ORLANDO, Fla. – Fueled by Toronto FC’s 2016 MLS Cup run and historic dominance of the current regular season, the 3-5-2 formation and its derivatives have roared back into style around MLS and world soccer in general. And the US national team is no exception.
Driven by the need for more attacking dynamism and the positive performances produced with a three-man back line at Mexico and at Honduras earlier in the year, the USMNT appear to be weighing a return to a similar shape in Friday’s huge World Cup qualifier vs. Panama at Orlando City Stadium (7 pm ET | ESPN2, Univision, UDN).
Coach Bruce Arena and his players have been predictably averse to divulging specific plans or details. But several players admit that a three-man back line with wingbacks worked well, albeit in markedly different circumstances, in their last two road qualifiers.
“Quite honestly, the three[-man defense] that we played in Mexico was quite different than the three we played in Honduras,” said captain Michael Bradley. “It depends on who’s on the field, it depends on the situation, it depends on, does three [defenders] actually mean five? Does three mean three? Are we starting in that way or are we going to it at the end of a game where we need to push things?
“Like anything, tactically you can do anything you want as long as you work on it, as long as things are made clear and guys understand the idea behind it. We have found a good way in some of these moments to have some flexibility, to be able to tweak how we do things, to give ourselves the best chance to be successful, and we’ll see over the next two games how that all comes together.”
The formation used in June’s 1-1 draw with El Tri at the imposing Estadio Azteca was a fundamentally defensive system designed to crowd Mexico in midfield and ease the burden on tired legs in a game played on short rest.
The one the USMNT shifted into while chasing a 1-0 deficit in the second half at Honduras last month was a much more aggressive outlook, more of a true 3-5-2, and appears to be a better model for Panama and the final Hexagonal game at Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday.
The overarching priority at the moment? Carving out space for Christian Pulisic, and making good use of quick, fresh legs like DeAndre Yedlin, Paul Arriola and Jorge Villafana out wide.
“As a wingback, as someone who likes to get up and down the field – I’m asked of that as a right mid anyways – a starting point being a little bit further back as a right wingback, I enjoy it,” said Arriola on Wednesday. “It allows us to create more numbers in the middle, overload the middle, and then we’re able to get width from the wingbacks. So for me, I really enjoy it and I think against Honduras it was a good switch and a different type of energy that we were able to provide off the bench in a tough game.
“Being able to free Christian up a little bit to be able to roam around, just be a little freer, because he’s the guy that we want on the ball in the final third.”
A five-man midfield would also enable multiple creative influences to fit into the same starting 11 without unduly exposing the defense. It might be the best way to accommodate both Pulisic and Clint Dempsey. But it also requires a great deal of cohesion and communication among center backs like Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez, as well as the wide men.
“Positionally, you have to help out with your center backs a little bit more,” said Yedlin. “As a wingback you can be a little bit more aggressive, stepping to the ball and getting forward. But as a wingback, when you get the ball wide, you don’t usually have any help out wide, you’re pretty isolated. So you have to be pretty good on your own out there.”
ExtraTime Radio Podcast
LISTEN: Friday against Panama is a must-win game. Don't let anyone tell you any different. The guys preview the US national team's second-to-last World Cup qualifier from top to bottom, then invite Panamanian journalist David Sakata (18:49) on to re-live the national nightmare ushered in by San Zusi's goal in 2013. Stick around for MLS banter and the mailbag. Subscribe now and "Like" our Facebook page so you never miss a show! Download this episode!
