Who Should the United States Start against Cuba?
Jürgen Klinsmann and the United States Men’s National Team should use their best lineup in the friendly against Cuba, rather than doing too much experimentation.
Klinsmann has found a strong defensive unit, and he should stick with that Back Four. That also means starting Michael Bradley and Sacha Kljestan again in the center of the midfield with Christian Pulisic out wide. Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood have formed an effective striker partnership, and doubling up on strikers is an excellent idea for a national team like the United States that has struggled to score enough against top competition.
Using Altidore and Wood not only allows Altidore to have a strike partner, which allows him to be more involved, but it also makes it harder for the defense to mark Wood.
Maybe the only change to the lineup would be starting Paul Arriola on the right wing. If Pulisic is going to be on the left wing, then Arriola is the obvious choice to man the right wing, and Arriola has already performed well for the United States. Like Pulisic, Arriola brings speed and skill to the wing, and Arriola can also create like a Number 10. The Tijuana midfielder and forward also knows how to score.
Possible Starting Lineup (4-4-2 Formation)
Goalkeeper- Ethan Horvath
Right Back- DeAndre Yedlin
Center Back- Geoff Cameron
Center Back- John Brooks
Left Back- Fabian Johnson
Right Wing- Paul Arriola
Center Defensive Midfielder- Michael Bradley
Center Attacking Midfielder- Sacha Kljestan
Left Wing- Christian Pulisic
First Striker- Jozy Altidore
Second Striker- Bobby Wood