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The U.S. men's national team faces its first World Cup 2010 rematch on Tuesday against the same Slovenia side the Americans earned a dramatic 2-2 draw against in World Cup group play.
Jurgen Klinsmann will look to find the right combination of players to help a sagging offense that has managed just two goals in six matches since he took over as head coach. Whether Klinsmann's focus is on sparking the U.S. attack, or on looking at some new faces against a Slovenia side that will offer less resistence than France did on Friday, it's safe to say we aren't going to see the same lineup two games in a row.
Among the new faces we could see tested in Slovenia is Fabian Johnson, the Hoffenheim playmaker who made his first U.S. national team appearance late in the France friendly.
So who will get the start against Slovenia? Here is the lineup I could see Klinsmann going with on Tuesday:
PROJECTED USMNT LINEUP vs. SLOVENIA
---------------------Altidore-------------------------
Shea---------------Johnson-----------------Dempsey
----------------Jones-----Williams-----------------
Chandler---Bocanegra---Orozco-------Cherundolo
---------------------Howard-------------------------
Now remember, this is the lineup I can see Klinsmann going with, which you'll notice does not include Michael Bradley, who just doesn't seem to be part of Klinsmann's immediate plans.
If we're talking about the lineup I would trot out against Slovenia, here's the group I would take a look at:
---------------------Altidore-------------------------
Shea----------------Johnson----------------Dempsey
----------------Edu-------Bradley--------------------
Chandler---Bocanegra---Orozco-------Cherundolo
---------------------Howard--------------------------
The difference is in central midfield, where I'd go with Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu. I'm sure many would question playing Edu again considering his recent performances, but I think we need to see the Edu-Bradley combination play together. It would be pretty ironic if Edu and Bradley got their chance to work together for the first time under Klinsmann against the same Slovenia side they played key roles against in the 2010 World Cup.
This pairing isn't an indictment of Kyle Beckerman as much as wanting to see Bradley play in the role Klinsmann has handed Beckerman. Klinsmann seems to be under the impressive Bradley can't play as the defensive midfielder in front of the back-line, but Bradley is showing in Italy he can maintain a defensive-minded midfield role.
Seeing Jones and Bradley play together again wouldn't be a bad idea either, particularly given both are starting and playing well in top leagues. As for a Beckerman-Bradley pairing? I wouldn't mind seeing that one either.
And what about a more attack-minded lineup? Here's one:
-------------Altidore---------Dempsey--------------
Beasley--------------Johnson-------------------Shea
-----------------------Bradley-------------------------
Chandler---Bocanegra---Orozco-------Cherundolo
---------------------Howard--------------------------
I know some folks won't like the idea of Shea moving to the right, but he can still do the things he does best on the right side, which is running at people with pace. Beasley has been on good form and merits a start in my opinion, and this lineup would give the United States some speed to work alongside Altidore and Dempsey.
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What do you think of Klinsmann's projected lineup? Which lineup would you like to see against Slovenia?
Share your thoughts below.
