Mauricio Pochettino’s first January camp with the United States men’s national team is coming to a close, but his team will first have a test against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. While the USMNT performed well against Venezuela winning 3-1 in the first match of camp, how this rotating team performs against Concacaf opposition will go a long way in showing what has been gained during the camp.
Pochettino stressed that this is not an alternative team but rather a team that can make those minutes count.
“I don’t like to talk about an alternative team. For me, it’s the team that adapts to the circumstances of the moment,” Pochettino said before facing Costa Rica. “Today I was telling our players that they cannot feel like an alternative team. This is the team that, at the moment, has been selected from the many players available. They must feel that they can also be important players And when they compete with the full range of possibilities we have, they can have the opportunity to also play a role for Costa Rica, with their circumstances I think we have to give them some. importance so that players can play at their maximum level and. so that they can have hope in the future when, as I “We said earlier, this opens up, they can have the opportunity to fight.”
With everyone watching from European clubs, their current clubs and Pochettino, there is every incentive to do well and push the current members of the USMNT to keep their performances at a high level as well. Competition for spots is always a good thing and depth players who do well in these camps will help foster that.
Here are our storylines, how to watch the game and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Wednesday January 22 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando, Florida
- TV: TNT | Live broadcast: Fubo TV (Try for free)
USMNT roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Matt Freese (New York City FC; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 1/0), George Campbell (CF Montreal; 1/0), DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew; 9/0), Shaq Moore (FC Dallas; 20/1), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 66/1), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 31/3), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 42/3)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami; 2/0), Emeka Eneli (Real Salt Lake; 1/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 2/0), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; 2/1)
BEFORE (6): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 1/1), Caden Clark (CF Montreal; 1/0), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire; 1/0), Matko Miljevic (Huracán/ARG; 1/1), Indiana Vassilev (St. Louis City; 1/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps; 2/0)
List of Costa Rica
GOALKEEPERS (2): Esteban Alvarado (Saprissa; 25/0), Anthony Walker (Herediano; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Ryan Bolaños (Saprissa; 0/0), Kevin Espinoza (Cartaginés; 0/0), Fernán Faerrón (Herediano; 3/0), Joseph Mora (Saprissa; 12/0), Kenay Myrie (Saprissa; 0/0), Joseth Peraza (San Carlos; 0/0), Haxzel Quirós (Herediano; 12/0), Yostin Salinas (Sporting San Jose; 4/0), Santiago van der Putten (Alajuelense; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Sebastián Acuña (Saprissa; 5/0), Alejandro Bran (Alajuelense; 13/1), Allan Cruz (Herediano; 24/2), Rashir Parkins (Alajuelense; 1/0), Creichel Pérez (Alajuelense; 0/0), Aarón Suárez (Alajuelense; 7/1), Mauricio Villalobos (Santa Ana; 0/0)
BEFORE (6): Diego Campos (Alajuelense; 2/1), Anthony Hernández (Puntarenas; 3/1), Josimar Méndez (San Carlos; 0/0), Andy Rojas (Herediano; 4/1), Orlando Sinclair (Saprissa; 1/0) , Randy Vega (Herediano; 0/0)
Prediction
Costa Rica may have a new manager in Miguel Herrera, but against a talented young USMNT team, there will be enough firepower to secure a second straight victory. Take: USMNT 3, Costa Rica 1
