USA vs. Chile: The Pre-Game Tailgate

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The U.S. men's national team will open a new year and new four-year World Cup cycle tonight when the Americans take on Chile at Home Depot Center (10pm, Telefutura/ESPN3.com).

Bob Bradley will be fielding a young squad against a Chile side made up of domestic league players. The match should offer a good test to some of the defensive newcomers on the U.S. roster, while also showcasing many of the exciting new attacking players in the current U.S. camp.

I will be providing a live commentary on tonight's match so be sure to follow along.

For now, share your pre-game thoughts, and check outa look at potential lineups, as well as the latest video preview from the folks at USSoccer.com.(I'll update periodically right up until game-time):

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PRE-GAME- If I were a betting man, and I am, I would bet against a straight 4-4-2. I think a 4-2-3-1 is more likely, or perhaps a straight 4-3-3.

Let's talk defenders. I wonder if we'll see Marvell Wynne. He enjoyed a good season for Colorado at centerback, but I don't see him being an international centerback. Does Bradley give him a run at right back?

Bigger question. Which of the natural right backs starts at left back tonight? I don't think Anthony Wallace, the lone natural left back, will get the call. So will it be Sean Frankline, Zach Loyd or perhaps A.J. De La Garza?

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PRE-GAME- No word on which players aren't dressing tonight yet, but it's a safe bet two of them will be goalkeepers. I'll post as soon as the info is released.

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PRE-GAME- Since formations and lineups are always fun to consider, here's another lineup idea, in A 4-3-3 formation:

------------! -------- -----Bunbury------------------------

---------Shea---------------------------Agudelo--------

--------------------------Bedoya------------------------

-------------Larentowicz----McCarty------------------

Franklin----Ream--------Gonzalez-----De La Garza

-----------------------Rimando-------------------------

Okay, so maybe a 4-3-3 against a Chile team that could run out a 3-4-3 might not be ideal, but it would sure be fun to watch. Also remember that Bradley used a 4-3-3 against Colombia, at least that's what he called it. Brek Shea didn't get forward nearly enough for it to be a true 4-3-3.

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PRE-GAME-So what lineup might we see tonight: So many possibilities. Here are a few:

4-2-3-1

------------------------Bunbury-------------------------

Agudelo---------------Diskerud----------------Bedoya

-------------Larentowicz----McCarty------------------

Franklin----Ream--------Gonzalez-----De La Garza

-----------------------Rimando-------------------------

If Bradley chooses a standard 4-4-2, we could see this:

--------------Bunbury----------Agudelo----------------

Shea----------------------------------------------Bedoya

-------------Larentowicz----McCarty------------------

Franklin----Ream--------Gonzalez-----De La Garza

-----------------------Rimando-------------------------

If Bradley decides to sit Agudelo and slow down the hype machine:

------------------------Bunbury-------------------------

Shea------------------Diskerud----------------Bedoya

-------------Larentowicz----McCarty------------------

Franklin----Ream--------Gonzalez-----De La Garza

-----------------------Rimando-------------------------

If Bradley decides to bring young standouts Agudelo and Mikkel Diskerud off the bench:

--------------Bunbury-----------Wondolowski--------

Shea -------------------------------------------Bedoya

-------------Larentowicz----McCarty------------------

Franklin----Ream--------Gonzalez-----De La Garza

-----------------------Rimando-------------------------

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Yes, we keep the same back four, but not because it's a lock. The idea of having three Galaxy defenders wouldn't be that surprising, but Marveil Wynne and Ryan Miller could definitely crash the party. At this point it definitely seems like a Ream-Gonzalez pairing in central defense is a safe bet.In goal, it should be Rimando.

Some other thoughts. Brek Shea was pretty abysmal in his national team debut against Colombia, but I think he could get another run-out on the left tonight.

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Here's a video preview on the match from U.S. Soccer:

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Remember to share your pre-game thoughts on tonight's match in the comments section below.


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