Pre-match: USA v. Australia - October 14, 2025 - International Friendly

It's 12 matches but the date is wrong. We lost to Bahrain 1-0 at home in Sept 24 and the unbeaten run started with a 0-0 draw in Indonesia a few days after that. The then coach resigned after those two matches and now coaches Iraq.

 

Dream on... Arfsten where counter attacks die by death from a thousand stepovers.

 

I really want to see James Sands and McKenzie. He could start a World Cup game if one of Adams, Tessman, Cardoso are injured.

 

This game could be very frustrating. If the 'roos play as expected, the space to turn and go will not be there. I am most interested in whether Tillman looks like bad Tillman or good Tillman against this style. How much will the US try to break down a deep defense through the middle as compared to the wings? Can they create chances through the channel or middle?

On the flipside, how exposed will the flanks be? Will it look like the pre-GC friendlies, where Arfsten was left one on one constantly and exposed? Will a rotation to cover be clear and executed well?

 

Is Arfsten the new Heydude?

 

if Jedi does not come back due to systemic injury issues ..... ?

 

65 degrees at game time ...

going to be interesting as I don't think anyone for the US or Aussies plays at altitude ... everybody will be collectively sucking wind ...

 

Should note I believe Australia played mostly backups against Canada (and still won but it was kinda flukey). I would expect their best XI today

 

This the first Ive heard this and Ive listened to several knowledgeable folks. Mark me as skeptical.

 

skeptical that they played back ups against canada? what did you hear from the other folks? curious to hear!

 

Simple Dest on the left Weah right.

 

Yeah - as I said I've not seen this version of the team much if at all and I expected a less defensive approach (based, I admit, on nothing except having seen Australia's results over the past bunch of games.) I'll happily revise it to "not as good as I expected" (and if it came off as insulting, that was not the intent - more about prepping US fans for what the Canada game held) It sounds like the rotation may have hurt the flow, but the Aussies really packed it in, dropping to a low a block very quickly, ceding possession and having trouble building out of the back, ultimately choosing to go over midfield quite a bit. I think the Canuks had almost 4x shots and like 7 to 1 SOG. There was a spell in the 2nd half when you all were playing a bit more like I expected the team to run out. Mostly, I just think that US fans should take the result with a grain of salt, and if the US hold a ton of possession today, it will not be indication that we are now Brasil, but more that is the kind of game Pop et al are playing.

(And thanks for posting - I, personally, really appreciate knowledgeable fans coming by here to add perspective - appreciate it!)

 

I had the same image pop in my head!

 

From in-game comments and a look at some previews, GK Izzo is considered 2nd choice to Ryan (tho he played lights out - it was like a BF or KK "save the bacon" performance) Irankunda - who pipped the goal - is still a teen, tho at Watford. Adding Yazbek, Miller and Bos in the 2nd half seemed to make a difference for the Aussies. Other than that, I'll leave to folks who know that Aussie side better than me to opine.

 

The Aussie's counter was somewhat effective on the wings, so we will need to be aware not to be sucked too far forward, esp if the Aussie's resort to long ball again. But if some speed on the wings - Dest or Weah or anyone will good pace with the ball on their feet, can get in behind the defensive line, there will be chances. All depends if the same Izzo shows up. He was the difference maker for Australia.

 

There's a key difference between saying Arfsten will replace Jedi because of injury and saying Arsten will take the superior player's job.

 

Zendejas for Club America in Mexico City but he's out injured and returned home. Luna plays at Salt Lake. No Colorado players?

 

So, with Jedi & Zedenjas out, I'd say our best would be:

-------------------Freese------------------
----Richards---McKenzie---Ream---
Weah---Tessman---McKennie---Arfsten
-------------Tillman------Pulisic---------
------------------Balogun--------------

Poch seems locked into Richards in the middle, but I'd try Ream/McKenzie or even Robinson. But if Richards is central, then I'd like to see Freeman at RCB. He & Weah give you real speed down that side.

If Pulisic cannot start, then McKennie becomes our next best attacker and a CM spot opens, and I'd run Morris out again with Tessman. Or you could start Luna instead of Pulisic.

Now, if Poch isn'tcreally interested in a "best XI" type lineup and wants to look at other guys, then you could see some other faces. Turner, CCV, Roldan, Aaronson, Wright, and Agyemang. Those guys are all backups (Turner) or fringe on the 23.

I'd be real surprised to see Schulte, Brady, or Sands start. Or at all.

 

Outside of Balogun and Tillman, Arfsten was our most dangerous player against Ecuador. Arfsten was breaking the last line and pushing the forwards into the box over and over again in the last 15 minutes of the game.

 

Would kinda suck for some these guys (CCV, Sands etc) to come all the way to camp and not get some minutes, although I think Poch feels like he's at the "putting out the starters" phase of his tenure. If the US gets on the board early, things likely change as well.

 

There will never be another Heydude, but Arfsten is a high quality player who is currently suffering from the typical ignorant Badge FC underrating.

The odds of him starting over a 100% Robinson are low, but if Robinson can’t get to 100%, Arfsten has earned the coach and his teammates’ trust.

 

This is another team on a hot streak. The US will have to meet/exceed their physicality to win.

 

I think both can be true, he has been a bit underrated in terms of the quality of his offensive contribution but he does also have periods where he can slow down the ball and hit some step overs. The thing is that he is two footed and puts in a good ball so it has been a great weapon to use and he had some good balls played forward on the counter that I think are overshadowed by some of his other periods of slowing down play in moments.

overall, I am skeptical of his defensive chops, but he is really good offensively.

 

Based on amount of uncalled hate he is a new Bornstein.

 

Let's move Dest on the left where he is poor just for fun of moving attacking Weah back.