Italy vs. United States | 2018 International Friendly Match Preview

The US men’s national team look to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 loss to England when they close out 2018 with an International friendly against Italy in Belgium on Tuesday.

The US have won just once in their Fall Kickoff Series, all against teams in the Top 25 of the FIFA World Rankings and have lost two of their last three, while Italy have lost just once in their four matches this fall and are coming off a 0-0 draw against Portugal Saturday in UEFA Nations League A.

“We’ve got another tough game on Tuesday,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. “But a game like this it opens your eyes in terms of when you’re playing the top teams, athletic teams that are good on the ball, can get up and down the field, today was hopefully a good lesson and we’re able to move forward from it.”

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Italy Outlook

Italy had more possession and more chances, but they were punished for not being clinical in the attack third, playing Portugal to a 0-0 draw In a UEFA Nations League A game at the San Siro in Milan on Saturday. It was the sixth consecutive draw for Italy at the San Siro.

The result was good enough for Portugal to top their group and head to the final four in Porto. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma dived to parry away a late chance by William Carvalho in a match that saw Italian captain Giorgio Chiellini earn his 100th cap, the seventh Italian player to reach that milestone.

The Azzurri have only scored three times in five games since September, but have been typically stout defensively, conceding just three goals.

United States Outlook

The United States looked every bit the young, inexperienced team, conceding twice in quick succession in the opening 45 minutes in a 3-0 loss to England Thursday at Wembley Stadium in Wayne Rooney’s testimonial.

Jesse Lingard and Trent Alexander-Arnold scored one minute apart to give the Three Lions a 2-0 led before the half hour mark and Callum Wilson closed out the scoring in the 77th minute. The only thing missing for England was a Rooney goal and the D.C. United forward was denied by Atlanta United's Guzan in the second half.

The US played better at halftime, but were done in by a first half in which interim coach Dave Sarachan said his team played “timid.”

“In the first half I thought we were a little timid and we allowed a little bit too much space,” he said after the game. “Their spacing, their movement was very challenging for our group. As much as we talked about it, watched and scouted England, it’s still on the players to sort through that and I thought we just didn’t get around the ball enough, didn’t get in on enough plays and it makes for a tough half.”

History

This will be the 12th meeting against Italy and the Azzurri hold a 7-1-3 all-time mark. After playing to a memorable 1-1 draw during the group stage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the United States picked up their lone win on Feb. 29, 2012 in Genoa with Clint Dempsey scoring the lone goal.

Players to Watch

Italy — Jorginho: The 26-year-old midfielder, who made the offseason move to Chelsea after four and a half years with Napoli, is a player who always wants to be on the ball. In his second game with Chelsea, he completed 158 passes in a 2-1 win at Newcastle United, the second highest total in Premier League history behind İlkay Gündoğan’s 167 for Manchester City against Chelsea a year earlier. If both Tyler Adams and Jorginho are on the pitch at the same time, it should make for an intriguing duel.

United States — Tyler Adams: His exclusion in the starting XI against England caused a minor stir on social media — Sarachan said after the midfielder was sore from playing the entire 90 minutes in a 3-0 win over Columbus Crew SC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last Sunday. Adams changed the US side’s mentality when he came on in the second half against the Three Lions and will likely get at least 45 minutes against Italy on Tuesday. While US fans will be excited to see Adams showcase his skills against the Azzurri, New York Red Bulls supporters no doubt will be watching nervously.

Italy Roster

United States Roster