Preview: U.S. MNT look to bounce back Tuesday against Costa Rica

United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann painted a simple yet accurate picture of his team’s predicament shortly after a 2-0 loss to Colombia in the opening match of Copa America Centenario on Friday.

“Obviously [there’s] even more hunger towards the second game now,” he said postgame. “We put our backs against the wall. We need three points against Costa Rica.”

That second game comes Tuesday when the U.S. Men’s National Team — its proverbial back against the wall — faces Costa Rica at Soldier Field in Chicago. The match between familiar CONCACAF rivals will kick off at 7 p.m. CT on FS1, UniMas and Univision Deportes Network. No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District will continue to offer its Copa America special, giving a complimentary appetizer to all who sign up and order any beer pitcher.

• Daily Special: Make No Other Pub your home for Copa America

The U.S. enters the clash at the bottom of Group A but received a boost Saturday when Costa Rica and Paraguay played to an uneventful 0-0 draw. Colombia tops the group and meets Paraguay in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader on FS1. Three points for any team in the group would go a long way in determining their chances of advancement to the knockout phase. Only the top two will move on.

GROUP A STANDINGS

Sporting Kansas City winger Graham Zusi was an 86th-minute addition against Colombia, while club teammate Matt Besler was an unused substitute. Yet there is no clear indication whether or not Klinsmann will select the same center back pairing of John Brooks and Geoff Cameron — in part because Cameron was culpable for Cristian Zapata’s opening goal off a corner kick in the tournament opener. Boasting World Cup experience against the likes of Portugal, Germany and Belgium, Besler remains a reliable alternative in defense.

Zusi is also in contention for a greater role, as the Yanks put just two shots on target Friday — both from set pieces courtesy of Clint Dempsey. The Seattle Sounders forward is one shy of his 50th international goal and nearly hit the milestone twice last time out, only to be denied by Colombian keeper David Ospina in impressive fashion.

Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic join Zusi among front-six players who could feature more prominently versus Costa Rica. The duo came off the bench Friday and both players delivered strong performances in a series of tune-up matches prior to Copa America.

#USAvCRC: COPA AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS

Costa Rica limited Paraguay to a single shot on target in their first outing but will be without center back stalwart Kendall Waston, who received a straight red card deep into second-half stoppage time of the scoreless stalemate.

Led by head coach Oscar Ramirez, Costa Rica features a pair of dangerous attacking talents in captain Bryan Ruiz and 23-year-old Joel Campbell. Ruiz, who plies his trade for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, led Los Ticos on a Cinderella run to the quarterfinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Versatile forward Campbell has been an Arsenal player since 2011, going on loan spell with four different clubs, and already has 55 caps to his name.

Fixture history is on the side of the U.S., who haven’t lost to Costa Rica at home in an official competition since 1989 — a span of 15 matches. That includes a World Cup qualifier and a CONCACAF Gold Cup match in 2013. Visit SportingKC.com/Copa for a full schedule of the 2016 Copa America Centenario.

COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO GROUP A SCHEDULE