For various reasons, there have been precious few games between the United States and Mexico that have had the hype and the pressure that surround tonight's CONCACAF Cup playoff. Many of them are self-inflicted: Jurgen Klinsmann has made an enormous deal out of getting into the Confederations Cup, and also made winning this summer's Gold Cup a point of emphasis. By failing to do the latter (emphasis on "failing"), the pressure in general on the USMNT increased while also allowing this game to exist.
It's a very odd moment for these teams, as the USMNT has been on a sustained run of soccer that has ranged from naive to flat-out poor. Mexico, meanwhile, only won the Gold Cup thanks to some truly atrocious refereeing in the semifinal, and in Tuca Ferretti have an interim coach who explicitly wants to leave the gig the moment this game ends so he can go back to his full-time job with Tigres. In other words, the circumstances surrounding this uniquely CONCACAF occasion are particularly CONCACAF-y.
USMNT Projected Starting 11: I'm fully prepared to get this wrong, but here goes: Brad Guzan in goal. A back four of Fabian Johnson, Michael Orozco Fiscal (just a hunch there), Matt Besler, and DaMarcus Beasley. Danny Williams will line up as the #6 underneath Gyasi Zardes, Michael Bradley, and Jermaine Jones in the midfield. Up top, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore are pretty close to a sure thing.
Off the bench, I think it's safe to expect DeAndre Yedlin to come in for Zardes on the right. After that, things get tricky. If the US has a lead to protect, don't be surprised if someone like Geoff Cameron comes in for Altidore and goes to right back, with Johnson moving out to the left side of midfield (with Jones tucking inside). Bobby Wood also seems like someone Klinsmann could look to given his penchant for late goals.
Match previews: We covered plenty of ground earlier today in our preview, and linked to several other pertinent stories on the topic. Give it a click, you've got time to read it.
What are you drinking: This was going to be some kind of beer, but frankly the Olympic qualifying debacle that served as the appetizer for tonight's game has me eyeing up the bourbon and rye bottles instead. I'm going with an Old Fashioned made with Rittenhouse Rye because it's 100 proof (it's also a pretty good rye, which helps).
Prediction: I see two teams that, for various reasons, are a mess right now. Mexico will be the aggressor, but I think we'll see the first goal come from Michael Bradley just before halftime. El Tri will be on the ropes coming out of the locker room, but the USMNT won't take advantage. Eventually Jesus Corona finds an equalizer, and the US hangs on for dear life to get into extra time. There, Mexico suffers a red card, but the US again lets them off the hook. We end up in penalties, where Guzan makes 2 saves. The US shooters collectively miss just once, sending the USMNT to the Confederations Cup on PKs.
This is your place for pre-game, in-game, and post-game discussion.