Their savvy Central American guests figure to provide a useful preview of the packed defenses and David-vs.-Goliath mindsets they will encounter against CONCACAF minnows Belize and Cuba. The Yanks are keen to make a strong start against those Group C opponents before the July 16 meeting with Costa Rica which is likely to determine the top finisher in the group.
For their part, Guatemala are rejiggering their approach after an unsuccessful 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign ground to a halt in the semifinal stage with a 3-1 loss to the US in Kansas City last October.
Friday, July 5, 2013, 11 pm ET
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.
HISTORY
The Yanks hold the historical advantage in this matchup with a 13-4-6 all-time record against Guatemala. It's been a particularly one-sided affair of late, with Los Chapines having to hark all the way back to 1988 to find their last victory over the giants to the north, a 19-game span.
The USMNT left Guatemala City's Estadio Mateo Flores with a 1-1 draw in qualifying just over a year ago and assured passage to the Hexagonal round with that victory at Sporting Park a few months later.
UNITED STATES OUTLOOK
Klinsmann said earlier this week that Friday's starting lineup will represent his first-choice 11 for the Gold Cup, slightly raising the levels of intrigue as fans and pundits wait to see how he will arrange the intriguing collection of talent he's called in.
The United States will take on Guatemala Friday in one final friendly before the team starts it CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign.
Jurgen Klinsmann's side is very different from the club he has been utilizing for the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. The biggest change: the addition of Landon Donovan to the lineup. The forward will have the brightest spotlight on him throughout the tournament as he attempts to win back a spot on the A-Team for the upcoming qualifiers in the fall.
Donovan took a few months off from the game and has not played for the national team since last summer. He has made it clear that he intends to earn a chance to play in next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.
"This team always moves forward. And if you're not on the train, you've got to find a way to get back on," he said. "That's what I'm hoping to do."
"A lot of times people have relationships where on the surface everyone thinks everything is great but you don't say what you mean and what you feel," Donovan added about his relationship with Klinsmann. "And him and I have been honest since day one. We don't always necessarily agree on things, but we're very honest with each other and we know what the other is feeling."
"There's a lot at stake," Klinsmann said about what this string of matches means to Donovan. "He had his break. He had his reasons for it. And we are thrilled to have him back.
"But now it's all about your performance. The players know this is an opportunity for every one of them to make a strong case toward Brazil 2014."
Prediction: Look for Donavan to make a statement in his first game back. He will likely only score a goal, but look for him to be the catalyst of a 3-0 U.S. victory.
Start Time: 11 p.m. EST
