When does an enormous win really feel a bit like a deflating loss? When all people is left questioning why the U.S.’ dramatic 2-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda needed to be so troublesome.
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
October 13, 2012
5:00 AM
SHARE THIS STORY
ANTIGUA—On the finish of most soccer matches it’s simple to differentiate the winners from the losers. One group of gamers tends to hold their heads in a defeated posture, or maybe stare round with a glazed expression eager about what they might have carried out in another way.
As the ultimate whistle blew on the US’ 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Antigua and Barbuda, all 22 gamers on the pitch regarded as if they’d misplaced.
There have been no outward shows of exuberance or pleasure from the victorious Individuals—simply loads of slumped shoulders. The crew had received an extremely essential match—on Eddie Johnson’s dramatic stoppage-time purpose, his second tally of the evening—however the temper inside Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds was something however celebratory.
United States Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati sat slumped in a chair a couple of minutes after the match, clearly drained from the expertise. Requested if he wished to make a remark, Gulati regarded up and quietly declined. “Maybe after my B.P. comes down a bit,” he stated.
Even Jurgen Klinsmann, one of the crucial upbeat and affable individuals you’ll ever meet, was not prepared to sugarcoat his crew’s efficiency. He didn’t crack a smile on the post-game press convention.
“Do we have to play better?” he requested. “Absolutely. We are not happy with what we saw. There will be a couple of things we will discuss internally that we need to do much, much better in Kansas City.”
Foremost amongst these targets: creating a way of urgency inside the squad that begins on the opening whistle and continues till the tip of the match.
“It’s something you always try to reinforce but it has to develop within the whole group,” Klinsmann stated. “And especially in away games. We just need to be better than that. We were winning in Jamaica after one minute and then suddenly we dropped back. And we had said from the outset, ‘Don’t drop back! Stay high up! Keep playing the same game!’”
It was extra of the identical in opposition to Antigua and Barbuda.
“At halftime we said, ‘Guys, we have to step it up here. We have to play faster. We have to play 1-2 touches more often and find spaces behind their fullbacks. That’s something we have to work on, mentally.”
There’s loads to work on bodily, too. Herculez Gomez, normally lethal together with his possibilities, had an terrible recreation. (And, to his credit score, he admitted as a lot by way of Twitter.)
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) October 13, 2012
Clint Dempsey, sometimes the largest offensive menace on the crew, was a non-factor all through the match. “The middle of the park was just a mud pit, really,” Dempsey stated after the competition. “So it was a frustrating game to try to play football in—quality football.”
Graham Zusi began sturdy however a collection of poor crosses within the second half quashed many U.S. advances and he was taken out of the sport within the 78th minute. Danny Williams, so sturdy in opposition to Jamaica a couple of weeks again, didn’t management the midfield in his No. 6 function. In reality, except for Michael Bradley and Johnson, not one of the American starters made a very optimistic impression.
However the U.S. protection had a very robust time of it. The again line gave away too many simple possibilities Friday, and on a unique evening the quite a few gaffes may need led to an embarrassing, and expensive, defeat.
“First half, we have to win our duels in the backline,” Klinsmann stated. “We told both center backs, ‘Guys, you’ve got to step it up here. We can’t lose the individual battles.’ They knew it. They were not happy with their own game. We gave away too many balls there.”
Klinsmann, all the time gracious in victory, made a degree of congratulating Antigua and Barbuda for his or her sturdy displaying.
“[We knew] they would take this game as the game of their lives, and that’s what they did,” he stated. “We mentioned it to the players many, many, many times. And we had the game we expected. It was difficult. They have quality players on the side and they can surprise you.”
However the truth stays that the U.S. ought to by no means have let it get this shut. They had been fortunate to flee with a win, they usually understand it.
The crew faces Guatemala in Kansas Metropolis on Tuesday, and the consensus inside the squad is that they should do a lot, a lot better.
What did you consider the U.S.’ efficiency Friday? Thrilled? Annoyed? Disgusted? Energized? Share your ideas within the Feedback part beneath. And be sure you graph your emotions about Jurgen Klinsmann in our interactive Infographic. It’s an effective way to inform the soccer world how you’re feeling.
