In their final warm-up match before the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals, the USA will battle Slovenia in a friendly at Toyota Field in San Antonio on Saturday.
The Yanks lost their final encounter of 2023, 2-1 versus Trinidad and Tobago, while the Slovenians ended last year with a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan, booking their place at Euro 2024 in Germany.
Match preview
© Reuters
Saturday is the beginning of a busy 2024 for Gregg Berhalter's men, with the US aiming to defend their Nations League crown while also hosting the Copa America.
They ended 2023 on a sour note, losing their second-leg quarter-final fixture to Trinidad and Tobago (2-1) but still advanced from that tie, 4-2 on aggregate.
This upcoming friendly will allow many newcomers to prove they belong on the Nations League or Copa America squad later this year, with Berhalter selecting 17 uncapped players for this friendly.
Since losing on penalties versus Panama (5-4) at the 2023 Gold Cup, the US have won four of their last five matches played on American soil, failing to concede in any of those triumphs, with the one blemish coming against Germany in Hartford (3-1).
The United States head into this match on a five-match winless run versus European opposition, with their last victory against that continent coming in December 2018 (1-0 over Bosnia-Herzegovina).
In two previous encounters with Slovenia, the Yanks have never lost, winning the last matchup, 3-2 in 2011, while coming back from a two-goal deficit at the 2010 World Cup to earn a 2-2 draw.
© Reuters
Slovenia will begin 2024 in high spirits, winning five of their final six Euro qualifiers last year, while clinching a spot at that tournament for the first time since 2000.
That upcoming competition will be the first time the Slovenians compete in a major international tournament since the 2010 World Cup.
Matjaz Kek has once again guided them into the finals of a major tournament like he did in 2010, and his players got on quite the roll down the stretch of 2024 Euro qualification, losing just one of their final seven fixtures.
Kek seems to be approaching this match in a similar fashion to Berhalter, with only five of the 21 players he called-up for this match having made at least one appearance for the senior side.
Their biggest asset in qualification was their ability to defend, with Slovenia conceding a goal or fewer in each of their final five qualifiers, posting three clean sheets over that span.
In their five prior meetings versus sides from CONCACAF, Slovenia have just two victories, defeating Canada 1-0 in a 2013 friendly, with their only win on North American soil coming in December 1995 in Hermosillo, defeating Mexico 2-1.
- D
- D
- W
- W
- L
- W
- D
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Jackson Ragen, who was initially selected to the US team for this camp, will no longer take part because of a knee injury, while the Tillmans could become the 10th set of brothers to feature internationally for the Yanks if Timothy Tillman plays on Saturday, with his brother Malik Tillman earning eight caps previously.
Either Drake Callender, Patrick Schulte or Roman Celentano will make their first appearance between the sticks for the US, with the latter capturing the most recent MLS Cup as a member of the Columbus Crew.
The two most capped US players for this window, Miles Robinson and Shaq Moore, are also the only ones selected who have international goals, though Brian White led the Vancouver Whitecaps with 16 in MLS this past season and Duncan McGuire netted 13 times for Orlando City.
Slovenia are expected to be without Jaka Bijol until the end of January due to a fracture in his wrist, while Miha Zajc is out with an unknown injury.
Mitja Ilenic will be familiar with all the Americans featuring in this encounter as the right-back currently plays in MLS for New York City FC, often featuring at the back for his club side with James Sands, who was selected to the US squad.
Zan Karnicnik is the most experienced Slovenian selected for this encounter, with 24 caps to his name, and he is the only one on the roster with an international goal, while all three goalkeepers, Igor Vekic, Denis Pintol and Klemen Mihelak, have yet to feature with the national team.
USA possible starting lineup:
Callender; Moore, Robinson, Murphy, Tolkin; Tillman, McGlynn, Morris; Luna; White, McGuire
Slovenia possible starting lineup:
Vekic; Ilenic, Karnicnik, Zec, Ratnik; Repas, Zeljkovic, Elsnik, Svetlin; Poplatnik, Vombergar
We say: USA 1-1 Slovenia
Neither side have much international experience, but we believe there will be plenty of continuity, seeing as the majority of those chosen feature at club level in their respective countries.
While we expect to see a spirited affair between these players looking to make an impression on their respective coaches, we do not believe that either side have a decisive edge.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
