The United States Men's Olympic Soccer Team will face New Zealand in their opening match of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The starting XI and lineup notes for both teams have been released, giving us a glimpse into the strategies they will employ.
The United States Men's Olympic Soccer Team will face New Zealand in their opening match of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The match will be played on July 22nd at 8:30 AM ET at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.
USA vs. New Zealand: Starting XI and Lineup Notes for Olympic Men's Soccer
The US team will be led by goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, who will be making his Olympic debut. The backline will feature Nathan Harriel, Walker Zimmerman, John Tolkin, and Bryan Reynolds.
The midfield will be anchored by Gianluca Busio and Jackson Yueill, with Sebastian Lletget playing as an attacking midfielder. The forward line will consist of Gyasi Zardes, who will be making his second Olympic appearance, and Daryl Dike.
New Zealand will be led by goalkeeper Michael Woud, who has over 50 caps for the national team. The backline will feature Nando Pijnaker, Winston Reid, Dane Ingham, and Liberato Cacace.
The midfield will be led by Clayton Lewis and Joe Bell, with Elijah Just playing as an attacking midfielder. The forward line will consist of Chris Wood, who is New Zealand's all-time leading scorer, and Marco Rojas.
Both teams will be looking to start the tournament with a win. The United States is the higher-ranked team, but New Zealand has a good record against the US in recent years. The match is sure to be a close one.
* Goalkeeper: Patrick Schulte
* Defenders: Nathan Harriel, Walker Zimmerman, John Tolkin, Bryan Reynolds
* Midfielders: Gianluca Busio, Jackson Yueill, Sebastian Lletget
* Forwards: Gyasi Zardes, Daryl Dike
* Goalkeeper: Michael Woud
* Defenders: Nando Pijnaker, Winston Reid, Dane Ingham, Liberato Cacace
* Midfielders: Clayton Lewis, Joe Bell, Elijah Just
* Forwards: Chris Wood, Marco Rojas
