Jozy Altidore will wear the captain’s armband and young D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid sits between the sticks as the United States is set to take on Ireland in Dublin.
Jurgen Klinsmann made wholesale changes, especially to the back line, which comes as no surprise after multiple MLS players were sent back to their clubs in the US.
The entire defense is new, with Fabian Johnson the only player who started against Colombia. He was a midfielder in that lineup, although he dropped back to the defensive line after halftime in a swap with DeAndre Yedlin.
Timmy Chandler comes into the other full-back spot, while Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron pair in the middle. Cameron was unused against Colombia, and is back into the middle of the pitch despite playing right-back for Stoke City the last few Premier League matches before the international break.
One note about the defensive bodies, US Soccer announced that John Brooks will be kept out with a minor ankle injury, with the official Twitter feed calling it a “precaution.” Tim Ream is on hand to replace him, coming a short way from England to provide cover.
In the middle, Kyle Beckerman, Mix Diskerud, and Alejandro Bedoya all earn reprises of their roles against Colombia. Beckerman went the full 90 minutes at Craven Cottage, while Bedoya impressed. Alfredo Morales also earns a start after about 20 minutes in the friendly on Friday.
After starting the match on Friday next to young Rubio Rubin, Altidore’s start up front today comes paired with veteran Chris Wondolowski. Despite a positive performance against Colombia, Rubin will move to the bench.
Ireland’s lineup leaves much to be desired, with Premier Leaguers Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea, Aiden McGeady, Jonathan Walters, and Shane Long all on the bench.
LINEUPS:
Ireland: Given; Christie, Pearce, Clark, Meyler; Quinn, Brady, Pilkington, Murphy; McGoldrick, Stokes.
Bench: Elliot (GK), Randolph (GK), Keogh, Coleman, O’Shea, Hendrick, McGeady, McLean, Long, Walters.
United States: Hamid; F. Johnson, Cameron, Besler, Chandler; Beckerman; Bedoya, Diskerud, Morales; Wondolowski, Altidore.
Bench: Johnson (GK), Ream, Garza, Rubin, Ibarra, Green, Wood, Morris.
