It's been one year since the United States' failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and the national team still is searching for direction in the aftermath.
The team has continued to play matches, often with young players who should be heavily involved in taking on leadership roles in the next cycle.
The tests continue with a matchup in Tampa, Florida, against Colombia. The Cafeteros also are being led by an interim manager after long-time coach Jose Pekerman left the post after the 2018 World Cup
Yet, Arturo Reyes has called upon many World Cup veterans, meaning it will be a stiff test for the Americans. Can they pass the exam or will it be back to the drawing board?
| Game | United States vs Colombia |
| Date | Thursday, October 11 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States, the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| FS1, Unimas, Univision Deportes Network | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
Squads & Team News
| Position | United States players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Guzan, Horvath, Steffen |
| Defenders | Brooks, Cannon, Carter-Vickers, Long, Miazga, Robinson, Sweat, Yedlin |
| Midfielders | Acosta, Amon, Bradley, Delgado, Green, Picault, Saief, Trapp, Weah |
| Forwards | Novakovich, Sargent, Wood |
Several veteran players are back in the mix for the U.S. after missing out on the last few matches, among them goalkeeper Brad Guzan and midfielder Michael Bradley.
Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic, Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie and New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams all had to withdraw from the squad after originally being named. Fafa Picault and Marky Delgado were added.
USA XI: Steffen; Yedlin, Brooks, Miazga, Robinson; Bradley, Acosta; Weah, Green, Saief; Wood
| Position | Colombia players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ospina, Montero |
| Defenders | Arias, J. Murillo, Sanchez, O. Murillo, Aguilar, Palacios, C. Borja, Machado |
| Midfielders | Cuadrado, Rodriguez, Cardona, Quintero, Barrios, Uribe, Villa, Moreno, Roa |
| Forwards | Falcao, Bacca, M. Borja, Chara, Hernandez |
Many of Colombia's biggest stars from the run to the World Cup quarterfinal are making the trip across the Atlantic, including James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado and Radamel Falcao. Yerry Mina, who only recently returned to full fitness, has stayed back with Everton ahead of a potential debut.
Chucho Hernandez, Sebastian Villa and Juan Daniel Roa are among those seeking their first cap this window.
Colombia XI: Ospina; Arias, Sanchez J. Murillo, Machado; Barrios, Uribe, Cuadrado, Rodriguez; Bacca, Falcao
Match Preview
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The United States continues on the road to redemption, but is doing it without some of its biggest stars of the future. The Stars and Stripes' match against Colombia on Thursday and the upcoming game against Peru lost a fair bit of luster when rising stars Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams had to withdraw from the matches because of injuries.
Colombia, on the other hand, brings a star-studded lineup to Raymond James Stadium with James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado, Radamel Falcao and Carlos Bacca all in the lineup, not to mention defenders Davinson Sanchez and Jeison Murillo who will look to lock down the U.S..
That has been made easier without Pulisic in the attack, and forward Jozy Altidore also missed out on the call with a knock, meaning Bobby Wood is the most experienced of only three forwards called in (though Timothy Weah, called up as a winger, could slide forward to play up top as well).
It will be yet another chance for a young group of Americans to fight for a result against a more experienced team. After falling short against Brazil, the U.S. bounced back to top Mexico 1-0 in the September window. That adds to wins against Bolivia and Paraguay plus a pre-World Cup draw against France as results the U.S. has achieved since it missed out on Russia.
With Jose Pekerman moving on after a long stint as the Colombia coach, neither team has a long-term manager players are looking to impress, and while both are working toward a continental championship in the summer of 2019 neither has a firm direction.
Still, each will be looking for a victory they can build on going forward, with new managers soon to arrive and review tapes to decide which players they want to be part of their quests for silverware next year.
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