Following their recent loss to Turkey, the United States Men`s National Team (USMNT) has an opportunity to apply lessons learned as they face another strong UEFA side in Switzerland. Ranked 20th globally among men`s teams, Switzerland consistently performs well, regularly advancing to the knockout stages of both European Championships and World Cups. While they haven`t claimed a major tournament title, they represent the standard the USMNT aims to reach.
After suffering three consecutive defeats for the first time since 2015, pressure is mounting on Coach Mauricio Pochettino and the squad. With key player Tyler Adams unavailable for this match, it presents a significant challenge as the team prepares for the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup. Four players earned their first USMNT caps in the match against Turkey, and more debuts could occur in this game as Pochettino continues to assess the player pool.
Historically, this team has struggled when key players like Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, and Christian Pulisic have been absent. A match like this offers a chance to reverse that trend. As the squad spends more time working under Pochettino, developing greater unit cohesion will be essential. However, building chemistry remains difficult when frequent roster changes mean potentially only three starters from the 2022 World Cup knockout loss might feature in this game.
Playing together at youth levels or clubs provides some foundation, but Pochettino hasn`t had a consistent group to select since taking charge. Guaranteed to play five matches during this international window, he will have opportunities to build understanding, even if the specific personnel differ from expectations. Failing to achieve positive results with this consistency just a year before the World Cup would increase concern, but there is still time to improve.
Here is information on how to watch the match, odds, and more:
Match Details and Odds
- Date: Tuesday, June 10 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: GEODIS Park — Nashville, Tennessee
- TV: TNT | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
- Odds: USMNT +200; Draw +220; Switzerland +130
USMNT Predicted Starting Lineup
- Matt Turner, Max Arfsten, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Alex Freeman, Luca De La Torre, Jack McGlynn, Johnny Cardoso, Diego Luna, Patrick Agyemang, Malik Tillman
Player to Watch
Malik Tillman, USMNT: Coach Pochettino expressed satisfaction with Tillman`s performance against Turkey. While his assist to Jack McGlynn highlighted McGlynn`s skillful finish, the PSV player demonstrated promising moments. In the absence of Gio Reyna, Tillman and Diego Luna are crucial sources of creativity for the squad. Tillman is a highly-rated recruit for the USMNT whose strong club performances haven`t always fully translated to the international level. A key goal during this camp under Pochettino is to help bridge that gap, which could significantly raise the ceiling of the entire team. He doesn`t necessarily need to score or assist directly, but his ability to create chances and challenge opposing defenses will be vital.
Key Storyline
Need for Progress: Ultimately, these friendlies are exhibition matches and won`t be the sole indicator of the USMNT`s potential success at the Gold Cup. Even Mexico, expected to be a contender, lost to this Swiss side. However, the USMNT must demonstrate competitiveness in this fixture. At times against Turkey, that wasn`t fully the case, and the one-goal margin made the match appear closer than the performance suggested. Switzerland brings a different tactical approach, which will likely make it challenging for the USMNT to generate attacking opportunities, but this is precisely what makes it a valuable test.
Prediction
Switzerland is expected to gain an early advantage and hold onto their lead. While the USMNT showed some improvement in possession against Turkey, they may struggle to create enough decisive chances to turn the game around. This could result in their fourth consecutive loss as they look ahead to regrouping for the Gold Cup. Prediction: USMNT 1, Switzerland 2
Dominic Ashworth