USMNT vs. Guatemala Date: July 3rd, 2015 Location: Nissan Stadium – Nashville, Tenn. TV: Foxsports 1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network Time: 6:30pm ET Watch with your #AOFamily at one of our 175 chapter bars! The Hype Hello AO! What a weekend we have in store….. Scene 1 – The USMNT face Guatemala in a Gold Cup tune-up in Nashville Scene 2 – 4^th of July Scene 3 – The USWNT take on Japan in the WORLD CUP FINAL!!!! While focus of most United States supporters will be primarily on the WWC Final, we wanted to give you a quick tour of what the USMNT face today vs Guatemala. Jurgen Klinsmann has to feel confident heading into this tournament after seeing his team outplay (for portions of the match) two of the best teams in the world and get results. Although, CONCACAF is an altogether different beast. After two absolutely stunning away wins against Holland and Germany last month, the boys make their final preparations for the Gold Cup which kicks off on Tuesday in Dallas. What’s at stake? By winning this Gold Cup, the U.S. would eliminate the possibility for a play-in game to qualify for the 2017 Confederation Cup in Russia. This time out, we’ll #eliminate Mexico from making a tournament, rather than gifting it to them as we did in 2013. Guatemala has always been a tricky game. Though in the last GC tuneup, the U.S. #bulldozed Guatemala 6-0 in San Diego. Klinsmann has stated that this is a much-improved team this time around. Here’s the United States roster: GK: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/2007), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake/2011, 2013), William Yarbrough (Club Leon) DEF: Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC/2009), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy/2013), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers/2011) MID: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake/2009, 2013), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/2011, 2013), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/2007, 2011), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC/2013), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) FOR: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/2011), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC/2005, 2007, 2011), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes/2011, 2013) Rimando was stellar in the last Gold Cup, but it will likely be Guzan’s tournament would one suspect. The John Brooks and Ventura Alvarado partnership looks to continue, after the two did well together last month. Brooksy might even play striker. Nice to see Tim Ream back in the team after a good season with Bolton. Beckerman (the silent assassin) has also been a rock in the MF, and will surely feature alongside newly minted captain MB90 in the center of the field. The flying Z’s (Zusi/Zardes) will pull the strings from out wide with the help of Diskerud. Deuce returns, this time without the captaincy. Many GC opponents have been reported as having sleeping problems, most waking up in cold sweats due to the thought of Dempsey, Jozy, and AJ running at them. Have to admit, that’s a scary front 3. Here’s Guatemala’s team that will play in Group C in the Gold Cup. GK: Victor Ayala (Antigua GFC), Ricardo Jerez (Alianza Petrol), Paulo Motta (Municipal) DEF: Carlos Castrillo (Comunicaciones), Stefano Cincotta (Chemnitzer), Moises Hernandez (FC Dallas), Wilson Lalin (Comunicaciones), Deniss Lopez (Municipal), Ruben Morales (Comunicaciones), Elias Enoc Vasquez (Real Salt Lake) MID: Jorge Aparicio (Comunicaciones), Gerardo Arias (Petapa), Jose Contreras (Comunicaciones), Carlos Figueroa (Comunicaciones), Kendel Herrarte (Comunicaciones), Brandon De Leon (Comunicaciones), Jonathan Marquez (Comunicaciones), Carlos Mejia (Comunicaciones), Marco Pappa (Seattle Sounders) FOR: Jairo Arreola (Comunicaciones), Edgar Chinchilla (Antigua GFC), Minor Lopez (Atlético CP), Carlos Ruiz (Municipal/Guatemala) Let’s get this show rolling. GET LOUD! XOXO, AO