Renewing a rivalry that goes back to the 2006 World Cup, the United States will take on Ghana today in a pre-Gold Cup tune-up friendly. Bruce Arena has brought a different cast of characters to the Gold Cup (for at least the group stage), and so this game against Ghana will give us some insight into his thinking of how the early stages of this tournament will go.
Key player: Bill Hamid
D.C. United’s best player may not start this game, but he will get time in the friendlies and the group stage of the Gold Cup. After having gotten his first cap in 2012 and his second in 2014, injuries at just the wrong time had made it hard for him to get back on the roster. This, however, is his time to shine, especially with the US goalkeeping situation as muddled as it has been since before Tony Meola: Tim Howard is not the keeper he once was, neither is Brad Guzan, and the rest of the crew are understudies looking to get their chance.
Could that keeper be Bill Hamid? We’ll get an inkling of Arena’s thinking later on this afternoon.
Location: Pratt and Whitney Stadium (East Hartford, CT)
Kickoff time: 4:45PM Eastern
Projected [our team] starting 11: (4-4-2) - Bill Hamid; Justin Morrow, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Hedges, Eric Lichaj; Paul Arriola, Kellyn Acosta, Dax McCarty, Kenny Saief; Juan Agudelo, Dom Dwyer
Bench: Brad Guzan, Sean Johnson, Matt Besler, Matt Miazga, Jorge Villafana, Graham Zusi, Alejandro Bedoya, Joe Corona, Cristian Roldan, Kelyn Rowe, Gyasi Zardes, Jordan Morris
Available TV: ESPN, Univision Deportes, and UniMas
Available streaming: WatchESPN and Univision NOW
For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.
What do we have to say about it?: Our own Donald Wine previewed the possible USMNT lineup over at Stars and Stripes FC.
What are you drinking?: I am going to a brewery this early afternoon, so I will be having one of Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery’s selection of delicious beers.
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