Soccer Weekend: With Arriola out, DC may have no choice but to insert Rooney on the plastic pasture

In many respects, teams in Major League Soccer have a distinct way of playing; think of it like teams in the German Bundesliga, who all play in a similar fashion. The difference here in MLS is that, in theory, multiple teams have a solid chance of winning the league crown when league play is all said and done. The same can’t be said for Germany.

That distinct way here in the States is the all-too-common 4-2-3-1 formation. It’s a formation which encourages attacking play by throwing the outside — right and left — backs high into the final third, providing overlapping runs. You can also have your Nos. 6 and 8 — the defensive midfielders — help support the attacking midfielders, and even crash the net to poach a goal off the rebound.

And it’s one where you need fleet-footed center backs: if your Nos. 3 and 4 are not fast, all it takes is one clearing long ball over the top to a striker with blinding pace, and it’s 1-v-1 in on the goalkeeper.

While it’s a system that many teams utilize — the Revs did so last year, and have gone with variations of the 4-4-2 since adding Carles Gil in late January — not many have bonafide game changers like DC United, New England’s opponent this weekend, have on its roster that can make defenses tremble.

We all know who that game changer is, and there’s only one Wayne Mark Rooney.

Will he play on the plastic pasture of Gillette Stadium Saturday night? A good question.

The safe bet, of course, is a no: we all know how stars from Europe don’t like to play on it — see also: the patchwork quilt from a week-plus ago, no Zlatan Ibrahimovic last year on July 14 — but this week’s situation for United may force DC manager Ben Olsen to insert the former Manchester United and Everton star into the lineup. United will be without attacking midfielder Paul Arriola due to a silly red card suspension from last Saturday night in Houston.

With DC coming off a 2-1 loss to the Dynamo last weekend and a 5-2 friendly loss to Real Betis at midweek, Olsen won’t want to go up against the Revolution down two men, FieldTurf be damned. In fact, United has not grabbed full points since May 12, a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. And against New England, United will look at this as a must win, a must three points to collect: DC sit second in the Eastern Conference on goal difference to first place Philadelphia.

If Rooney plays Saturday, the Revolution have to mark him well; they cannot afford to give him space. The Revs needs to close down on him and not give him time to shoot. Expect patience and cheeky creativity in DC’s passing; they are also content to play keep away with good passing with the ball in their own half.

Without Arriola, DC will look to Lucas Rodriguez, who has a rather solid right foot out on the left, and Ulises Segura, who should get time after playing minimally against Betis. Keep your eye on Chris McCann, who has spelled various attacking players in recent weeks, should he play; he was the lone offensive option on the bench against the Dynamo. Luciano Acosta, of course, is a playmaker and a magician.

Defensively, expect a version of the press out of the attacking options. DC’s press is not a high intensity, go-go-go press like the one the Revs utilized in 2018; United will give space and time — until you bring the ball into the attacking half. They’ll make life difficult for the opposing side, and generally mark well. Expect the back line to close down on the ball in rapid fashion, and United have been known to go with five in the back in the defending third.

But there are times where DC can give the ball away rather lazily, and opposing sides have blistered United on the counter. If the Revs can do this, they just need to finish.

Also in the league this weekend

Three games highlight the MLS calendar on Friday, with LA Galaxy traveling to Orlando City for a 7 p.m. kickoff on UniMas. That’s followed by Real Salt Lake hosting Atlanta United (9 p.m., UniMas), while LAFC hosts Montreal.

On Saturday, Chicago hosts New York City FC (3 p.m., Univision), while Vancouver hosts FC Dallas on the short turnaround. Philadelphia hosts Portland, FC Cincinnati hosts the Red Bulls on the short turnaround, Minnesota United hosts Houston, and Colorado hosts Columbus.

On Sunday, Sporting Kansas City hosts Seattle (6 p.m., FS1), and Toronto hosts San Jose.

Atlanta-Minnesota, Montreal-Salt Lake, Philadelphia-Colorado, DC-Chicago, and Galaxy-Sporting all have short turnarounds with five games at midweek.

In the USL, Hartford Athletic hosts Ottawa Fury at Rentschler Field (7 p.m. Saturday); The Boys In White are looking for their third win in a row in both competitions.

Closer to home, the NPSL has a lot of action locally, with Boston City FC and Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds playing a home-and-home this weekend. Greater Lowell will host tonight at the Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Lawrence (8 p.m.), while the Lions host Sunday at Harry Della Russo Stadium in Revere (6 p.m.). Tonight’s match ends a four-match road trip for BCFC, who will host Brooklyn in Medford next Saturday evening. I may have to take that in with the Revs playing Sunday night next weekend.

Speaking of Brooklyn, the Italians will be at the Rhode Island Reds Saturday night at Johnston High School (7 p.m.). Hartford City is at the Kingston Stockade.

By the way, lots of football left to play in the NPSL. The season runs through the first weekend in July.

In the UPSL, Juve-Pro will travel to UNations FC on Saturday; Juve-Pro is coming off a whopping 11-0 win over Boston Siege from a week ago. The Siege will host Astoria at East Boston Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.

Safira will host Sporting Hartford at the Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Somerville at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

And don’t forget that Revs’ Homegrown striker Justin Rennicks plays this afternoon in the U-20 World Cup (2:30 p.m., FS1).

Promotion playoffs in England's Championship, League One, and League Two are this weekend, as well, with all three games at Wembley: League Two kicks things off Saturday, with League One Sunday. Championship will see who joins Norwich City and Sheffield United in the Premier League in August.

One last thought: Good on FIFA for back-tracking on making the 2022 FIFA World Cup a 48-team event. Qatar shouldn’t even have a 32-team event, let alone a 48.