Copa America Centenario Is Perfect Test for Jurgen Klinsmann’s Master Plan

United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann has been in the spotlight for the majority of his five-year tenure, but as the Copa America Centenario arrives on American shores on Friday, the pressure is larger than ever before for Klinsmann to get the best out of his squad. 

The 16-team tournament that opens with the USMNT facing Colombia at Levi’s Stadium will serve as a perfect measuring stick for just how well Klinsmann’s master plan is coming along. By bringing a side mixed with wily veterans and exciting youngsters to the Copa, the USMNT boss is trying to bridge the generational gap in the program ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. 

Klinsmann stated in a half-time interview with ESPN’s Taylor Twellman during the recent friendly against Ecuador that the 23-man roster he has compiled for the Copa would be his World Cup side if he had to choose one right now. The prospect of that is both frightening and exciting.

Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Geoff Cameron, Michael Orozco Jermaine Jones, Kyle Beckerman, Clint Dempsey and Chris Wondolowski will all be 32 or older when the next World Cup rolls around. Not all of those players will stick around as USMNT mainstays for 24 more months, but in order for Klinsmann to let them go, he must start building a foundation for Russia with the young corps that’s coming with him to the Copa.

Dempsey, Jones, Cameron and both goalkeepers mentioned above are still vital parts of the USMNT. That may be a good thing for the Yanks if they want to chase a high place at an international competition this summer, but Father Time will catch up with some of them before the next World Cup. Each of the three outfielders mentioned could play alongside their replacement at some point during the Copa. 

The most promising position in terms of building toward future success through the Copa is up front. Bobby Wood, Gyasi Zardes and Christian Pulisic all carry the potential to lead the USMNT line in future major tournaments. It must be noted the Yanks will head into the Copa without top target man Jozy Altidore, who also missed chunks of the 2014 World Cup and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup with hamstring injuries.

June’s competition presents each of the aforementioned trio with a massive opportunity to prove he can thrive in attack once Dempsey steps aside.

“They realize this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play this Copa America in the United States.” – @J_Klinsmann on the #USMNT

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) May 29, 2016

Wood enters the Copa in terrific form after he broke an American scoring record in the top two German domestic flights at Union Berlin this season (17 goals). The 23-year-old, who has a massive amount of confidence flowing through his …

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