USMNT In the Hot Seat; Mexico Hope to Bounce Back | OneFootball

Another two great international friendlies tonight featuring North American and Asian powerhouses.

United States vs. Japan

Lower.com Field, Columbus, OH @ 7:30pm ETBroadcast nationally on TNT & Television/UniversoStreaming on HBO Max & Peacock

It’s not entirely hyperbolic to say that jobs might be on the line in tonight’s match-up against Japan, even if it’s unrealistic. Saturday’s match against South Korea was sub-par, in which the host nation made too many mistakes early, and wasted too many chances later. Reactions from fans and pundits were critical, and rightly so.

If there was one positive from the South Korea match, it showed Pochettino wasn’t afraid to tinker with his shape or strategy. Moving from a back four to a back five gave the US a little more firepower on the attack, though this may also have been the four sets of fresh legs he subbed on.

Let’s not waste time crying over that spilled beer, and instead concentrate on the line-up and starters for tonight’s match. The critical fix will be on the attack. Despite outshooting Korea by 3x, the US had the same number of on-frame attempts (4). Josh Sargent, who can’t seem to miss shots in the Championship, couldn’t summon that same magic. Expect to see him out in favor of, well, any of the other candidates such as Falorin Balogun, Alex Zendejas or Damion Downs. Balogun at least forced the Korean keeper Jo Hyeon-woo into making three saves after subbing on.

In defense, Tristan Blackmon’s surprise first cap didn’t exactly work. His poor communication with veteran Tim Ream and others was partly to blame for one of Korea’s goals. Chris Richards could return, and this time not as a substitute for Timothy Weah. Sergiño Dest may bench in favor of Alex Freeman, but whoever starts will be subbed. One area unlikely to change is the midfield triangle of Diego Luna, Sebastian Berhalter and Tyler Adams.

The Blue Samurai

One thing should play into the USMNT’s favor, and that’s the Japan side they’ll face. Hajime Moriyasu fielded his A-team against Mexico on Saturday and was rewarded with a well-earned draw. The Japanese side was relentless with the high press, an exhausting style of play. With only two days of rest, those starters may be benched and Moriyasu might give some of his younger players a start to see how they fare.

One other positive: Japan have no equivalent to Son Heung-min. Scoring for Japan is done more through committee and less through individual excellence. They are not toothless, however. Takefusa Kubo and Takumi Minamino were both creative, dangerous, and forced keeper Ángel Malagon into two saves.

Mexico vs. South Korea

GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN @ 9:00pm ETBroadcast nationally on TUDN, Univision & FOX Deportes (en Español)

If Mexican coach Javier Aguirre was a little surly in the post-game news conference after Saturday night’s 0 – 0 draw against Japan, he had good reason. He picked a strong side that was out-muscled and out-hustled in the first half, and whose improved tempo in the second couldn’t find the net.

Don’t expect to see many changes in the Mexico starting eleven outside of Edson Álvarez (who was injured in the 32nd minute against Japan) and César Montes (who got a red card). Raúl Jiménez should start and have the captain’s armband. Erik Lira will replace Álvarez, but who will step in for Montes is a mystery. Aguirre only has three other players on his roster identified as defenders.

The Taeguk Warriors

Son Heung-Min will start again as Korea’s lone striker. Let’s hope he has better luck on this pitch than his LAFC team mate Denis Bouanga, who had a penalty kick blocked in the 98th minute against L’Espérance de Tunis in the Club World Cup group stage.

Other potential line-up changes are not known at this time. Expect to see some players who subbed on against the U.S. to start, in particular Lee Kang-In. The defensive should be the same.