Teams the United States should have no trouble beating: St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Teams the United States are conveniently playing today in 2018 World Cup qualifying and should therefore easily pick up three points against: St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Let's not over-complicate this one, okay? And yet—the USMNT actually do need to win this game, if they want to make things as comfortable as they have the power to do, which suddenly makes it seem that much harder. Add in that Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, and Jermaine Jones are out of this one, and you've got yourself some USMNT fans who are feeling a tad, "this is fine it's fine I know it's fine but I'm still kind of nervous????"
Look, USMNT fans: it's seriously going to be fine. I think.
Key players: Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood
Goals, you know, they're important. And without Dempsey, Jurgen Klinsmann and his team have to rethink the attack a bit. A reliance—you may even say an over-reliance—on the ever-older Dempsey is no longer an option. Altidore and Wood are the likely starters up top for this game, and a successful pairing will go a long way towards not only a win today, but a longer-term partnership that the USMNT can count on.
If Altidore and Wood don't find chemistry together, however, complication edges into the USMNT equation. Is Jordan Morris the right answer instead? Will we be subjected to more Chris Wondolowski as this qualifying campaign rolls on? Should we expect more and more experimentation that never produces strong, consistent goal-scoring?
Let's put it this way: if Altidore and Wood can't score against St. Vincent and the Grenadines, things will be looking a little bleak. This should be an easy opportunity to get the team a win—and get nervous fans a win, too.
Location: Arnos Vale Stadium (Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
Kickoff time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Available TV: beIN SPORTS
Available streaming: Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, beIN SPORTS Connect
For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.
Lineups: for the United States:
Here is the #USMNT Starting XI for #USAvVIN. #OneNationOneTeam pic.twitter.com/rTnVdWnqOD
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) September 2, 2016
Treat this as the gamethread for today's match.