ASN: Poor Lineup Decisions Put U.S. Males in Troublesome Place

Preaching boldness however working towards a safety-first mindset, U.S. males’s nationwide group coach Jurgen Klinsmann made a number of disastrous choices earlier than the Argentina match even started.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 22, 2016
1:30 AM

SHARE THIS STORY

THERE IS NO SHAME in shedding to Argentina. No coach, no lineup, and no formation goes to offer the U.S. males’s nationwide group an excellent probability to win a sport like this.

However even taking all of that under consideration, Tuesday’s 4-0 loss was unhealthy.

Argentina has received all 5 of its video games to this point at Copa America Centenario however america proved to be the Albicelestes’ best opponent. Argentina had a better time towards Panama, which it defeated 5-0. At no level did the People seem to hassle Argentina within the slightest—not even with brute power.

Listed here are my ideas on the sport

Klinsmann reached for safety blanket

This sport was misplaced the second U.S. Soccer introduced the beginning lineup. Kyle Beckerman has had some very good moments for the U.S. prior to now however age has caught as much as him. Chris Wondolowski has not proven up in large video games for fairly a while and Graham Zusi had been on his manner out of the group till Klinsmann introduced him again in March.

The Yanks made some very nice strides in 2016. Darlington Nagbe has performed nicely at any time when given an opportunity and his 32/32 passing, mixed with a game-winning purpose in a pre-tournament win over Ecuador, showcased that. Christian Pulisic is younger however fearless. Even Matt Besler confirmed nicely towards Ecuador, proving he might fill in at left again and perhaps give Klinsmann a motive to push Fabian Johnson to his most well-liked place in attacking midfield

As an alternative of being daring, nevertheless, Klinsmann reverted again to his standard—and now growing old—choices. The Argentina match was a wasted alternative to strive one thing new and see what the group is all about. Lots of the U.S. group’s components tonight had been uncovered badly in 2015 on the Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Cup however Klinsmann appeared to need to convey the group again to that darkish 12 months versus constructing one thing new.

After preaching boldness to his gamers, Klinsmann selected to not comply with his personal recommendation.

If the People had misplaced whereas placing up a combat, just like the did towards Germany within the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, that may have been OK with just about everybody.

However now American supporters need to surprise if Klinsmann is significantly contemplating the Wondolowskis and Beckermans and Zusis as candidates for the 2018 World Cup.

Bitter ending will linger

Earlier than the event, Klinsmann stated that his purpose was to make the Copa America Centenario semifinals. That was a daring and lofty purpose and the group completed that feat. Nothing can take that away.

However the legacy of this event will likely be that humiliating loss to Argentina. The Yanks took the sphere and rolled over from the opening kickoff. It confirmed an excessive amount of respect and never sufficient confidence.

Mixed with its 2-0 loss to Colombia, the People nonetheless look like intimidated by high groups. In the meantime, Paraguay and Costa Rica confirmed that squads with expertise limitations can compete with the likes of Colombia.

So whereas the U.S. earned constructive headlines for the primary time in years, the character of the semifinal loss (not the loss itself) will ensuer that key questions linger.

Tough sport for Michael Bradley

Dangerous video games are to be anticipated for a few of the united statesplayers however for Michael Bradley the Argentina contest was notably ugly. He merely had too many turnovers within the midfield, and he tried to do an excessive amount of. It is true that lots of his high mixture targets had been lacking from this lineup however he’s too good to make expensive turnovers in the course of the sphere.

He’s nonetheless the captain of the group and crucial to its success. There are merely not any American central midfielders near pushing him out of his beginning place anytime quickly. However his outing was subpar towards Argentina, and he performed all the way down to the extent of a few of his teammates as a substitute of elevating them.

He must discover a option to bounce again from a so-so event and a really poor semifinal.

These are Brian’s ideas on the match. Now share yours within the Feedback part under.