How will the USMNT align for the Gold Cup final? Group screening of Gregg Berhalter against Mexico

When Gregg Berhalter planned to handle a series of three eight-day knockout matches, limited by clashes against Jamaica and Mexico, it was a safe bet that he had decided that a rotation of the composition would be needed for the US national team. Now, after seeing the starting lineup he has deployed against Jamaica and playing the best game of his Gold Cup team, Berhalter may need to reconsider any idea of ​​change before Sunday's final against Mexico.

The 16 minutes played before the weather stopped Wednesday in Nashville for 80 minutes was the best game of American football under Berhalter, and you can not really blame him if he wants to see how that same group could be measured against a Mexico. The team has just won an eighth-round streak that has gone through the 120 minutes of regulation and extra time.

This seems like an easy decision to make, but some programming choices will not be simple. Starting Jozy Altidore before Gyasi Zardes is not even a discussion, regardless of Berhalter's efforts to make it sound like a difficult call.

Then you have the right-wing role that Jordan Morris played against Jamaica, replacing Tyler Boyd after Boyd's tough quarter-final battle against Curacao. Morris has an advantage over Boyd. He played and scored against Mexico. He also played and won a goal in a gold cup final. Of course, you can say that he has not yet much experience as a winger, but his speed should help put some pressure on the left-back Mexican, Jesus Gallardo, who always likes to go further than defend.

The toughest decisions lie along the bottom line, when Reggie Cannon and Matt Miazga replaced Nick Lima and Walker Zimmerman, respectively, against Jamaica. These movements were thought to be an attempt to keep the team fresh, with Lima and Zimmerman likely to regain their starting positions for the final.

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It's far from being a sure thing though. Miazga has already played against Mexico after posting a solid performance in a friendly victory in 2018, recalling that Miazga had signaled to Diego Lainez that it was too short, which sparked a dizzying controversy. Miazga was not exactly dominant against Jamaica, but he is a better smuggler than Zimmerman and could work better as a central defense partner with Aaron Long, who can cover the pitch and leave the pbad to Miazga. Mexico also uses Raul Jimenez as a lone striker, and Long is sure to be able to count on the Wolves' striker while Miazga supports him.

Upon his return, Lima entered the Gold Cup as a starter, but Cannon took full advantage of his starting opportunities against Panama and Jamaica. He was particularly impressive against Jamaica, where his defensive qualities stood out. Lima is a greater attack threat than Cannon, but if Berhalter believes that Cannon is the best defender, and that he's no longer looking for the right backstop, he could also be called a defensive midfielder, so the young FC Dallas player could be invited to try. contains Mexican playmaker Rodolfo Pizarro, who deploys on the left wing.

Being on the hot seat for the final does not mean that some of those who were not chosen for the start still can not have a major role to play. The story of the Mexican-American rivalry in the Gold Cup final is filled with examples of substitutes who helped their teams win, like Benny Feilhaber in 2007, or who lost, like Jonathan Bornstein in the Gold Cup final 2011.