United States National Soccer Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Zack Marshall · Justin Kern · Owen Eltz · Mark McClair · Luke Musser · Kerr Sjostrom · Julian Shorter · Finn Van Riet · Kevin Kamm · Zizu · Theo Janzon

The United States focuses on a defensively solid identity using a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to play a vertical style of football where the team stays compact and looks to strike on the break. They prefer to sit deep and wait for the opposition to overcommit before they hit in behind.

Zack Marshall guards the goal as the goalkeeper. Defending in a back five, the United States can shift easily. Luke Musser holds the center of the line to win headers and clear the lines. Kerr Sjostrom and Kevin Kamm operate as wide centre-backs to cover the space and pick up runners. Finn Van Riet and Owen Eltz play as attacking wing backs, which means they will push up to provide width and overlap the wingers. This unit works together to maintain a narrow defensive block when the ball is on the opposite side.

The midfield relies on a double pivot containing Justin Kern and Theo Janzon. These two must work hard to compress the midfield and prevent the opposition from playing through the lines. Justin Kern acts to shield the defence and win the second ball. Theo Janzon is tasked to carry the ball forward and connect the defensive unit to the attacking players. They are the link that allows the team to transition from a low block to an attack.

In the final third, the team uses three attackers across the front. Julian Shorter operates as a pressing centre-forward to lead the hunt for the ball. Zizu and Mark McClair play as inverted wingers who want to cut inside to create more central presence. This movement allows Owen Eltz and Finn Van Riet to spread wide and deliver crosses. The goal is to create runs in behind or find the feet of the striker during quick transitions.

One major advantage of this formation is the ability to create wide overloads from the overlapping wing backs. When Finn Van Riet and Owen Eltz push up, they create two on one situations against opposition full backs. The team also shows great compactness when defending in a mid-block. This makes it very difficult for opponents to find space between the lines.

The 5-2-3 is a formation designed for teams that want to be hard to beat and lethal on the counter. It is most effective against high pressing opponents who leave space for the wingers to exploit.