For the first time in their history, the United States of America will host the Copa America and given their final squad – that boasts of a mixture of young blood and experience – they have the chance to really show the world how much they've improved in the last decade.
Under the guidance of Jurgen Klinsmann, the USMNT finally have a style associated to their gameplay as well as players who are capable of making it in the big leagues across Europe. There are players who have played in the English Premier League for a long long time, as well as in the Bundesliga and others.
Trending
A host of players from the Major League Soccer have also been called up underlining the league's growing quality. Youngsters from the MLS are regularly getting the chance to play with the first team and Klinsmann is calling them purely on credit.
For the Copa America, however, the USMNT are going to have to be ruthless given the likes of Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay are pushing with full-strength squads. Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez, Luis Suarez and co are all representing their country in the competition. Will the USMNT actually handle it?
Maybe it's finally time for the team to stand out in a way. Being the strongest dark horses might just do the trick.
Here's how the USMNT are likely to line up for the Centenario:
Goalkeeper
Jurgen Klinsmann has called up three goalkeepers for the tourney with two former Premier League stars making the cut. Former Everton keeper Tim Howard obviously makes the list. He's been the Toffee's go-to-keeper for all but last season and will, sadly, switch the Premier League with the MLS this season.
Aston Villa's Brad Guzan also makes the list but having been relegated with West Midlands club this season, hasn't the highest of chances to making it into the first team. Tim Howard is an automatic starter as well given his time on the bench.
Ethan Horvath, meanwhile, is the goalkeeper who is likely to start for his country. He made 23 appearances for his club, Molde, this season even playing in the UEFA Champions League qualifier and UEFA Europe League. At 20, he's at the right age to experience a major tourney and one that could potentially call out future suitors.
Defenders
Not really the best group of defenders the competition will see but where they lack in tactical analysis and game-reading, they make up for in athletic builds and hard work. With a mix of youth and experience, they just might pull off a few surprises with the likes of John Brooks in the centre. The 23-year-old continues to grow extremely well and strong and smart enough to hold a steady line along with Stoke City's Geoff Cameron – who should partner Brooks if he's fit.
On the right, Tottenham Hotspur's DeAndre Yedlin fits in perfectly after having an incredible second half of the season with relegation-threatened Sunderland. The confidence Big Sam instilled in the youngster is likely to carry him into the tourney feeling strong.
The left-back for the USMNT is a tricky one given Klinsmann is likely to field Borussia Monchengladbach's Fabian Johnson. The 28-year-old prefers midfield but could contribute incredibly well to the attack from the back.
Midfielders
The heart of the team, they say, is usually the midfield and while Klinsmann has tried and experimented with a bunch of players in multiple formations, he's had to play it safe for the tourney but still managed to introduce two players who can light up the competition.
At the middle, using a clever double pivot, Klinsmann is likely to go with Michael Bradley and Jermain Jones – both of whom have a lot of experience playing in Serie A and Bundesliga, respectively.
Knowing Klinsmann's usual attacking formation, he's likely to play a 'Number 10' ahead of Bradley and Jones; someone like Clint Dempsey – who on his day is capable of dominating a football field all by himself. He even has the penchant for scoring wonderful goals, even thunder-shots from distance.
With Bradley and Jones at the centre, the USMNT will demand a lot from their full-backs to cut off attacks at the bud allowing the two veteran midfielders to then release Dempsey and their forwards.
Forwards
This is where it really gets interesting for the USMNT. Klinsmann is adamant that if he can't keep a clean sheet, he has enough firepower to score their way past opponents. Two pacy and tricky wingers usually torment full-backs with their dribbling skills and overall flair.
People have spoken a lot about two of the USNMT's youngsters and they've lived up to every inch of the demand by linking up exceptionally well with each other scoring, assisting and or otherwise winning their duels in style, I'm talking of course about Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic.
Up top, Klinsmann is likely to field Bobby Wood – the young American-German striker who has done extremely well for 2. Bundesliga side Union Berlin and is likely to start ahead of both Gyasi Zardes and Jozy Altidore. Wood's pace and ability to chase the ball across the field stands him apart from the rest.
Formation
Jurgen Klinsmann prefers smooth attacking football and is likely to field a side that makes the most of deep passers who could release Pulisic and Nagbe on the wings. The two of them are capable of carrying the ball into the final third delivering it to the likes of Wood and Zardes.
With Fabian Johnson plying his trade as a left-back, it's likely Pulisic will see a lot more of the ball. Wood's runs in the 2.Bundesliga have usually come from the right of the field and it could work wonders if Pulisic manages to find Nagbe by cutting in often – like he's done before.
Nagbe's dribbling and link-up play with the young Borussia Dortmund star and Dempsey will often decide USMNT's results – if Bradley and Jones set the foundation for attacks, we might just have the strongest genuine dark horses.
