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Setting out a Plan for USA to Halt Colombia Superstar James Rodriguez
- Updated: June 2, 2016
The United States men’s national team opens the Copa America Centenario on Friday with the first of three big tests in Group A. The Yanks will play host to James Rodriguez and Colombia at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Containing the Real Madrid superstar will be no easy task for the tournament hosts as they look to start off on the right foot in a competition that carries a ton of meaning for the direction of the program and potentially the job security of manager Jurgen Klinsmann.
The Yanks are no stranger to opening a major tournament versus a tough opponent. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the USMNT started the Group of Death with a 2-1 win over Ghana.
James made headlines during that tournament in Brazil for his splendid play for Los Cafeteros, and it also earned him a move to Real Madrid. The World Cup performance of the 24-year-old and his teammates proved just how dangerous they can be as a unit.
Pekerman: “James is feeling good; he’s a key player for us. There has been a lot of false things said about him, but he’s very professional”
— Carl Worswick (@cworswick) May 29, 2016
James enters the Copa with motivation to prove he belongs among the Galaticos at Real Madrid. The 24-year-old had a rough season at the Santiago Bernabeu as he made 17 league starts for Zinedine Zidane’s squad.
In the four starts he received in the last two months of the club season, James produced two goals and two assists. Those numbers suggest James will not experience a drop off in form at the start of the Copa despite his lack of playing time.
The USMNT have a few ways to stop the roaming midfielder, who will drift out to either wing if need be to open up the attack to create more space for players like Juan Cuadrado and Carlos Bacca, who are dangerous in their own right. All of the potential game plans for the Yanks circle around who starts in the defensive-midfield role.
Based off Klinsmann’s recent starting lineups, …
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