UPDATE: Univision Deportes reported in the run-up to Sunday's game that the USMNT would indeed make seven changes to the starting XI, and in what appears to be an entirely new formation: a 5-4-1 shape with wingbacks, a three-man back line and Bobby Wood as the sole striker. Sure enough, US Soccer's official starting lineup reflected as much:
Compared to Thursday's win over Trinidad & Tobago, the new starters include Wood, Atlanta United newcomer Brad Guzan in goal, the Houston Dynamo's DaMarcus Beasley at left wingback, Omar Gonzalez and Tim Ream on the backline and Paul Arriola and FC Dallas star Kellyn Acosta in midfield.
Bruce Arena wasn’t kidding about making changes to the US national team’s starting lineup for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Mexico (8:30 pm ET | FS1, Univision, UDN).
Arena told FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft in an interview published on Sunday afternoon that he plans to make seven changes to the squad that beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 in Colorado on Thursday night.
Bruce Arena gives our own @JennyTaft an update on tonight's #USMNT lineup. #USAvMEXpic.twitter.com/1AmGFsTMee
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 11, 2017
“I think you’re going to see some changes, as many as seven changes from the game against Trinidad,” he said. “I think the short window that we have between the games against Trinidad and Mexico, plus the travel, plus the altitude supports the concept that we need to make some changes. So I think that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to pull the trigger and bring seven new faces to the field and hopefully that’ll help make a difference and perhaps create a level playing field with Mexico.”
Here’s the US starting XI from their win against Trinidad on Thursday:
Tim Howard – DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Jorge Villafana – Darlington Nagbe, Michael Bradley, Christian Pulisic, Fabian Johnson – Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore
