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Three Big Storylines:
- Make no mistake about it, this is a must win game for the United States Men’s National Team. The USA has four points through four played in the Hex, putting them in fourth place out of six teams ahead of Honduras on goal differential and ahead of Trinidad and Tobago who have earned only three points via a home win over Panama in March. The top three teams automatically qualify for Russia 2018 while the fourth place team faces a playoff against the fifth place team from Asia. The USMNT plays Mexico in Mexico City on Sunday to finish this pair of Hex games.
- Clint Dempsey is one goal behind Landon Donovan (who is on the FS1 broadcast) for tying the all time USMNT goal scoring record. Dempsey has seemingly developed an attacking understanding with 18-year-old Christian Pulisic as Pulisic had three assists to Dempsey in the two March World Cup Qualifiers. Dempsey has scored in a World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago before. Back on September 10th, 2008 the USA beat T&T from Bridgeview, Illinois 3-0 behind goals from Dempsey, Michael Bradley and former Sounder Brian Ching.
- Denver was chosen as the venue because the USMNT has decided on a controversial plan to have an extra week of training camp at elevation, taking USMNT players away from their clubs outside of the FIFA window. The USMNT played a friendly against Venezuela that ended 1-1 last Saturday in Utah at Rio Tinto Stadium in preparation for this pair of games at altitude. Trinidad and Tobago had no such luxury of having their entire team for an extra week at elevation. The bulk of the team has been training for 10 days in Boulder, Colorado but the five MLS players were only allowed to join the team on Monday. Former Sounder Cordell Cato was then subsequently sent home reportedly for disciplinary reasons that stem from a dispute that Cato brought his wife and child to Colorado.
From a Sounders Point of View:
There will likely be two Seattle Sounders players starting the match as Clint Dempsey has seemingly reclaimed a starting spot for the US, while Joevin Jones normally gets the start for T&T as an attacking midfielder. Jordan Morris is a preferred attacking option off the bench for Bruce Arena’s USMNT side.
We would like all the Sounders to be returned healthy, thank you.
National TV Listings:
USMNT v Trinidad and Tobago
Date/Time: Thursday, 4:50 PM
Location: Dick’s Sporting Good Park, Commerce City, Colorado
TV: Fox Sports 1, Univision & Univision Deportes
Streaming: Fox Sports Go & Univision Deportes
John Strong, Stu Holden and Landon Donovan on the call with Jenny Taft reporting from the sidelines. Rob Stone will host studio coverage from the stadium with Alexi Lalas and Fernando Fiore.
Immediately following the USMNT broadcast all the Fox broadcasts will switch to the Mexico game.
Lineups
#USMNT's starting lineup tonight vs Trinidad & Tobago. Same as Venezuela game, except for Altidore. pic.twitter.com/6D9tWn3K38
— Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) June 8, 2017
T&T XI vs. #usmnt: J-M Williams; Edwards, Bateau, Cyrus, M. Williams; J. Jones, Khaleem Hyland, Molino, George; K. Jones, Lewis
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) June 8, 2017
Mexico v Honduras
Date/Time: Thursday, 7:00 PM
Location: Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
TV: Fox Sports 1, Univision & Univision Deportes
Jorge Perez Navarro on the call with Cobi Jones doing color commentary and Francisco X. Rivera as the sideline reporter from Azteca Stadium.
This is your Sounder at Heart USMNT v Trinidad and Tobago gamethread. Watch with us.