SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sporting Alert – Here are the starting lineups for USA and Colombia for tonight’s 2016 Copa America Centenario opener at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
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USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has decided to go with Clint Dempsey, Bobby Wood and Gyasi Zardes as his attacking trio, with Michael Bradley, Alejandro Bedoya and Jermaine Jones playing in the midfield.
The four-man backline is consist of John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, DeAndre Yedlin and Fabian Johnson, with Brad Guzan starting between the sticks.
The Americans have shown positive signs playing a 4-3-3 formation and Klinsmann is confident about the current shape of his formation entering the tournament.
Real Madrid midfield playmaker James Rodriguez headline the starting XI for Colombia and he’s expected to be the main supporter for striker Carlos Bacca.
Rodriguez had a frustrating second season with Real Madrid, but the World Cup star is ready to shine for his country in the historic competition on American soil.
Bacca gets the nod ahead of Roger Martínez, Marlos Moreno and Dayro Moreno to lead the attacking line.
Also starting for the third-ranked South American powerhouses are Juan Cuadrado, Cristian Zapata, Farid Diaz, Jeison Murillo.
David Ospina will start in goal for the Colombians.
Here is the #USMNT Starting XI for #USAvCOL. #Copa100 pic.twitter.com/BOy9vQc1BS
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 4, 2016
United States (4-3-3): Brad Guzan; DeAndre Yedlin, Geoff Cameron, John Brooks, Fabian Johnson; Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, Alejandro Bedoya; Gyasi Zardes, Clint Dempsey, Bobby Wood.
Colombia (4-2-3-1): David Ospina; Farid Diaz, Jeison Murillo, Cristian Zapata, Santiago Arias; Sebastian Perez, Daniel Torres; Edwin Cardona, James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado; Carlos Bacca.
Costa Rica and Paraguay are the other teams lining up in Group A.
QUICK NOTE:
The U.S. men’s soccer team has faced Colombia 17 times since first playing in 1961 and is 3-10-4 against the South Americans, with the last win being a 3-0 result in 2005. The last time they battled, Colombia won 2-1 at Craven Cottage in London in November 2014.
