ASN: Is Jurgen Klinsmann in Denial Over Colombia Loss?

There is no disgrace in dropping to the No. 3-ranked group on the earth, however the U.S. males’s nationwide group coach couldn’t carry himself to confess that the Colombians had been the higher group Friday night time.

BY

John Godfrey

Posted
June 04, 2016
8:40 PM

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SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Did the U.S. males’s nationwide group go toe-to-toe with certainly one of soccer’s powerhouse groups and solely find yourself on the dropping finish due to a referee’s questionable name simply earlier than intermission?

Or was Colombia at all times in command of this Copa America Centenario opener, toying with a rugged, dedicated American facet that had few concepts within the attacking third of the sphere?

The reply, it appears, is dependent upon whom you ask.

Jurgen Klinsmann made it very clear that he considers the U.S. unfortunate to have misplaced Friday night time at Levi’s Stadium.

“Overall I was very pleased with the performance,” Klinsmann stated. “The message general is constructive to the gamers even when they’re clearly dissatisfied that we didn’t get any factors. 

“We had a totally even game here.”

Affordable folks can disagree, however the U.S. coach’s perspective doesn’t appear to account for the truth that his facet didn’t handle a single shot on purpose within the opening 45 minutes, and solely made Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina cease two pictures your complete sport. U.S. backstop Brad Guzan, alternatively, confronted eight pictures that had been on the right track—and several other required saves of the spectacular selection.

Colombia’s esteemed coach, Jose Pekerman, additionally noticed the sport a bit in a different way than Klinsmann: “The United States are a competitive team,” he stated after the match, “but we could have scored a couple more.”

Ouch.

Nationwide group icon Landon Donovan didn’t hesitate to provide his two cents on the efficiency, and clearly sided with Pekerman.

Ugly opening sport from #USMNT tonight. Nonetheless two video games to get it proper and advance. Want a significantly better efficiency towards Costa Rica.

— Landon Donovan (@landondonovan) June 4, 2016

Double ouch.

Clearly, the Yanks gave it their all. The group performed exhausting, didn’t shrink back from challenges, and demonstrated a dedication to compete that was admirable. However to counsel that the 2 sides had been “equal” over the course of 90 minutes defies motive.

Requested if he felt good about his backline, Klinsmann had nothing however superlatives: “Oh definitely. We didn’t give them any chances until the end when there was some counter-breaks because we were pushing forward. It was an outstanding backline.”

Given a number of alternatives to concede to the Colombians, Klinsmann didn’t budge.

“We were very compact,” he stated. “We had been technically very effectively organized. And we performed them even. We had no downside in any respect once they went one-nil up. We saved taking part in, and saved the rhythm, and pushed ahead.

“That team is No. 3 in the world? Well, we can play with them. We can damage them—which didn’t happen today but maybe next time.”

Nevermind that Colombia took an early first-half lead and put an exclamation mark on it proper earlier than the half. Or fairly, do thoughts. Klinsmann implied, repeatedly, that Colombia was lucky to win the sport.

“Obviously the penalty decision was a major point in this game,” Klinsmann stated. “But it is what it is. You cannot change it anymore. He gave the penalty. He didn’t give any in the second half on Clint. But that’s the referee’s decision.”

Klinsmann’s gamers didn’t essentially view the sport, and the consequence, in the identical mild as their coach.

Jermaine Jones known as it a “tough game,” but in addition acknowledged that the Yanks “were always a step too late.” 

The veteran midfielder didn’t appear overly enthusiastic in regards to the group’s defense-first sport plan, both.

“I was not happy why I have to make more defense and protect Fabian [Johnson] on the left side,” he stated. “That’s what the coaches wanted, that I don’t go so much forward and stay home. I like it more to play forward and today it was not the case. I have to do what the coach wants.”

U.S. captain Michael Bradley additionally owned as much as the American’s shortcomings.

“In the first half there were some good moments,” Bradley stated. “We weren’t quite sharp enough, or played good enough, to take some little advantages or half-chances and really punish them. They, on the night, were ruthless in terms of their ability to know what the game was going to need. Close space and make things very difficult and take chances when they can.”

Colombia’s means to capitalize on an early nook kick, Bradley prompt, was not an anomaly however fairly an indicator of high quality.

“It’s the beginning of the game, teams are going to do anything they can to get a little advantage,” he stated. “Obviously they ran a little play where the game off and they set a little pick—this is what happens on set pieces. At times you’re able to fight through it and take care of it. At times the attacking team is good enough to score. Today we were on the wrong end of that.”

DeAndre Yedlin, who was given a penalty on the decisive play of the sport, additionally acknowledged that Colombia did what it needed to do to win.

“We were trying to shut them down,” he stated. “Overall we did a pretty good job of that. I think we’re right there. Mistakes need to be cut out but I think we can play with the best teams in the world.”

Geoff Cameron, who misplaced his marker on Colombia’s first purpose, spoke to reporters after the match and took full possession of his mistake.

“Right before [the goal] I was hugging the guy a little bit and the ref told me to put my hands down,” he stated. “As quickly as he informed me, the play occurred. So I’m just a little pissed off with that. You’ve obtained to study. I’ve handled it earlier than. I’ll take the duty and get higher. 

“I put my head down for a second. I looked over to the left to look where the ball was and all of a sudden…”

That early rating set the tone for the remainder of the match, and after Colombia scored on the penalty it shrewdly performed circumstances to its benefit.

“When they went up two they kind of sat back, like any team would,” Cameron stated. “It was just a little exhausting to interrupt down. We did present some good issues. I feel we’re taking part in higher soccer than we have now in a very long time. Guys are transferring off each other. We’re creating good issues. I feel it’s going to come.

“They’re what—third or fourth in the world? I don’t think they played miles better than we did. It’s obviously disappointing and frustrating because things were there for the taking and you want to get into the tournament with momentum, but as a professional you have to shrug that off and keep positive. We have two more opportunities to win out. You can’t dwell on it and move on.”

Whereas his gamers readily admitted that Colombia possessed that further little bit of high quality, Klinsmann defiantly rejected the notion that the higher group received.

Towards the top of the post-game press convention, a reporter requested Klinsmann a two-part query: Did the coach assume the 2 groups had been on equal footing and did Colombia deserve the win?

Klinsmann stated, “There was no difference between the two sides.”

The reporter pressed the coach to reply the second a part of his query: “Did Colombia deserve the victory?”

A testy and irritated Klinsmann replied, “I’ll leave it up to you.”

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John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.