3-4-3 and the USMNT

3-4-3 and the USMNT

We’ve now seen the USMNT play this formation twice. Berhalter employed it against N. Ireland in March and then again against Mexico in the final of the Nations League. It’s a very en vogue formation and something I think that we will likely see again during the Gold Cup. The question is how does it fit the available player pool.

Recorded a podcast talking about this and previewing the Gold Cup with the guys over at Touchlines and Touchdowns. Click here to listen if you’re interested.

3-4-3 and the USMNT Full Team

When the entire US player pool is available it’s a fairly comfortable fit. It probably looks something like this:

This formation puts Pulisic, Reyna, Dest, and Robinson all in their best spots and in the same positions they play with their club teams. Richards and McKenzie also both play in a back three (Brooks has done it in past seasons, but didn’t in 20/21). That’s a mark in the pro column for this setup. This would also enable the US to rotate Adams/McKennie and Lletget/Musah for the three game WC qualifying windows. Maybe that’s thinking too deep, but three games in a week is a lot of minutes to handle.

Now, I’d argue that the 3-4-3 isn’t the best fit if everyone is available because taking off Musah/Lletget to get either Richards or McKenzie on the field feels like a downgrade (for now) in overall team talent. The question comes when you are missing one of those three midfielders…and specifically Tyler Adams.

Adams’ range enables Berhalter to send the fullbacks forward and still feel confident that the #6 will be able to get back and help out the two center backs. However, if Adams isn’t available, playing a third central defender adds some defensive solidity and you aren’t pulling off an uber talented midfielder to do it. If the US is facing a good team and the choice is starting the backup #6 or a third center back…I think I might go with the defender.

What does this look like given the players available for the Gold Cup though?

3-4-3 and the USMNT Gold Cup Roster

Berhalter has essentially said that Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman are his starting center backs so maybe this whole thing is a waste of time. If the US is matched up against Mexio again though (or maybe even the Canada game) I think we might see something like this:

The roster has a weird lack of actual wingers and this setup solves that little puzzle. The wing backs provide width and the dearth of wingers isn’t as much of an issue. Lletget and Acosta even played together in this system against Northern Ireland in March. Roldan has been playing that exact spot on occasion for Seattle. Arriola usually plays on the wing, but he has played attacking mid for DC. (The more I write about this the more I am talking myself into this formation btw🤣)

And do you know who is only 65% right footed (according to fbref) and plays left center back in a back three? It’s Mr. Donovan Pines – who many of us were surprised to see on the Gold Cup roster. Against Haiti and Martinique I bet we still see the 4-3-3 with Busio or Yueill playing the #6, but against Canada and then Jamaica, Costa Rica (?), Mexico in the knock out rounds the 3-4-3 is going to be a legitimate option.

Possible Problems

Passing from the CBs

None of the center backs on the roster is a great passer. I know Robinson is supposed to have improved in that department and Zimmerman is fine, but there isn’t a John Brooks-level distributor in the group. If the defenders can’t break lines then it is going to be tough sledding trying to work our way through set defenses. Robinson does have the ability to dribble out of the back that I don’t think any other CB in the pool possesses though. That will be an intriguing factor to keep an eye on.

Scoring

When I look at the above lineup, the only route to goals that readily presents itself is crosses to Dike. If that doesn’t come off then where do the goals come from? I sure don’t see much danger in that 11. Maybe Roldan has more in him than I think or Eryk Williamson gets in there and brings some cutting edge, but the roster as a whole lacks scoring punch.

Getting Outnumbered in Midfield

You know Mexico is going to be playing their 4-3-3. So what happens when Acosta and Lletget have to try to match up with Guardado/Herrera/Alvarez? Theoretically, Roldan could drop in to help cover, but that always seems to work better in theory than it does in reality. Being outnumbered in midfield will make it difficult to keep possession and win the ball back when out of possession.

Space Behind the Wing Backs

Every formation leaves space to exploit somewhere and in this case it’s behind the pushed up wing backs. Those players are going to need to cover a ton of ground and get back quickly when the situation demands it. Fortunately, the USMNT looks to have brought two of each and while Cannon is a cut above the other three I’d say all four are capable of being effective in the role.

Will this Actually Happen?

I hope so? Please remember that I’m just a nerd with a laptop and this is all pure speculation on my part. It does make sense though, right? Thomas Tuchel used the 3-4-3 with Chelsea to win the Champions League and beat Pep Guardiola. Basically the whole Bundesliga plays some variety of it and you know Berhalter is watching a ton of those matches. It’s also been all over the European Championships this summer. Seeing the USMNT imitate those successes would hardly be a shock. Whatever happens I’m looking forward to watching the US develop some depth and hopefully show well against Mexico even as an overmatched squad.

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