ASN: 5 Ideas on the US’ Win Over Bolivia

Three consecutive wins have given the Yanks a jolt of confidence and Jurgen Klinsmann lots to consider forward of Friday’s Copa America Centenario opener. Brian Sciaretta breaks it down for you right here. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
Could 29, 2016
1:00 PM

SHARE THIS STORY

AFTER AN EASY WIN AGAINT BOLIVIA on Saturday evening, the US males’s nationwide crew will now head into the Copa America Centenario opener towards Colombia with the momentum of three straight wins in a seven-day span. The friendlies served a helpful goal in showcasing the crew’s strengths and challenges shifting ahead.

Listed below are 5 ideas I’ve on the state of the crew at this vital juncture.

1. Bedoya was the distinction maker

In opposition to Bolivia, Alejandro Bedoya, 29, had one among his greatest U.S. nationwide crew video games in a very long time. It capped off a very good week for the previous Boston Faculty standout who had 4 assists in three video games.

There are a whole lot of gamers on the US crew who’ve been taking part in nicely heading into this event and Bedoya is definitely one among them. After a very good second half of the 12 months with Nantes, Bedoya seems to have cemented his spot within the U.S. crew’s beginning lineup for the beginning of Copa America

Bedoya has all the time had the potential to be an affect participant for the U.S. and has had some good moments in main worldwide tournaments, however he has by no means established himself as an automated starter. He’s in a great spot to face within the highlight now.

2. How will Dempsey do in a 4-3-3?

Jurgen Klinsmann needs to be questioning find out how to get essentially the most out of Clint Dempsey. Proper now the 4-3-3 is working fairly nicely for the crew however not a lot for Dempsey, who has been within the central ahead function. On this place, Dempsey can turn out to be a a bit remoted. All through his profession he has all the time thrived with a ahead companion in a 4-4-2, and at 33 years previous, that is extra vital now than ever.

Dempsey’s greatest moments this week have come when he has both drifted again into the midfield—towards Ecuador he created a golden probability for Zardes from this spot—or when a winger has lower centrally. Sadly, this has not occurred almost sufficient. 

Because of the two friendlies, the U.S. has solely had just a few days of coaching because the full crew assembled on Monday. With the Copa America Centenario opener not going down till Friday, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the crew evolves earlier than the Colombia match. Discovering a option to get Dempsey concerned ought to be an enormous precedence.

3. Jones and Zardes rebound

Bolivia was an overmatched opponent however Gyasi Zardes and Jermaine Jones ought to be extra assured after the 4-0 blowout, as each gamers improved upon their poor showings towards Ecuador.

Klinsmann has all the time favored Jones—particularly when the stakes are excessive. Jones has ability and athleticism, however he additionally brings the intangibles. His performances with Colorado and New England over the previous 12 months are reveals A and B. He performs with an depth that’s infectious, and he elevates these round him.

Even at 34 Jones could be very intimidating to play towards. Opponents don’t need to have the ball when Jones is close by. That alone can have an effect on the sport. He can play with nastiness that isn’t all the time soiled but it surely does carry chunk to the midfield. Proper now, there isn’t a different participant who brings that ingredient to the U.S. aspect and Klinsmann acknowledges this. The query about how for much longer Jones can play at this degree stays to be seen however for this summer season, he’s nonetheless an enormous a part of the equation.

For Zardes, consistency is the problem. Good Gyasi was on show Saturday towards Bolivia whereas the dangerous model suited up towards Ecuador on Wednesday. When he makes fast runs into the field and has to complete shortly, he could be very helpful. His velocity can open up doorways and in his opening aim towards Bolivia, he did nicely to get behind the protection and end Bedoya’s move along with his first contact.

The issue is that Zardes will not be all the time efficient. In opposition to Colombia, the sport may be extra suited to him. Even whereas the U.S. is taking part in nicely, Colombia will doubtless have a majority of the possession and the flexibility to counter assault will probably be vital.

4. Nagbe and Pulisic

After the win over Bolivia, Klinsmann harassed that the crew that begins Copa America Centenario received’t essentially be the one which finishes it. In different phrases, the coach sees a lineup that evolves and transforms throughout this event.

Heading towards the Hexagonal spherical of World Cup qualifying, this summer season’s massive event may very well be the turning level the place a big altering of the guard takes place. Such a change has appeared essential because the final World Cup and it was strengthened through the Yanks’ poor displaying on the 2015 Gold Cup.

Christian Pulisic and Darlington Nagbe have modified the dynamics of the crew as nicely. It is solely a matter of time earlier than each are first-choice starters—particularly in important contests.

Listening intently to Klinsmann’s phrases, it looks like the sport towards Colombia may be too quickly for this pair however that modifications will come towards Costa Rica or Paraguay.

5. Roster Musings

Right here is the beginning lineup, a 4-3-3, I strongly imagine Klinsmann will use towards Colombia: Guzan; Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson; Bedoya, Bradley, Jones; Wooden, Dempsey, Zardes

If Klinsmann certainly switches up personnel within the latter a part of the Copa America group stage, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see who will get bumped for Nagbe and Pulisic. To start out Pulisic in a 4-3-3, the almost certainly state of affairs is that Zardes swaps out for Pulisic.

Beginning Nagbe will probably be a extra attention-grabbing change as a result of that may require benching a participant who may be very entrenched within the crew. In a 4-3-3, Nagbe can solely actually begin if one among Jones, Bedoya, or Bradley is benched (together with Beckerman, who may be slipping anyway).

If the crew shifts to a 4-4-2, there may very well be room for midfield of Bedoya, Bradley, Nagbe, and Jones though that leaves Pulisic out—assuming the beginning ahead pair is Wooden and Dempsey.

The opposite choice may very well be a 4-2-3-1 which Klinsmann has utilized many instances prior to now. In that formation, Bradley and Jones might sit deep within the midfield behind Bedoya, Nagbe, and Pulisic. The query then turns into who would play alone up high? Both Dempsey or the surging Bobby Wooden must sit.

This doesn’t imply beginning Nagbe is not possible. In actual fact, it is going to most definitely occur sooner or later as a result of the U.S. performs higher when he’s on the sphere. The query stays although: Who sits?