Head coach Gregg Berhalter said the United States men's national team will be on “higher alert” due to the depleted Jamaican squad his team will face in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.
West Ham striker Michail Antonio has withdrawn from the Jamaica squad due to injury, while Aston Villa star Leon Bailey and striker Trivante Stewart have been dropped from coach Heimir Hallgrímsson's squad after breaching the touch stay at the team's previous camp.
Forwards Demarai Gray and Shamar Nicholson are suspended after receiving second yellow cards in the quarterfinal win against Canada in November.
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The winner of Thursday's match will face the winner of the other semifinal between Mexico and Panama in Sunday's final, but Berhalter insisted that the United States is not taking anything for granted.
“This puts us on high alert,” Berhalter said at a news conference Wednesday. “We are not taking this team lightly and now that we are missing players it is even more serious.
“The guys who will have their opportunity tomorrow night, are going to give everything to show this coach that they want to be part of the team for the Copa América. So it is a dangerous game for us and we are going to be really focused on trying to make a good game and reach the final.”
Unlike Jamaica, the United States has a nearly full roster on hand. Captain Tyler Adams is available for selection for the first time since the 2022 World Cup after recently returning from a recurring hamstring problem with Premier League club Bournemouth.
Adams said earlier this week that he felt capable of playing 45 to 60 minutes for the United States while improving his conditioning.
The midfielder is one of several American players currently competing at club level in England, along with the likes of goalkeeper Matt Turner; defenders Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards and midfielder Gio Reyna.
“We reviewed their roster today and asked our players what they know personally about Jamaican players, because many of them play with these players in England,” Berhalter said.
“They are very well known among our group of players. We believe that the quality they have is still good.
“They may be missing their best talent, but they still have enough to be a very competitive team. And we know that in these Concacaf events, when teams play each other, they are very difficult games. We expect the same.”
Fulham captain Ream, at 36 the oldest player in the squad, said the large number of American players playing in Europe also has benefits for the team as a whole.
“It shows there's a lot more development, a lot more guys who are willing to push themselves and really get out of their comfort zones and move to Europe and really try to make a career out of being away from home.” Ream said.
“We're seeing and reaping the rewards of that, guys that wanted to make that jump. And you see it every day. Every time we get to camp, guys have developed a little more, they're a little stronger, a little more “mentally developed. They understand the ups and downs.”
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
