Jurgen Klinsmann doesn’t think the players on the field were his biggest problem against Mexico, apparently, because he’s not changing any of them. Brad Guzan comes in for the injured Tim Howard, but the same 10 outfield players will take the pitch to face Costa Rica.
USA vs. Costa Rica lineups: USMNT players unchanged, but their formation is different
The USMNT changes formation, but not players. Costa Rica changes players, but not formation.
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
U.S. Soccer has confirmed that they’ll start in a different formation, though. Instead of playing in the 3-5-2 that they started in against El Tri, they’ll line up in the 4-4-2 that they played for the last 60 minutes of the game. They looked solid over that period, despite conceding a late winner on a set piece.
Costa Rica will play with their familiar back three and lists their formation the same as usual. However, they’re not playing any real strikers. Johan Venegas, despite not playing up top much in his career or having a good goal-scoring record in MLS, is listed as their center forward.
Costa Rica lineup (3-4-2-1): Keylor Navas; Michael Umaña, Johnny Acosta, Kendall Waston; Ronald Matarrita, Celso Borges, Randall Azofeifa, Jose Salvatierra; Bryan Ruiz, Cristian Bolaños; Johan Venegas
United States lineup (4-4-2): Brad Guzan; Matt Besler, John Brooks, Omar Gonzalez, Timmy Chandler; Christian Pulisic, Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, Fabian Johnson; Jozy Altidore, Bobby Wood
Kickoff is at 9:15 p.m. ET from Estadio Nacional in Costa Rica. You can catch the game on beIN Sports in English and on NBC Universo in Spanish.
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