US will have depth of roster tested in Copa America semis

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann, right, shouts encouragements to his team during the first half of a Copa America Centenario quarterfinal soccer match against Ecuador, Thursday, June 16, 2016 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

SEATTLE (AP) — When Jurgen Klinsmann started experimenting with his roster following the 2014 World Cup, the U.S. coach did it with the hope of building more depth for the next four-year cycle.

The quality of his reserves is about to get tested in a big way after the United States advanced to the semifinals of the Copa America for just the second time. The U.S. will be missing three suspended starters: midfielders Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya, and forward Bobby Wood.

“Our program is maturing. Our players are maturing. They are learning with every game that we can play in this type of environment,” Klinsmann said after Thursday’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Ecuador. “This is what we hoped for after breaking through in Brazil after getting out of the group of death. Hopefully we can find a couple of youngsters coming and keep the older ones on board and keep them going, push them. … We’ve brought a few youngsters along the way the last few years and they’ve made a huge step forward tonight.”

The U.S. will play the winner of Saturday night’s quarterfinal between top-ranked Argentina and Venezuela, with the semifinal set for Tuesday in Houston.

SEATTLE (AP) — When Jurgen Klinsmann started experimenting with his roster following the 2014 World Cup, the U.S. coach did it with the hope of building more depth for the next four-year cycle.

The quality of his reserves is about to get tested in a big way after the United States advanced to the semifinals of the Copa America for just the second time. The U.S. will be missing three suspended starters: midfielders Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya, and forward Bobby Wood.

“Our program is maturing. Our players are maturing. They are learning with every game that we can play in this type of environment,” Klinsmann said after Thursday’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Ecuador. “This is what we hoped for after breaking through in Brazil after getting out of the group of death. Hopefully we can find a couple of youngsters coming and keep the older ones on board and keep them going, push them. … We’ve brought a few youngsters along the way the last few years and they’ve made a huge step forward tonight.”

The U.S. will play the winner of Saturday night’s quarterfinal between top-ranked Argentina and Venezuela, with the semifinal set for Tuesday in Houston.

United States midfielder Jermaine Jones, second from right, protests to referee Wilmar Roldan, second from left, after Roldan gave Jones a red card in the second half of a Copa America Centenario soccer match against Ecuador, Thursday, June 16, 2016 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. The United States beat Ecuador 2-1.