Los Angeles, Cali– It’s World Cup Summer, and the world’s biggest tournament is being hosted close to home, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States all hosting. Colorado does not get a game, but Burgundy Wave will be on location in Los Angeles to cover the United States’ face-off against Paraguay in the first match of the group stage. The United States hasn’t hosted a World Cup since 1994. This is a similar opportunity for the world’s game to grow in the States. A good performance in this World Cup would be crucial. It all starts against Paraguay this Friday. Let’s take a look at the matchup.
When: Friday, June 12th @ 7:00 p.m. MST
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Streaming: Telemundo, Fubo Sports, Tubi, FOX One, FOX 4K, FOX, Peacock ES, FOX Sports 4K, FOX Sports
Encouraging World Cup Preparation
The USMNT had two friendlies this past week against two World Cup sides. The first of the two was against Senegal, the African champions (before their AFCON title was stripped). Against the 14th-ranked nation in the World, the US held its own and won 3-2 on the back of goals from Sergino Dest, Cristian Pulisic, and Florian Balogun. It was a strong lineup from both sides to start, with the US having much more rotation in the second half.
Although there was a lot of rotation from USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the team played well throughout. They were unfortunate to give up a goal right before halftime; you can’t do that once the World Cup starts. Sadio Mane is good, though. It was an encouraging performance for Poch’s men. One that you are glad to see right before a home World Cup.
While the result against Germany in their last preparation friendly was not positive, it was a positive display from the US against a top side. Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane scored, and made an extraordinary Antonee Robinson strike obsolete in a 2-1 loss for the Americans. We saw much more of what we could expect against Paraguay, with starters getting 70-plus minutes rather than half.
This would indicate that Matt Freese is the man for the job as the USMNT’s goalkeeper. There weren’t many surprises. Maybe Tim Ream, maybe Miles Robinson, maybe Alex Freeman. Other than that, it was as expected from Poch. Similar to the match against Senegal, the USA held their own against a top side. It was an encouraging performance despite the result.
Lineup Prediction:
Freese / Ream (c), Richards, Freeman / A. Robinson, Adams, McKennie, Dest / Pulisic, Tillman / Balogun
All signs point to the USMNT starting in a 3-4-2-1 formation, or something similar, given the fluidity Poch wants from his team. If you want to see a team that can have so many looks and shapes just with their starting eleven, the United States is that team. This formation has the fluidity to have the wide players of Antonee Robinson and Segino Dest to either bomb up the field or lie low in a low block. Cristian Pulisic and Malik Tillman (or Gio Reyna) will have the freedom to find the game, either centrally or in wide channels.
The USMNT was given a big boost when center back Chris Richards said he is available for selection for the first game. Richards hadn’t played in either friendly before the World Cup, with him nursing an ankle injury. Poch might be a little nervous about pulling the trigger and having Richards start against Paraguay, but it would be a huge boost for the Americans to have their best center back on the field.
The starting eleven will be much anticipated come Friday, with wiggle room in some positions. I don’t see much changing from the front seven, other than maybe Malik Tillman. If Chris Richards is available and healthy, he has to start. Other than that, it is wide open.
The initial roster selection was hotly debated by US fans. One of the biggest omissions from the roster is Diego Luna. As an unbiased journalist, I have to say that Luna not making the World Cup was in no way funny. I did not enjoy it at all. Will that choice be a mistake by Poch? Who knows? The big one from Rapids fans will be Auston Trusty, as the former Rapid made the final cut. How much he will play is unknown. Paxten Aaronson’s brother, Brendan Aaronson, also made the 26.
No Enciso for Paraguay
The biggest news to come out of the Paraguay World Cup preparations friendlies was the injury to Julio Enciso. What was feared to be an injury that would keep the star out of the World Cup will only keep him out of Paraguay’s first match, against the USA. While it is positive news that Enciso will be able to play at the World Cup, it is advantage USA that he will be kept out of the first match.
Julio Enciso was hurt in the second of two matches for Paraguay in their World Cup preparation. Paraguay were 2-1 losers against Morocco, before dismantling Nicaragua 4-0. While it was a comprehensive victory for Paraguay, Nicaragua is hardly World Cup-level. Morocco is on that World Cup-level, and Paraguay was second-best on the night.
We have already seen this matchup as recently as last November. In a window where the USMNT also played Australia at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park, the US got a 2-1 win against Paraguay. Gio Reyna and Florian Balogun the goal scorers. It was a fairly even match that may not have had a full-strength USMNT out there, but some crucial pieces were present, and it was not a bad side. Expect a better team out there for the start of the World Cup for the United States of America.
Prediction: The USA is able to get off on the right foot against Paraguay, securing a much-needed victory. It ends 2-1 in favor of the Americans.
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Eamon Shaw 
Matt Pollard 