The United States men's national team is back in action on Saturday with another international friendly boasting an MLS-based squad. In San Jose, Calif, the U.S. welcomes Costa Rica just days after the USMNT beat Panama 3-0 in the first friendly under new coach Gregg Berhalter. Djordje Mihailovic scored the game winner, with Walker Zimmerman and Christian Ramirez also scoring in a game the U.S. dominated from the beginning. Here's how you can watch the match and what to know: Premier League: USA vs. Costa Rica Date : Saturday, Dec. 2 : Saturday, Dec. 2 Time : 3:30 p.m. ET : 3:30 p.m. ET Location : Avaya Stadium : Avaya Stadium TV channel : FOX and UniMas : FOX and UniMas Streaming: fuboTV (Try for free) fuboTV (Try for free) Odds: N/A Storylines USA: The U.S. will look forward to getting a bit more challenged in this one. This is not nearly a full-strength Costa Rica squad, but it is still formidable. It's made up of players who play in the Costa Rican first division and in MLS, but only three players have over 15 caps. 10 players have under 10 caps, and eight have never represented the national team at the senior level. Costa Rica: Like for the U.S., this is a chance for the Costa Rican players to impress and potentially fight for a spot in the Gold Cup. One player to watch is Marvin Loria, the 21-year-old forward/winger of the Portland Timbers. He's a talented young player that has represented the Costa Rica U20 squad. USA vs. Costa Rica prediction The U.S. starts slow but builds up better in attack in the second half to earn the victory. Pick: USA<doc-sep>The United States men’s national team heads to San Jose today to finish out their annual January camp. Match one of the Berhalter era showed some promise and left us wanting more. This time the competition improves a bit in the form of a reserve-laden Costa Rica. Will we get to see even more new faces or will it be more of the same group that performed well against Panama? Players like Djordje Mihailovic and Corey Baird took advantage of their opportunities and impressed in the first match. Who will be the ones to make their case for future call-ups today? This will be the last chance for some of these players to show they deserve more looks ahead of the March friendlies that show incorporate a more first-choice selection of players and heading into the summer. Lineups United States lineup: Almost that time in San Jose. Introducing the #USMNT starting XI vs. ! Lineup » https://t.co/ymRxhtbsQc pic.twitter.com/sBjjAAe2BS — U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt) February 2, 2019 Costa Rica lineup: TBA How to Watch Advertised Kickoff Time: 3:30p.m. ET, 12::30p.m. PT Venue: Avaya Stadium; San Jose, California Available TV: FOX, UniMas and Univision Deportes Available Streaming: fuboTV (Free Trial), FOX Sports GO This thread will be your match thread. We don’t have many rules here. We just ask that you don’t insult each other personally and treat each other with respect. Debates can get heated and that’s fine, but name-calling and petty insults will get you banned. If you see a comment that you feel is out of line, please report it and it will be dealt with.<doc-sep>Lineup: Cristian Roldan is starting after Berhalter makes only two changes. New to the lineup are Will Trapp (for Bradley) and Paul Arriola (for Jeremy Ebobisse). Former Sounder Aaron Long remains the captain. Almost that time in San Jose. Introducing the #USMNT starting XI vs. ! Lineup » https://t.co/ymRxhtbsQc pic.twitter.com/sBjjAAe2BS — U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt) February 2, 2019 Sounders left back Waylon Francis is starting for Costa Rica. Estos son los 11 elegidos por el director técnico @gusmat_dt para su debut con #LaSele ante @USSoccer_MNT . #VamosTicos ⚽ pic.twitter.com/QAYuy9kRdX — FEDEFUTBOL Costa Rica (@fedefutbolcrc) February 2, 2019 The United States men’s national team closes out the January national team camp with a friendly in San Jose against Costa Rica. Sunday saw the USMNT beat Panama 3-0 in Phoenix. Panama played a very young squad and gave up a multitude of chances that could have seen the USA put up 6 or 7 goals, if not for some poor finishing. While Costa Rica is not bringing their first team to San Jose, California, they should have a much better squad than Panama and will be a step up in competition for the USMNT. Three Big Storylines Only two coaches in USMNT history have won their first two matches in charge. Gregg Berhalter will be trying to join Bob Bradley , who won his first three in charge starting in 2007, and Robert Millar, who beat Belgium and Paraguay to open the 1930 World Cup en route to a third place finish in Uruguay. Berhalter received nearly unanimous praise after Sunday’s match against Panama, and the USMNT looked like it had a tactical plan. It’s a sign of how far things fell during the Jurgen Klinsmann era that the new USMNT coach was praised for having any plan at all, but that’s where we are at as the 2022 World Cup cycle starts. What’s the plan for 2019? Borrowing this headline from last week’s Three Big Storylines, let’s follow up a bit. With a Gold Cup looming this summer the biggest challenge will be how does Berhalter integrate DeAndre Yedlin , Christian Pulisic , Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams , Josh Sargent and the rest of the Europe-based USMNT players into the base that he is starting to build with this month long camp? While it is a good problem to have, the integration of bigger-name talent and all the egos that come along with that is always a challenge. The nature of the Gold Cup’s group stage (not exactly a gauntlet of world soccer powers) means that Berhalter will likely have three extra competitive games in addition to any friendlies leading up to the tournament before the stakes are raised. Seven players earned their first USMNT cap on Sunday against Panama. Five of them — Corey Baird, Jeremy Ebobisse , Djordje Mihailovic , Nick Lima, and Daniel Lovitz — were on the field at kickoff, earning a start from Berhalter. Jonathan Lewis and Christian Ramirez came on during the second half. Ramirez made the most of his six minutes, scoring his first USMNT goal. Four players on the camp roster are still looking for their first cap, so don’t be surprised if Berhalter finds a way to give Russell Canouse , Mark McKenzie, Keegan Rosenberry and Auston Trusty some playing time. From a Sounders Point of View Cristian Roldan is with the USMNT and Waylon Francis is with Costa Rica. Roldan started and went 90 minutes against Panama. It is unclear whether Berhalter will run out the same lineup, rotate some players, or mix up the entire starting XI today. But maybe look for everyone who did not play against Panama to get game minutes after an almost month-long training camp. The Sounders’ main focus will be getting Roldan and Francis back and healthy. With the recent news that S2 is now the Tacoma Defiance, it’s worth going back to the opening game in S2 history. No one in the stands at Starfire that day probably thought they were seeing a future USMNT captain (Aaron Long wore the captain’s armband on Sunday) and USMNT regular (Roldan will be earn his seventh cap today if he sees the field) play in the inaugural S2 match, but both Long and Roldan started that game at Starfire. Rosters USA GOALKEEPERS (2): Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 5/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 6/0) DEFENDERS (8): Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 2/0), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 2/0), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 0/0), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Keegan Rosenberry (Colorado Rapids; 0/0), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 4/1) MIDFIELDERS (10): Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 17/2), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 142/17), Russell Canouse (D.C. United; 0/0), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC/CAN; 6/0), Jonathan Lewis (New York City FC; 0/0), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 5/1), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 5/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 11/0) FORWARDS (3): Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers, 0/0), Christian Ramirez (LAFC; 0/0), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 40/6) Costa Rica GOALKEEPERS (3): Esteban Alvarado (Alajuelense; 11/0), Kevin Chamorro (Carmelita; 0/0), Marco Madrigal (San Carlos; 1/0) DEFENDERS (7): Pablo Arboine (Santos de Guápiles; 0/0), Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United FC/USA; 43/4), Waylon Francis (Seattle Sounders FC/USA; 5/0), Keysher Fuller (Herediano; 0/0), Jaikel Medina (Saprissa; 0/0), Joseph Mora (D.C. United/USA; 2/0), Yostin Salinas (Saprissa; 2/0) MIDFIELDERS (9): José Alfaro (Carmelita; 0/0), Ronaldo Araya (Cartaginés; 0/0), José Miguel Cubero (Alajuelense; 51/2), David Guzmán (Portland Timbers/USA; 52/0), Marvin Loría (Portland Timbers/USA; 0/0), Jimmy Marín (Herediano; 3/0), Néstor Monge (Cartaginés; 5/0), Barlon Sequeira (Alajuelense; 1/0) FORWARDS (4): Jonathan McDonald (Alajuelense; 11/1), José Guillermo Ortiz (Herediano; 6/2), Jean Scott (Guadalupe; 0/0), Yendrick Ruiz (Herediano; 8/0) How to Watch Time: Saturday, February 2nd, 12:30 PM Pacific Venue: Avaya Stadium — San Jose, California Available TV: FOX, UniMas, Univision Deportes Available Streaming: Fox Sports Go, Univision NOW Join the Discussion This is your Sounder at Heart USMNT versus Costa Rica gamethread. Watch and discuss with us.<doc-sep>
Tomorrow, the United States Men’s National Team will step out onto the field at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California for their second friendly of 2019. They face a Costa Rica team that will not have a lot of their normal starters, but it should be a good test for this team of MLS-based players. The USMNT are coming off a 3-0 victory over Panama, where they played pretty well and executed efficiently. They will hope to do the same tomorrow against the Ticos. Recent Form USA W (3-0) - Panama - Friendly L (0-1) - Italy - Friendly L (0-3) - England - Friendly D (1-1) - Peru - Friendly L (2-4) - Colombia - Friendly Costa Rica W (3-2) - Peru - Friendly W (3-2) - Chile - Friendly L (1-3) - Colombia - Friendly L (2-3) - Mexico - Friendly L (0-3) - Japan - Friendly What To Watch For Can this team finish better in the final third? Against Panama, the USMNT was generating so many chances that ended with either bad touches or not great shots inside the box. What was a 3-0 victory could have been at least 6 or 7 if the team seized on its opportunities. They should strive to do much better against Costa Rica, who won’t give them as many chances to score. The ones they get, pounce on them. Can the USMNT maintain possession? The Ticos are normally pretty sound in their ability to keep possession of the ball, and we all know that this is something the USMNT is constantly working on. They did extremely well with possession against Panama, and will need to do the same to generate the attack they found success with Sunday night. Will the defense hold firm and pitch another shutout? With Gregg Berhalter’s formation and playing style, the onus is on the back line to do their jobs and clean up balls in the box. They were able to do that Sunday night, but can they continue to do so against Costa Rica? If they play smart, keep everything in front of them, and not make any drastic mistakes, they can keep the defending third, and the scoreboard, clean. Lineup Prediction Normally, with two friendlies in the span of a week, we see coaches switch up their lineups to make sure legs are kept fresh and everyone gets a look. However, Gregg Berhalter hinted in comments Tuesday that he make not make wholesale changes to his lineup. To that end, we shouldn’t expect a lot of new players to be worked into the mix against the Ticos. In net, expect Berhalter to stick with Zack Steffen, while Sean Johnson will likely also get time (hopefully one full half instead of an awkward substitute in the middle of the second half). The back line will likely remain the same, with Daniel Lovitz and Nick Lima on the left and right and Aaron Long and Walker Zimmerman in the middle. Playing the role of holding midfielder will once again be Michael Bradley. Haters, fall back...he had a good game against Panama, and Berhalter has made a point to comment each time on Bradley’s quality surpassing that of everyone else in camp. He will likely give him the start over Wil Trapp. Just ahead of him, we have our first change, with Russell Canouse getting the start over Cristian Roldan. He’s a player that many have been hoping to see on the field for the USMNT for quite a while, and he will be able to press forward and maintain possession while also dropping back to help Bradley and the defense. Djordje Mihailovic will get his second start after he got the opening goal against Panama. Corey Baird will play the right wing and Jonathan Lewis, who played well in a substitute performance Sunday night, will patrol the left. Gyasi Zardes had a struggle of a game against Panama, but Berhalter believes in him and Zardes had a lot of great chances that he just missed. Expect Berhalter to give him another shot to be the man up front. Match Prediction The USMNT will come out and, once again, have a great night on the ball. They’ll work the wings, they’ll play technical soccer, and it’s going to frustrate the Ticos. The USMNT will get two goals in this one, and by the score of 2-0, Gregg Berhalter will make it 2 for 2 in the win column as head coach.