It’s okay – natural, even – to be super nervous for the US men’s national team going into Tuesday's Copa America semifinal against Argentina (9pm ET; FS1). Yep, we’re going into this with three of our best players out: Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya, and Bobby Wood. Oh, and the remaining guys will face one of the best players to ever live. Yeah, it’s okay to sweat.
Particularly stinging is Jermaine Jones’ suspension. With his imposing physical presence and gifts at setting up goals for his teammates — as he did last Tuesday against Ecuador — he earned redemption in the midfield. Well, until that straight red, earned during his confrontation with Ecuador midfielder Michael Arroyo, which will force him out of this crucial game.
Perhaps not all is lost — there’s still Darlington Nagbe, remember? After he and fellow USMNT "next big thing" Christian Pulisic appeared during the second half of the Yanks' Copa opener against Colombia on June 3, they haven’t been seen on the field since. And Tuesday could be Nagbe’s big chance.
At the Timbers, he’s proved himself to be an emerging star attacking midfielder, with three assists and a goal in the 2016 MLS regular season so far. Remember, too, that he scored the lone goal in the US’ pre-Copa warm-up friendly against Ecuador on May 25.
If US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann continues to use a similar formation to the 4-4-2 he has throughout the tournament, Nagbe would fit in pretty easily to the space Jones leaves behind. Combine that with more defensive-minded midfielders — like captain Michael Bradley — and the players can split the difference.
Versus Messi and company, naturally, defense is key, but the USMNT can’t just park the bus. Nagbe could provide that much-needed spark to get the US back in the attacking half of the field. There’s no coming out of Tuesday night without it.
