For the first time ever, the fabled Copa America is being held outside of South America. As a matter of fact, it is being held right here in the United States.
The advertisement below features notable soccer fan and basketball legend Kobe Bryant, discussing how stars such as Lionel Messi (Argentina), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), James Rodriguez (Colombia), Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (Mexico) and Alexis Sanchez (Chile) are all coming to play in the United States in a meaningful tournament.
The advertisement then mentions that Team USA will be playing in the tournament also, but why not highlight the up and coming stars who have been making waves in recent matches for the United States? Centering advertisements around other countries stars will help excite soccer fans, but the USMNT should be the highlight of the advertisement in our home country.
Here's why the Copa America Centenario should be a must watch for any USMNT fans, as well as people looking to catch the soccer wave.
The USMNT continues to roll along
After losing an away match to Guatemala on March 25, many fans were calling for manager Jürgen Klinsmann’s head. While the call for Klinsmann to be fired may still be there, the U.S. has won four straight matches. Still featuring cornerstones such as Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley, the USMNT has also had a rejuvenation of creativity recently.
Scoring 12 goals in the past four games, the U.S. looks potent again. Although the competition was weak, gaining the goal scoring confidence is necessary for a tournament that will feature some of the best finishers and creators in the world.
PUGBE
In the midfield, the U.S. looks to finally have two deadly attackers in Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic. Nagbe is a speedy, talented attacker with the ability to score wonder goals at any moment. Nagbe, who gained his U.S. citizenship in November, will only begin to get a bigger role in the USMNT lineup. Pulisic, the 17-year-old wonder kid from Borussia Dortmund, became the youngest player in Bundesliga history to score two goals in a season. As the youngest player on the roster by far, he will likely remain on the bench and be used as an impact substitute on the right side. Pulisic displays incredible technical ability for such a young age, and features experience playing against and alongside top players in Europe.
Nagbe scored his first U.S. goal against Ecuador, showing off his touch and ability in order to get the late winner.
Against Bolivia, PUGBE (Pulisic and Nagbe) combined for a beautiful goal which started off with Nagbe knifing through the Bolivian defense before laying it off to Pulisic, who finished off the easy goal. Pulisic became the youngest player to score a goal for the U.S.
Nagbe and Pulisic are the future of the U.S. midfield, displaying creativity and technical ability that we may have never seen before.
Pool of youth
Bobby Wood, who first became known for his late match goals, has become the real deal playing at the left forward position. Using his pace and good first touch to bring down long balls and stretch the opposition’s defense, Wood can also hold off defenders and find the back of the net. Wood scored 17 goals for Union Berlin this season in 2. Bundesliga helps give the U.S. attack a potent finisher on the wings.
On the other wing is Gyasi Zardes, who is more often mocked for his poor first touch than anything else. He is a speedster who stretches the defense with his blistering pace. Zardes scored a brace against Bolivia and is a capable scorer, as well as playmaker.
In defense, DeAndre Yedlin just completed his first season in the Premier League with Sunderland playing in 21 games at right back for the club. Yedlin is known for his pace, but the 22-year-old stepped up his defensive ability this season. Since season’s end, Yedlin has been a force against international opponents going up and down the right side of the field on offense and defense. After being played as a midfielder in previous U.S. appearances, it will be nice to see Yedlin back into his natural position.
Centre back John Brooks, known for his late equalizing goal against Ghana in 2014, helped his club, Hertha Berlin, reach seventh in the Bundesliga table this season while taking part in 13 clean sheets. Brooks, along with Geoff Cameron, will play a huge role in how well the U.S. does in the Copa America.
Veteran balance
The U.S. lineup still features fabled Striker Clint Dempsey as the lead man of the attack. Dempsey, who has scored 49 goals for the national team, is now 33 and starting to wind down his career. Dempsey has always had ice in his veins for when the team needed him most, and it will be up to him to convert the chances presented to him by the talented young players around him.
In the midfield, Michael Bradley has been moved back to a traditional number 6 role. Sitting as a deep-laying midfielder will allow Bradley to sit farther back in the midfield and using his vision and passing ability to spot the runs of the speedy attackers in front of him. Many people believe that Bradley has been wasted in the past playing as an attacker--where his passing ability can’t be used to its full potential. It will be nice to see Bradley playing deeper in the midfield for a change.
34-year-old Jermaine Jones looked like he was over the hill last season, but recently seems to have come to life again after joining the Colorado Rapids. Jones has scored three goals in seven appearances for the Rapids, and will be an integral part of the U.S. midfield this year playing as a box-to-box midfielder. Jones’s aggression and work rates will be huge as the tournament goes on.
Fabian Johnson will be playing as a left-back for the U.S. as opposed to a left-side attacker, which he plays for Borussia Monchengladbach. Johnson had a great season this year scoring six goals and displaying attacking ability he didn’t seem to have before. Paired up with Yedlin at full-back, Johnson will look to push up the sideline and deliver passes to the strike force in the box.
Protecting home field
After making the elimination round of the 2014 World Cup, the United States will look to have another good international showing this season. After having a poor showing in other international tournaments, it is now time for the USMNT to show what they are made of in their home country.
Facing powerhouses such as Brazil, Argentina and Chile will show how far or how close the U.S. is from competing on a large international stage.
Schedule
Friday | June 3 | Colombia | 9:30 p.m. | 📺: Fox Sports 1 |
Colombia Players to Watch: James Rodriguez, M (Real Madrid); Juan Cuadrado, M (Juventus); Carlos Bacca, F (AC Milan)
Tuesday | June 7 | Costa Rica | 8:00 p.m. | 📺: Fox Sports 1 |
Costa Rica Players to Watch: Keylor Navas, GK (Real Madrid); Joel Campbell, M (Arsenal); Bryan Ruiz, M (Sporting Lisbon)
Saturday | June 11 | Paraguay | 7:00 p.m. | 📺: Fox Sports 1 |
Paraguay Players to Watch: Derlis Gonzalez, F (Dynamo Kiev); Nelson Valdez, F (Seattle Sounders); Juan Iturbe, F (AFC Bournemouth)