THE BASICS
USMNT v Colombia
Location: Raymond James Stadium - Tampa, FL
Date: October 11th 2018
Time: 7:30pm ET
TV: FS1, Univision, UDN
Watch with your #AOFamily at one of nearly 200 chapter bars!
THE HYPE
It has been 366 days since the USMNT failed to qualify for last summer’s World Cup. 366 days. And yet we still have no permanent coach. A year after our biggest embarrassment for the MNT in decades, we still have no plans for the future. Interim boss Dave Sarachan deserves some recognition for some great results, but the long-term solution to this void in US Soccer history remains uncovered. It is as dumbfounding as it is depressing.
But, AO still have so much to look forward to with this team. Individually, man USMNT players have had great clubs seasons in MLS and Europe alike. This, in addition to a red-hot USWNT before next summer’s World Cup, will give US Soccer fans something to look forward to. But Thursday’s match against Colombia is another stepping stone towards the future.
The USMNT return to action on Thursday night in Tampa following a 1-0 win against Mexico last time out. Tyler Adams did the business for the Yanks in Nashville a month ago, which gave new hope into the USMNT players, staff, and fans altogether. For those living underneath a USMNT rock, the rivalry is still alive and well. Simply put, it was fantastic to see the USMNT beat our southern neighbors again.
Thursday night’s test against star-studded Colombia will be another challenge for this young group of players. Sarachan has stuck with his youthful squad, with a few sprinkles of experience this time around. Brad Guzan and Michael Bradley return to the team with a wealth of experience to mixed feedback from USMNT fans. Here’s the full teams:
And the Colombians….
GK: Álvaro Montero (Tolima), David Ospina (Napoli/ITA)
DEF: Felipe Aguilar (Atlético Nacional), Santiago Arias (Atlético Madrid/ESP), Cristian Borja (Toluca/MEX), Deiver Machado (Atlético Nacional) Jeison Murillo (Valencia/ESP), Óscar Murillo (Pachuca/MEX), Helibelton Palacios (Atlético Nacional), Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG)
MID: Wílmar Barrios (Boca Juniors/ARG), Edwin Cardona (Boca Juniors/ARG), Juan Cuadrado (Juventus/ITA), Didier Moreno (Deportivo La Coruña/ESP), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate/ARG), Juan Daniel Roa (Indendiente Santa Fe), James Rodríguez (Bayern Munich/GER), Mateus Uribe (Club América/MEX), Sebastián Villa (Boca Juniors/ARG)
FOR: Carlos Bacca (Villarreal/ESP), Miguel Borja (Palmeiras/BRA), Yimmi Chará (Atlético Mineiro/BRA), Radamel Falcao (Monaco/FRA), Cucho Hernández (Huesca/ESP)
With next summer’s Gold Cup venues announced and qualifying just around the corner after that, these guys are beginning to feel the weight of expectation. This is what it’s all about.
Get to your local AO bars, get the tailgate (check AO twitter for gameday specifics regarding potential weather), get to your TV’s.
We’re back and ready for the future.
We love ya,
AO