MONTREAL — You could be forgiven for thinking — not to sound too nihilistic — that nothing really matters. Not after that 5-0 start, and not with a loaded American team now loaded for beer and smelling blood. Things can’t come worsenecessarily, but they can still go bad if the American boa constrictor tightens. Still, the Internationals still have a slim chance, at least for another day. Somehow 0-5 is less insurmountable than something like 1.5-8.5, because you have a higher chance of a total reversal.

With that grudging optimism in mind, let’s take a look at the five foursomes (alternate shot) matches taking place on Friday, and what we can expect from each match.

Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schauffele (USA) vs. Hideki Matsuyama-Sungjae Im (INT)

For the US, this represents a major mystery that has been solved, namely whether Cantlay and Schauffele really broke up. Furyk joked on Wednesday that they weren’t friends anymore, but this proves they were just waiting for the right time to relaunch one of America’s most successful duos. It’s a great move by Furyk to throw them out there first, and more than a little devastating for the Internationals as they try to pull off a miraculous comeback. Matsuyama and Im were fine on Thursday, but on Friday they will have to take on one of the more difficult tasks in match play golf. If they are looking for something to hold on to, it is that despite years of success, the American duo were defeated twice in this format in Rome.

Outlook: How can you bet against Cantlay and Schauffele in the Presidents Cup?

Sahith Theegala-Collin Morikawa (USA) vs. Adam Scott-Taylor Pendrith (INT)

The home side have absolutely slaughtered the visitors in fours at the last few Ryder Cups, but the difference is that because the home side sets the course, they can use their analytics team to exert a huge influence on this particular format. For the Presidents Cup, the PGA Tour provides the lineup, so you have to do the best with what you know. Mike Weir challenging Scott and Pendrith probably has a lot to do with what his stats team feeds him, but it’s an open question how they will actually perform. It’s worth noting that Scott, despite all his experience, doesn’t have a great record at the Presidents Cup, and he was defeated again on Thursday by the same duo he faces here: Theegala and Morikawa. It was an exciting match, but the Americans were evenly matched at the end.

Outlook: Fair warning: this is starting to feel repetitive, but even though Pendrith pulled back a strong back nine and a half on Thursday, the Americans should still be favored.

Max Homa-Brian Harman (USA) vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout-Jason Day (INT)

Bezuidenhout’s missed birdie on 17 after a great tee shot was one of the most discouraging moments of a daunting day for the Internationals, and he will team up with Day, another player who fell just short. Their opponents, Homa and Harman, both rested on Thursday, but Homa in particular has some brilliant team match play early in his career. It’s interesting to wonder what it’s like to sit through the first session and then feel like the match is already over; the Americans will want to make sure they can keep the heat despite the big lead, but a passionate personality like Harman combined with a competitive edge like Homa should dispel any doubts; these guys will want to win badly regardless of the higher score.

Outlook: America. Sorry, Captain Weir.

Wyndham Clark-Tony Finau (USA) vs. Corey Conners-Mackenzie Hughes (INT)

Hey, an all-Canadian couple! It felt like a mistake for Weir not to include at least one Canadian in his starting duo on Thursday, if only to spread some excitement among the home crowd. Those fans were at least a little disappointing all day, acting more like enthusiastic but relatively neutral spectators rather than the partisan hooligans you see at the Ryder Cup. Maybe this excites them, though again you wish Weir would take them out first, and wonder if the inability to do so indicates at least a slight lack of confidence. Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau feel like one of the more vulnerable American combinations of the session, and this is clearly a must-win for the Internationals.

Outlook: I’m going to give the Canadians a bit of credit, despite their abysmal record in the last Presidents Cup, and say they put in a good performance here.

Scottie Scheffler-Russell Henley (USA) vs. Si Woo Kim-Byeong Hun An (INT)

The Scheffler/Henley combination worked very, very well for Furyk, and you have to wonder if Henley can get another win or two with the world number one. As a first-time golfer, it gives him a great chance to be the captain’s choice in the future. You know Scheffler will be there, and Henley did on Thursday what no one since Bryson DeChambeau has been able to do with the world No. 1. 1, namely winning a pairs competition. Plus, they did it against some tough opposition in Tom Kim, with some hairy moments and great pressing play from both. Si Woo Kim gets his first start alongside Ben An, who lost on Thursday, and for me this is a great opportunity for the Americans to consolidate a great opening win. You have to wonder if the Internationals will be waving the white flag by the end of this match.

Outlook: I love this American duo, and winning this match almost seems to be more about building trust and chemistry for Bethpage.