Sunday marked the primary time within the Gold Cup that the U.S. missed its A-listers. Up in opposition to a good Panama protection, the People had bother attacking one notably harmful space, says ASN tactician Liviu Fowl.
BY
Liviu Fowl
Posted
July 30, 2013
12:45 PM
SHARE THIS STORY
THE UNITED STATES gained the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup title in opposition to a Panama workforce that appeared and performed fairly a bit just like the one it defeated in World Cup qualifying in June.
Each groups lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, however Panama’s ahead mixture on Sunday, Gabriel Torres and Blas Perez, provided extra of a problem than the pair the U.S. confronted final month. All in all, la marea roja didn’t generate many clear-cut alternatives, and the identical will be stated for the People.
Whereas the U.S. dominated the June 11 matchup between these groups, it was a a lot bigger problem on Sunday. This was due largely to the truth that Panama fielded its first-choice squad whereas the USA despatched out what was primarily a second-string workforce.
Panama defended as resolutely on Sunday because it did final month in Seattle, however the U.S. didn’t assault properly for a lot of the sport. The largest lacking piece for the People, Michael Bradley, was the rationale for his or her domination in June—and his absence is the primary purpose why the U.S. struggled on Sunday.
Packing it in
It’s beginning to sound like a damaged file: the U.S. comes up in opposition to an inferior workforce, that inferior workforce retains eight to 11 males behind the ball, and the U.S. wants a late purpose to narrowly take all three factors.
Effectively, it wasn’t a lot totally different on Sunday.
From the very first minute, Panama stored two strong banks behind the ball and, at occasions, had each participant in its personal half. Particularly within the first half, the U.S. failed to seek out a lot of the ball on high of the Panamanian 18-yard field, in an space coaches name “Zone 14.”
Breaking the sphere down into 18 zones gives a tactical framework from which to construct a workforce’s choreography. Essentially the most harmful zone for attacking gamers is Zone 14, which is the house in the course of the sphere simply outdoors the penalty space.
That is the place most targets originate, and groups that may exploit areas inside this zone will get a number of probabilities to attain. The U.S. struggled to seek out clear-cut alternatives on Sunday, largely as a consequence of its lack of ability to get into this zone, notably within the first half.
The second half opened up just a little bit, as Panama drained from chasing the American defenders and holding midfielder Kyle Beckerman as they performed the ball backward and forward.
As well as, Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan each performed as typical strikers, holding with the defenders, as an alternative of Donovan holding a deeper beginning place all recreation. Wingers Joe Corona and Alejandro Bedoya additionally stayed excessive and extensive in an try to open up house within the center by stretching the protection.
Within the first half, the U.S. accomplished 300 of 361 tried passes. A lot of them have been within the again and in extensive areas, and the People solely tried 12 passes (9 profitable) in Zone 14.
Against this, they went 17-for-20 within the second half, though lots of these passes have been sideways. Nevertheless, the one purpose of the sport got here after Michael Parkhurst gained a free ball in Zone 14 and Bedoya crossed from simply off the sting of that space.
Lastly, in opposition to Panama in June, the U.S. accomplished 30 of 36 makes an attempt in Zone 14. Bradley went six-for-six; Clint Dempsey accomplished seven of eight. The U.S. missed that sort of presence sorely on Sunday.
The Proper Time for Pace
Earlier than Brek Shea made his entrance and scored in the identical minute, Panama once more fell right into a frequent defensive shell, defending the center of the sphere. The U.S. struggled to get something going within the attacking third of the sphere, and the match started to stagnate.
Shea could also be a one-dimensional participant, and his limitations have been properly documented, however bringing him on in opposition to Panama was the perfect substitution for the state of affairs.
Panama organized shortly after shedding the ball, and the U.S. lacked some incisiveness and pace in assault. When it gained the ball excessive up the sphere, the window of alternative solely opened for transient moments, similar to within the 61st minute when Beckerman threaded a ball via to Johnson.
Johnson had choices on the flank and in Zone 14, however he was too gradual to acknowledge them. As an alternative, the ball ended up swinging again round to DaMarcus Beasley.
As shortly because it opened, the window slammed shut. Beasley may have performed sq. to Beckerman or extensive to Corona, however Zone 14 was successfully nullified. Even when Donovan discovered the ball, he had 4 defenders inside closing distance.
Price noting: each Panama participant behind the ball on this state of affairs is both contained in the U.S.’s Zone 14 (Panama’s Zone 5) or proper on the border.
Shea is the right participant for this example, so long as he can both cross the ball or reduce inside on the dribble to get behind the defenders. His goal-scoring state of affairs shouldn’t be a terrific instance of this (in actual fact, Bedoya’s cross would have rolled in if Shea hadn’t made certain of it).
However he did showcase his skills a pair occasions, similar to on his Seventieth-minute ball into Johnson. He obtained the ball extensive, beat a defender on the dribble, and obtained off a very good cross.
Largest Impressions
It’s been a protracted summer time for the U.S. nationwide workforce. First, the “A” workforce slogged via a month of friendlies and qualifiers, and now a “B-plus” workforce has performed a full month of the continent’s largest worldwide play.
When the workforce reconvenes, in August for a pleasant in Bosnia-Herzegovina after which in September and October for 4 remaining qualifiers, a few the Gold Cup gamers ought to discover themselves concerned.
Donovan is the apparent inclusion, however Corona additionally confirmed properly. He has been with the primary workforce however hasn’t seen a lot taking part in time. Within the Gold Cup, he displayed his beautiful first contact and imaginative and prescient from the wing, similar to when he pulled down a protracted diagonal ball within the 52nd minute in opposition to Panama.
Beckerman had a very good match, however the depth at his place works in opposition to him. Chris Wondolowski, after exploding in opposition to lower-level opposition, disappeared in opposition to the higher groups.
Shea (once more) is simply too one-dimensional to be a starter, however he might be an possibility off the bench in case the U.S. comes up in opposition to one other packed-in protection. Combine Diskerud, in the meantime, has been stunningly common and on no account confirmed he must be included in a central midfield group headlined by Michael Bradley.
Liviu Fowl is ASN’s tactical analyst. He’s additionally a contributor to NBC ProSoccerTalk and is Cascadia regional editor for SoccerWire.com. Observe him on Twitter.
