The U.S. men’s soccer team will have to beat Argentina without Jermaine Jones on Tuesday
Colorado Rapids midfielder Jermaine Jones picked up a red card in the U.S. Men’s team’s win over Ecuador last week.
The U.S. men’s soccer team will be without two key players Tuesday when it kicks off a monumental semifinals matchup against top-ranked Argentina in the Copa America Centenario.
Midfielder Jermaine Jones — who’s scored three goals and recorded one assist in seven games this year with the Colorado Rapids — and forward Bobby Wood will both be unavailable.
Jones picked up a red card in the 52nd minute of the U.S.’s quarterfinals win over Ecuador. Ecuador’s Antonio Valencia fouled Alejandro Bedoya on the sideline. In the ensuing scuffle, Jones brushed an Ecuador player with a punch in the face.
Confused by the double red card? Here’s another look at how Valencia and Jones were sent off. #USAvECU #MyCopaColors https://t.co/EhMsAfRCsV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2016
U.S. men’s coach Jurgen Klinsmann didn’t appear to be happy with the call after the game.
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann calls the controversial red card shown to midfielder Jermaine Jones “a joke” and “a disgrace.” #usmnt #USAvECU
— Doug McIntyre (@DougMacESPN) June 17, 2016
Wood will miss the game after he earned his second yellow card of the tournament in the 53rd minute Thursday.
The U.S. Soccer Federation appealed both of the suspensions without any success.
Tuesday represents one of the most significant games in U.S men’s soccer history. The U.S. has never advanced to the Copa America finals. It will have to go through the world’s greatest player (Lionel Messi) and FIFA’s top-ranked team (Argentina) to get there.
The game starts at 7 p.m. You can watch it on FS1.