Panama has gotten some good leads to the Hexagonal, together with a 2-0 win over Honduras. Will the U.S. have what it takes to get three factors in Seattle? ASN tactician Liviu Chook assesses the probabilities.
BY
Liviu Chook
Posted
June 09, 2013
8:06 PM
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SEATTLE—A World Cup qualifier in opposition to Panama is a dangerous proposition for the USA nationwide group. The opponent is beatable, but in addition has the power to punish groups that don’t give it the respect it deserves when it has the ball.
On Tuesday in opposition to the USA, Panama can be lacking its greatest offensive menace in Blas Perez, who’s caught at house with gastrointestinal issues. Even with him within the lineup, La Marea Roja struggled to seek out scoring probabilities in a 0-0 draw in opposition to Mexico on Friday.
Nonetheless, taking a look at its outcomes, Panama can be a much bigger take a look at for the U.S. than Jamaica was. When you’ve got the time, Components 1 and a couple of of this video can be academic, however we draw out the highlights under.
Creativity and Aptitude
As most Central American squads are inclined to do, Panama performs with fluidly and magnificence in assault. Take into account this sequence of passes. And this almost executed set-piece play.
The Panamanians will construct out of the again, and all of them have good composure and skill on the ball. They throw first rate numbers into the assault once they go ahead, and their play is marked by one- and two-touch passes within the center together with extensive choices which can be keen to take defenders on.
The difficulty is, as soon as they get above the midfield line, assaults appear to fizzle. Lacking the traditional goal striker will solely exacerbate the troubles that they had in opposition to Mexico, however Panama has scored 5 targets in 4 matches, solely one in every of which got here off Perez’s foot.
Within the Again
Throwing as many numbers ahead as Panama does can go away it uncovered defensively. Each outdoors backs will push on the similar time, leaving a two-on-one scenario among the many middle backs and striker.
If the defenders outnumber the attacking gamers, that’s not an issue. If an opponent have been to carry two gamers excessive, then it turns into extra of a problem. In protection, groups virtually at all times wish to outnumber the opponent by no less than one.
When Mexico had clear possession of the ball on Friday, Panama sat again. It drew a particularly deep line of confrontation, past even its half of the middle circle, and sat all 11 gamers behind the ball.
At instances, Perez even dropped to the place the yellow oval is on this graphic. Panama appears content material to soak up stress if the ball is below management, and it’ll maintain a line of gamers contained in the 18-yard field to clear crosses when it goes extensive.
U.S. Changes
Michael Bradley’s function can be below the microscope on Tuesday. His capacity to create assaults from a deep-lying place turns into important when groups sit again to soak up stress. The wingers may also have the ability to step up larger, both preoccupying Panama’s outdoors backs so they can not press or profiting from the gaps once they do.
The important thing can be taking part in by means of the center and drawing defenders out of place. Panama’s middle backs will step with a ahead checking off the entrance line, and supporting defenders are sluggish to cowl, leaving holes to take advantage of.
Pumping ball after ball into the field would make for a boring sport of attrition. As an alternative, the U.S. has to seek out methods to mix by means of the midfield and pull opponents out of place.
Déjà vu?
Tuesday’s sport may very well be paying homage to the U.S.’s semifinal spherical matches in opposition to Antigua & Barbuda, besides that Panama has rather more capacity. The largest hazard can be getting caught out on the counter assault, as La Marea Roja likes to poach the ball off attackers and transfer the ball rapidly up the sphere earlier than they will recuperate.
Assaults on each side must be plentiful on Tuesday—fixed stress from the U.S. and incisive counters from Panama. It can take high quality for the Individuals to win, however something lower than three factors can be a failure.
Liviu Chook is a contract journalist primarily based in Seattle. He’s additionally American Soccer Now’s resident tactical skilled. Observe him on Twitter.
