."
Though the illness is behind him, it's worth noting that Downs was working out in the gym on Saturday, not in training with the rest of the team. If he's fit, Sunday could be a chance for him to earn a role for the knockout rounds and, potentially, beyond.