Americans Begin Olympic Qualifying Push vs. Canada

KANSAS CITY, KAN.—In 2012 the United States U-23 team dropped a 2-0 decision to Canada that set the stage for an improbable elimination from Olympic qualifying in the group stages. Now, as the Americans kicks off qualifying on Thursday for Rio 2016 (9pm ET, NBC Universo), the upset-minded Canadians once again stand in their way.

The United States will likely be anchored by a familiar defensive unit, with the New York Red Bulls’ Matt Miazga and Tottenham’s Cameron Carter-Vickers in central defense and Zack Steffen in net for what will be their third tournament together in 2015. This standout trio conceded just three goals for the U.S. in the U-20 World Cup qualifying tournament and the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Steffen is the No. 1 keeper by default. U.S. head coach Andi Herzog announced that Molde’s starting keeper, Ethan Horvath, would not join the U.S. team until after the second group stage game, when the international break opens.

Miazga, meanwhile, is one of the fastest-rising players in American soccer, and Herzog predicted the New Jersey native will be on the senior national team in “months, not years.” Carter-Vickers is another highly regarded young player, having recently been named captain of Tottenham’s U-21 side. The 17-year-old is the youngest player on this U.S. squad—so young, in fact, that he is also eligible for the 2020 Olympics.

In central midfield, Herzog will choose from a variety of versatile options including Luis Gil, Wil Trapp, Marc Pelosi, Matt Polster, Fatai Alashe, Gedion Zelalem, and Emerson Hyndman.

The forward position is similarly straightforward thanks to Stanford’s Jordan Morris, who has spent time with the full national team this year despite his amateur status. Morris has not played with the U-23 team since this summer’s Toulon Tournament, and since then has undergone surgery on his leg to relieve a stress fracture.

The most significant area for concern on the U.S. is a lack of natural wide players in both the back and in midfield. Colorado’s Dillon Serna perhaps epitomizes the point: Expect to see him at right back, even though he has primarily played as a winger throughout his professional career.

The absences on the U.S. team are significant. Hertha Berlin’s John Brooks and Sunderland’s DeAndre Yedlin are with the full national team instead of the U-23 team. Rubio Rubin was not released by Utrecht, and central defender Shane O’Neill suffered an illness this month that forced him off the team.

The Americans’ approach in this tournament shouldn’t surprise anyone. Most of the attack will go through the middle. If it is able to find effective wide options despite the bleak look on paper, the team will likely have a very effective tournament; if not, the U.S. will have face problems as opponents concede space out wide and clog the middle.

When Canada defeated the United States in Nashville back in 2012, it came out in a very defensive 4-3-2-1 formation that gave the U.S. team plenty of possession but little in the way of meaningful chances. Canada then capitalized on its own limited chances and came away with a shocking victory.

Nearly four years later, the players may be different but the Canadians likely will use a similar strategy—especially considering that forward Cyle Larin, the runaway rookie of the year in MLS, is going to be with Canada’s senior team instead.

The bottom line? The Americans possess more individual talent than Canada or any of its other group stage opponents. The question is whether Herzog has assembled a squad that can attack using the whole field and avoid a direct, one-dimensional approach.

Qualifying for the Olympics is a top priority for Jurgen Klinsmann, and the coach and technical director hand-picked Herzog to lead this team. This tournament will be a major measuring stick for Klinsmann in his role as the federation’s technical director.

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.