Auston Trusty, Aidan Morris, Josh Sargent: Who should start for the USMNT vs New Zealand?

Patrick Schulte did well against Canada, and is perhaps the only player that can actually say that. Varas hinted, though, that there would be a change at goalkeeper and, realistically, it makes sense.

Despite his lack of club minutes, you can't write Turner off with the USMNT. He's still arguably the team's most reliable goalkeeper, and he's earned that title particularly when wearing a U.S. shirt. Because of that, he deserves the chance to fight for his spot as the national team No. 1 with a start here.

We know that Wiley is a good player. He showed it in Atlanta and he's already shown it in a few games with Strasbourg. Is he a legitimate left-back option at the top levels of international soccer? Now is the time to find out.

A New Zealand friendly under an interim coach won't answer that question, but it could provide us with some valuable data. And, either way, neither Wiley nor Kristoffer Lund, 22, are starting over Antonee Robinson any time soon so, with that in mind, Tuesday is another opportunity to see what Wiley can bring to the fold.

Trusty was, right or wrong, left out in the cold by Gregg Berhalter despite playing for Sheffield United in the Premier League. Now, he has a very real chance to prove why that shouldn't have been the case.

A big move to Celtic this summer will help keep him on the USMNT radar, but the best way to do that is to deliver big performances in actual national team matches. Trusty hasn't gotten enough chances to do so, so it makes sense to give him this one to see what he's got.

Much of what we said for Trusty could apply to McKenzie. Yes, McKenzie has been more involved, even making the Copa America roster. He didn't play, though. He's a fringe player, by his own admission, but he could soon become much more.

Now at Toulouse, McKenzie is ready to push Chris Richards and Tim Ream for one of those starting center back spots. This is an audition. Normally, you wouldn't want to swap out both center backs, but it's fine here all considered. McKenzie and Trusty, former Philadelphia Union teammates, should bring some old chemistry to the table as they both look to make their case.

The lone defender to retain his place from the Canada game, but Scally, too, has a point to prove.

Sergino Dest has always been the guy at right-back but the difference in skillsets between the PSV man and Scally lead to an interesting debate. Will Pochettino prefer Dest's attacking output or Scally's defensive steel? We'll find out next month but, for now, this is an opportunity for Scally to demonstrate his case for the starting role.

Musah didn't have a great game against Canada, but hardly anyone did. Still, he's a key player in this midfield and one that needs who needs to lead at his position, particularly without Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie involved.

Without those two, Musah is the most experienced player in the midfield, despite his age. He's a player that has the ability on and off the ball to lead the charge, which is what he should do against New Zealand.

After the Canada loss, Varas admitted that Morris had proven something. He'd stepped in as a substitute and made a huge difference, making the manager wonder aloud if the Middlesbrough star should have started.

He can rectify that mistake on Tuesday by giving him a real runout against New Zealand.

Morris, 22, is the type of player that can make a legitimate impact with the senior team. He's shining in the Championship despite just making the big move to England this summer. If he brings that form to Tuesday's game, it'll provide a lot of life to the USMNT midfield.

Despite all of his big moments with his club, the fact is this: Malik Tillman still doesn't really have a statement run with the USMNT. Can he change that?

He deserves the chance, for sure. He's been so, so good for PSV but, so far, he's never really seized a USMNT role. With Gio Reyna out, the door is open for Tillman, but he really does have to show that he's able to have an impact in way he wasn't able to display against Canada.

If the U.S. had battered Canada, maybe Pulisic would sit this game and rest up for Milan. That luxury is gone. The U.S. needs to make a statement, and Pulisic is the most likely to make it.

Pulisic probably won't go for a full 90 minutes, but he should be on the field to lead the charge as this team's best player.

Since the 2022 World Cup ended, we've seen Sargent play just 24 minutes in a USMNT shirt. That needs to change. He's simply been too good on the club level -- scoring 31 goals in his last 70 appearances for Norwich.

You could argue that Folarin Balogun should retain his starting spot, and you'd have plenty to back that up. Balogun has two goals in his last four USMNT appearances. Sargent, though, needs this chance, for both himself and to continue to push Balogun in this tight No. race.

With no Tim Weah, the other wing spot fell to Brenden Aaronson. We know plenty about him and what he can bring to the national team. We don't know nearly as much about Cowell, and that's worth exploring.

Cowell has elite pace and, at Chivas, his decision-making is starting to improve. He showed some flashes against Canada, but that came as a substitute against tired legs. Can he make waves against a New Zealand team that isn't quite as good as Canada? If he can, he'll play his way from the fringes to the main squad.