Going into the Gold Cup, many observers of the United States men's national team scratched their heads when they saw the number of veterans head coach Jurgen Klinsmann had included in his final 23-man roster.

Since this was the year after a World Cup and he had gone down to Brazil with a veteran-laden team, the expectation had been that Klinsmann would use this tournament as part of his inevitable rebuilding program as a new cycle kicked off in earnest. Instead, he called in 17 World Cup holdovers and put together a team with an average age of 27.2 years – you do the math on how old it will be in Russia in 2018, three years from now – and no fewer than seven players who were at least 30 years old.

[Gold Cup: Latest news | Scores and Schedule | Group Standings | Teams]

One of those 30-somethings, Brad Davis, was scratched before the tournament with an injury and replaced by 23-year-old Greg Garza. But Garza, in turn, was cut ahead of the knockout stage in favor of 33-year-old DaMarcus Beasley, who had actually retired from the national team after the World Cup. At the same time, Jozy Altidore, who is 25, was dumped for Alan Gordon, 33, because of a lack of fitness following an injury.

It seemed Klinsmann was putting off refreshing his team in order to win as much as possible now, which seemed a shortsighted policy.

And then a funny thing happened.

In spite of all the old-timers on his team, Klinsmann has relied heavily on his corps of fledgling national teamers he also brought along throughout this tournament. Of the 10 youngest players on the roster at any point – all of whom were 25 or younger – only Joe Corona has failed to make a start in the four games thus far, and he just joined the team before the quarterfinals.

View photos Center back Ventura Alvarado has started three of the U.S.'s four games. (Getty Images) More

Gyasi Zardes, 23, has started three times and come on as a substitute in another game. Ventura Alvarado and John Brooks, both 22, have been the first-string pairing in central defense – the former has three games under his belt, the latter two because of a suspension. DeAndre Yedlin, 22, has made three appearances. Aron Johannsson, 24, has made two starts and come on as a sub. Timmy Chandler, 25, has made three starts. Altidore, 25, made two starts. Mix Diskerud, 24, and Garza both did once.

What's more, they have played important roles and mostly performed well. While Alvarado and Brooks have taken their lumps, courtesy of age and inexperience, they looked steadier against Panama, and Alvarado was sound in Saturday's match against Cuba. Yedlin has provided energy and pace off the bench, terrorizing opposing left backs.

Zardes has been one of the tournament's revelations. He is hardly the finished product but continues to grow into the level expected of a national teamer, and he is gaining ever more composure. Johannsson has given a strong account of himself, often leading the front line after Altidore faded from the picture. Like Altidore, Chandler, Garza and Diskerud have yet to make a convincing impression, but that trio had already demonstrated they could handle the rigors of the international game in the past.

Since regular left back Fabian Johnson and captain Michael Bradley are each only 27, the USMNT we've actually seen in the Gold Cup has been much younger than the one we thought we'd see. In spite of appearances, Klinsmann is very much building for the future. And while the side made a slow and, frankly, discouraging start to the tournament, it is beginning to take on the contours of what could well be the American squad of the 2018 World Cup and sometime beyond it.

Story continues