The United States men’s national soccer team’s task of upsetting Argentina in Copa America 2016 won’t be easier without Alejandro Bedoya, Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood.
The Team USA trio will serve suspensions Tuesday in the semifinal matchup against Argentina.
Bedoya and Wood received yellow cards last Thursday in the quarterfinal win over Ecuador, and those cautions accumuleted with previous ones to earn Wood and Bedoya one-game bans.
Jones was shown a red card for slapping an opponent during the Ecuador game, triggering an automatic one-game suspension.
U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann described Jones’ red card as “a joke” during his postgame press conference. The U.S. Soccer Federation protested Jones’ and Wood’s cards, citing newly implemented FIFA rules, according to Team USA’s press officer.
But the Copa America disciplinary committee dismised the appeals Sunday night. The USSF broke its bad news on Twitter.
Argentina’s awesome array of firepower has been on display throughout Copa America 2016, and Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Co. only appear to be growing in strength as the tournament progresses.
Missing Jones, Wood and Bedoya hurts Team USA’s chances of slowing Argentina’s attack and delivering a counter-punch of its own.
The 23-man U.S. roster Klinsmann picked for the tournament now faces its biggest test, and we’ll learn Tuesday whether it contains enough quality of depth and depth of quality to challenge Argentina seriously and keep USA’s Copa America dreams alive.
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Thumbnail photo via Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images
