United States vs. Mexico. These two games are always the most anticipated in Concacaf World Cup Qualifying. The first is almost here.
The USMNT host Mexico at FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium on Friday (9:10 pm ET | ESPN2, Univision, TUDN) to mark the Octagonal's midpoint and game No. 7. Mexico sit atop the table on 14 points, while the United States are second on 11 and Canada's third with 10. Reminder: Concacaf's top three teams automatically make it to Qatar 2022, while fourth-place enters an inter-confederation playoff.
As always, the stakes are high. But enough preamble, let's get to some projected lineups.
Real quick, to save for some further suspense: Berhalter announced Thursday that attacker Christian Pulisic won't start as he returns from injury and Zack Steffen will start at gaolkeeper.
Matt Doyle's USMNT projected XI vs. Mexico
Editor's note: This portion of text originally ran in Doyle's preview for USMNT vs. Mexico, the full piece you can read here.
Use Weah and Pulisic at right wing: Berhalter said on Thursday that Christian Pulisic is not going to start this game. My preference would've been 60 minutes of Pulisic and 30 minutes of Tim Weah (Brenden Aaronson should go 90 on the left wing), and while there are individual reasons for this – Pulisic has been more consistent as a right winger because he doesn’t get Neymar Brain when he’s out there, he just attacks; Weah has spent most of his time for club and country on the right – there is also a good tactical reason: immediate verticality up the right side is the way to go at El Tri.
Mexico’s left back Jesus Gallardo hasn’t fared well against pacey attackers. Pulisic and Weah both have Buchanan-esque speed; the ability to get the edge on Gallardo, turn Mexico’s entire defense around and force them to run at their own goal.
Start Joe Scally: Berhalter has already started four teenagers (Gio Reyna, Ricardo Pepi, George Bello, Musah) thus far in qualifying, and the results from that group have been mostly promising. His whole M.O. has been “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”
Scally has certainly looked good enough thus far with Borussia Monchengladbach, and beyond that, neither of the other right backs in this camp – DeAndre Yedlin and Reggie Cannon – have lit the world aflame with their recent play. Yedlin still has the same strengths (high effort and speed to burn) and weaknesses (below par skill on the ball and in distribution, and a potentially fatal penchant for back post inattentiveness) that he did when he broke onto the scene eight years ago, while Cannon has barely played this season.
Dylan Butler's USMNT projected XI vs. Mexico
I wrestled with the formation because Gregg Berhalter gave Mexico two different looks in their summer title wins. With the so-called ‘A’ squad, he went with a 3-4-3, while showcasing a 4-3-3 in the Gold Cup final.
Based on the strengths of this assembled roster, I’m going 4-3-3 with a Musah-McKennie-Adams midfield triumvirate and a front three of Aaronson, Pepi and Weah. How spicy would it be for Pepi to score against Mexico?
Tougher decisions were made in the back. Antonee Robinson has fared well at left back, but at right back, I am absolutely salivating to see Joe Scally make his debut. The Jamaica match is more likely where he earns his first cap, though. DeAndre Yedlin is your most experienced player and experience is key for these grudge matches, but Reggie Cannon started the Gold Cup final against Mexico.
Miles Robinson scored the winner in that very game. He's maybe the most consistent center back on the depth chart right now and I like Walker Zimmerman at the other spot, though really wish John Brooks was in form with his club team because this match is made for the big man.
And in net, Berhalter went with Zack Steffen during a must-win against Costa Rica and we’ll see the same again against El Tri.
Tom Bogert's USMNT projected XI vs. Mexico
Once again, I had the benefit of going after my esteemed colleagues.
Let's go top to bottom. Brenden Aaronson already seemed a lock-in starter before the Pulisic news, so it's either Tim Weah or Paul Arriola at right wing. They have different strengths and both would be strong options, but the idea of Weah (and Pulisic) coming off the bench in the second half as a game-changer is appealing.
The midfield trio seems ensconced, though Gianluca Busio would be a deserving starter in there too.
The backline is tricky without Sergino Dest, though given Mexico's attacking ability, he may not have been a written-in-pen starter for this game. Berhalter went with a three-at-the-back system in the Nations League final against Mexico, allowing Dest to play as a wingback. In his absence for this back four, DeAndre Yedlin is probably the safest bet, even though Reggie Cannon started the Gold Cup final against Mexico this summer and Joe Scally has enjoyed an electric start to the Bundesliga season.
