Regardless of a 1-0 win over Costa Rica, the U.S. Gold Cup group is much from totally developed. It struggled to get by way of one other robust protection, and the participant who scored the winner has critical limitations.
BY
Liviu Hen
Posted
July 17, 2013
1:11 PM
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FACING ITS BEST opponent of the present CONCACAF Gold Cup, america trotted out what ought to have been a dynamic lineup in its 1-0 win over Costa Rica on Tuesday. Every midfielder, specifically, may very well be thought-about a possession participant.
However whereas the U.S. out-passed and out-possessed its opponent, the center gamers have been frustratingly ineffective for a lot of the sport. Costa Rica needed to stifle assaults by way of the central channel, and it did so very successfully.
In the meantime, Jurgen Klinsmann’s group performed its most straight-up 4-4-2 so far, with the center 4 very near flat and the highest two staying excessive up the sphere. Because the World Cup qualifiers in June progressed, this transition was gradual, however now, it appears the U.S. has principally deserted the 4-3-3 in favor of the extra historically American formation.
Costa Rica Clogs the Center
Just like the snowy qualifier in March, Costa Rica performed with 5 defenders, together with two wingbacks. Central midfielders Yeltsin Tejada and Celso Borges by no means strayed removed from middle, and wingers Rodney Wallace and Kenny Cunningham additionally pulled defensive responsibility towards the center of the sphere.
In consequence, the realm contained in the width of the 18-yard containers become a no-fly zone. Of Combine Diskerud’s 12 unsuccessful passes, half have been balls he tried to play into the center. Stuart Holden failed to attach 10 instances, out of 14 dangerous passes whole, when he tried to hyperlink by way of the central channel.
Three middle backs patrolled behind Borges and Tejada: Roy Miller, Giancarlo Gonzalez, and Michael Umaña. Within the defensive half of the sphere, Costa Rica recovered 18 unfastened balls, made 26 clearances, and intercepted the ball eight instances. (By comparability, it had 16 recoveries, eight clearances, and 6 interceptions in extensive areas.)
Due to the Ticos’ defensive emphasis, neither group tried to undergo the center a lot. The U.S. ended up with most of its attacking play out extensive, and Costa Rica went by way of its wing gamers extra usually when it acquired ahead.
Winging It
Wingbacks are a standard characteristic amongst Central American sides. Within the first group sport, Belize additionally performed with 5 within the again and two wingbacks. The formation begins as a 5-4-1 defensively and morphs right into a 3-4-3 within the assault as a result of these gamers are requested to do a variety of work and supply a lot of the group’s attacking width.
In possession, Carlos Johnson and Junior Diaz opened as much as discover the ball at their ft, permitting Wallace and Cunningham to remain central. Nonetheless, discover on this occasion that whereas Johnson is excessive and extensive, Diaz stays nearer to his central companions.
Costa Rica at all times had 4 gamers on the again to defend. In the event that they have been to assault extra in the identical formation, each wingbacks might conceivably step up on the identical time, as there would nonetheless be three within the again. In contrast, in a four-back system, just one exterior again can step at a time, in any other case solely the 2 middle backs would stay to defend towards a counter-attack.
Nonetheless, Costa Rica emphasised protection on Tuesday, although it wanted a win to safe first place within the group.
When the U.S. attacked, all 5 defenders dropped to the backline. Cunningham and Wallace additionally withdrew extra, leaving Jairo Arrieta alone as a ahead.
For the U.S., Costa Rica’s system meant it needed to be cautious going ahead. Proper again Michael Parkhurst stayed residence nearly all sport, and whereas DaMarcus Beasley bombed ahead a number of instances on the left aspect, Jose Torres stayed central and withdrawn to fight the extensive assault if the Individuals misplaced the ball within the course of.
Landon Donovan did properly to remain out of the center, as that may have given the impression of 4 central midfielders at instances. As a substitute, he drifted excessive with Chris Wondolowski and to the best aspect, the place he discovered the ball extra usually—together with on his game-winning help.
Costa Rica had its velocity in extensive areas and primarily counter-attacked by way of them. Wallace and Cunningham weren’t shy about taking gamers on with the ball at their ft, whereas Arrieta labored to shake off the American central defenders—to little avail.
Brek Shea is Not Worldwide Stage
Brek Shea is without doubt one of the extra polarizing figures on the American squad on this event. Factions of followers appear satisfied he’s a golden-haired deity, whereas others are certain he’s the worst participant on the squad.
From a tactical viewpoint, Shea’s play within the Gold Cup specifically has not been as much as a world customary. He has one dimension on the sphere—his velocity—which will be simply negated by correct positioning and one-on-one defending.
He at all times seems to get in behind, nearly by no means wanting the ball at his ft. This gives only one attacking possibility, as an alternative of the a number of he might be able to discover if he have been keen to seek out the ball, search for, and assess his choices. However for Shea, it’s at all times about operating.
Right here once more, he solely has eyes for the lengthy ball, ignoring the house beneath the again line that has opened up. One potential motive why: In opposition to Cuba, Shea failed to attach on 11 of his 28 tried passes, and all however two passes he accomplished have been backward. His capability on the ball is minimal, until he occurs to be operating at full velocity and making an attempt to get previous a defender.
On this ultimate instance from the Costa Rica match, Donovan has the ball in the midst of the sphere, and Shea is essentially the most viable possibility. Once more, Shea runs away from the ball as an alternative of checking to it.
If he have been to test into the yellow house, he has three choices: play Herculez Gomez by way of, play Joe Corona in behind, or attempt to dribble by way of one-on-one. If Shea receives the ball at his ft, the likelihood of a U.S. assault yielding a possibility on objective is way larger than if he tries to take yet one more ball excessive.
Additionally, it’s a a lot simpler ball for Donovan to play along with his weaker left foot to seek out Shea’s ft than attempt to hook a ball throughout his physique and behind the Costa Rican protection. Ultimately, Shea can not modify his run to come back again to Donovan’s move, highlighting a ultimate motive to look quick first: It’s a lot simpler to maneuver ahead than backward.
If Shea seems for the ball at his ft, and a defender closes him down too shortly, he can at all times modify his run to get in behind. The reverse is just not fairly as easy. Nonetheless, having the ball at his ft beneath the backline exploits Shea’s lack of high-level decision-making on the ball, which is why he by no means seems for it and why he’s not as much as the excessive worldwide customary that Klinsmann is—supposedly—making an attempt to instill.
Rematch in September
Tuesday evening’s development may very well be much like what followers see in September, when the U.S. travels to San Jose, Costa Rica, to tackle the Ticos in one other World Cup qualifier. Even when the personnel is totally different, the type will probably be the identical, as will the sweltering climate.
By then the U.S. should discover a extra convincing option to cope with Costa Rica’s stifling protection. The Ticos supplied the sternest take a look at that the second-tier American choice has confronted in its Gold Cup quest thus far, and though the U.S. gained, it was removed from convincing.
Maybe introducing among the first-choice gamers into the group, as Klinsmann will probably do for the knockout spherical, will increase the extent and permit for a extra thorough efficiency.
OK, having mentioned all of that, we wish to hear your take. Share any and all ideas within the feedback beneath.
Liviu Hen is the Cascadia regional editor for SoccerWire.com, in addition to an ASN contributor. Observe him on Twitter.
