ASN: Colombia Was in Management, Regardless of What You Heard

Neglect the spin—the U.S. males’s nationwide group received thumped Friday evening in Santa Clara, Calif. Colombia scored early, sat again, and let the People knock the ball round in the course of the sphere. Full cease.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 04, 2016
4:00 AM

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IN THE WAKE of Friday’s 2-0 loss to Colombia to open the Copa America Centenario match, america should now win in opposition to Costa Rica if it hopes to advance out of Group A.

Pre-tournament optimism was plentiful heading into this recreation however the group’s efficiency, not simply the loss, in opposition to Colombia was merely not adequate for a bunch nation that had a said objective of a making the semifinals. Earlier than the Costa Rica match, Jurgen Klinsmann could have study what went unsuitable and resolve if modifications to the beginning lineup and formation are wanted.

Listed below are my ideas on the sport.

1. The group underperformed

From the opening whistle, the U.S. group was outclassed by Colombia. Colombia is a greater group than america and a loss, in idea, doesn’t imply the U.S. essentially performed poorly. On this case, the united statesshould really feel upset.

Type an offensive standpoint, Klinsmann’s group was simply fully ineffective. Except the nook kick within the sixtieth minute, the place Clint Dempsey almost scored, the American set items have been poor. From the run of play, it was even worse. There was little mixture work or creativity the yielded any significant scoring alternatives.

John Brooks had a very good recreation for the Yanks however each different participant is able to enjoying—high-quality opposition however. The fundamentals weren’t there. Possession was given away meaninglessly, crosses have been mishit, and gamers weren’t in synch.

In its first recreation of an enormous match, at house, the U.S. got here out flat and timid.

2. Colombia was all the time in management

After the guests scored the opening objective, the U.S. loved some possession—however Colombia was all the time answerable for this recreation. Colombia sat again and allowed the U.S. group to knock the ball round removed from the objective (usually in its personal half) after which simply absorbed any sort of strain the U.S. mustered.

Jose Pekerman’s group relied on the People’ incapability to assault and as an alternative performed to counter. Then, within the second half, Colombia held the ball and compelled the U.S. to chase the sport. The underside line is that Colombia did no matter it wished and the U.S. had no actual reply or plan to get on the scoreboard.

Within the postgame press convention, Klinsmann mentioned he believed the sport was even, outdoors of penalty name. That doesn’t appear to be the case. To make issues worse for Klinsmann, Colombia didn’t even play that effectively. Its counter assaults can usually be deadly and that wasn’t the case, regardless of rattling the crossbar within the second half on a counter.

Costa Rica and Paraguay are usually not even near being nearly as good as Colombia however this loss was disheartening and reversing momentum on only a few quick days of relaxation goes to be a problem.

3. The 4-3-3 confirmed its limitations

In friendlies in opposition to Ecuador and Bolivia, america opened the sport in a 4-3-3 formation and it did the identical in opposition to Colombia. Whereas it appeared to work within the friendlies, in opposition to Colombia its limitations have been uncovered.

For one, the entrance line of Wooden and Zardes out vast with Dempsey within the center put gamers in a tricky state of affairs to succeed. Dempsey isn’t a middle ahead and Wooden and Zardes are usually not greatest used as wingers. The personnel does not likely match the 4-3-3 formation on the entrance line.

Within the midfield, the 4-3-3 actually makes Bradley completely essential to the Yanks’ uccess. If Bradley is having a poor recreation, like he did in opposition to Colombia, the U.S. can also be going to wrestle.

Jones and Bradley have not often performed effectively collectively and on this recreation they have been each subpar. When these two are each off, connecting the ball into attacking positions is remarkably tough and that’s enhanced when the entrance line isn’t constructed for a 4-3-3.

It’s an fascinating query if Klinsmann has a “plan B” formation for the Copa America. If he does, why hasn’t it been tried but? 

4. Deceptive Momentum from Friendlies

In current friendlies in opposition to Ecuador and Bolivia, the U.S. appeared excellent and appeared ready for this match. In opposition to Colombia, the wheels got here off.

This isn’t the primary time one thing like this has occurred. Final summer time, a couple of month earlier than the Gold Cup, the People defeated Germany and the Netherlands—on the highway, no much less. Then, on the Gold Cup, the U.S. was outshot by most CONCACAF opponents earlier than limping to a fourth-place end.

It is unclear why that is the case. Does the group get lured right into a false sense of confidence after friendlies? Does the group play friendlies and tournaments with the identical depth degree?

The distinction between the arrogance it shows in friendlies and in actual tournaments is evening and day.

Subsequent 12 months the U.S. hopes to play within the Hexagonal spherical of World Cup qualifying spherical, and that match might be difficult except the Yanks are capable of increase their degree of efficiency past what was on show Friday evening.

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