ASN tactician Liviu Fowl affords some concepts about how the U.S. can beat Mexico on Tuesday, trying to its historic victory in August for inspiration. Trace: The staff should reverse a troubling qualiying pattern.
BY
Liviu Fowl
Posted
March 25, 2013
1:30 PM
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Estadio Azteca affords Mexico probably the most formidable home-field benefits on the earth. On Tuesday, the U.S. should battle by way of 100,000 rabid followers, 7,400-foot elevation, and Los Angeles-level smog. To not point out, Mexico is traditionally the very best staff in CONCACAF, and its present crop of gamers could be the strongest but. On the again of its youth improvement, El Tri sits at No. 15 within the FIFA World Rating and No. 10 within the Elo Scores.
The US holds considered one of simply 11 victories towards Mexico at Azteca, however its total file in Mexico Metropolis is one win, 19 losses, one draw. The win was Aug. 15, 2012, 1-0 in a pleasant match; the draw was Nov. 2, 1997, 0-0 in World Cup Qualifying. Any manner you slice it, the percentages are stacked towards the U.S. getting any factors on Tuesday.
Residence, Candy Residence
Currently, the hole between Mexico’s play at Azteca and overseas has been notable. At Honduras on Friday, El Tri jumped out to a 2-0 lead, solely to see the host storm again to steal some extent in a 2-2 draw. Honduras dominated the ball in that match, making an attempt 418 passes to Mexico’s 208—a 65-to-35 % Opta possession edge. Within the first Hexagonal match, Mexico almost overran Jamaica on a number of events, however Jamaica held on for a stunning 0-0 consequence at Azteca. Mexico tried 510 passes in that match and had 72 % of the ball.
The distinction in high quality between Honduras and Jamaica possible had one thing to do with the discrepancy, however each groups have had success towards supposedly larger gamers on the CONCACAF stage in qualifying. Jamaica gave the U.S. a run for its cash within the semifinal spherical, taking three factors in Kingston. What this implies for the U.S. is that it’s almost a foregone conclusion that Mexico can have extra of the ball on Tuesday. Something the People get should be towards the run of play, possible on the counter-attack.
So What Occurred in August?
Final time the 2 groups met in Mexico Metropolis, the U.S. in some way managed to win. Goalkeeper Tim Howard made a number of beautiful saves, and Michael Orozco Fiscal (added to the roster after this story was filed) scored a tap-in created by Brek Shea and Terrence Boyd (each on the roster for Tuesday).
Jurgen Klinsmann performed the three defensive midfielder set followers have develop into accustomed to seeing on the street, however the important thing males within the lineup had been Herculez Gomez and Landon Donovan, who began at ahead. Possession—or at the very least the measly 34 % the U.S. had, on 248 tried passes—was concentrated a lot wider than anticipated with no wingers within the lineup. Though Kyle Beckerman, Jermaine Jones, and Danny Williams stayed pretty deep and central, Gomez and Donovan floated large.
Take into consideration these two gamers and the place they usually play with the nationwide staff. Each are historically wingers with the U.S., though they typically play up prime for his or her golf equipment. Donovan and Gomez gave a large presence within the August sport as properly, as did attacking midfielder Jose Torres. All three most well-liked the left aspect to the fitting, however they’d touches in large areas way more typically than is typical for the U.S. on the street. Nevertheless, as a result of the forwards and central attacking midfielder offered width, no person stretched the Mexican protection excessive. The People hit solely 4 crosses from the run of play, and three of the 5 touches contained in the penalty space within the match got here on the goal-scoring play: Shea crossing to Boyd, who flicked on to Orozco Fiscal for the tap-in.
The 2-forward set labored properly, however not due to its goal-area presence.
This Time Round
No matter whether or not Klinsmann desires to play for a win or a draw, the sport plan must be the identical on Tuesday: width will probably be important, however a ahead presence will assist stretch the protection and provides an possibility for service.
Three defensive midfielders is sort of by no means a good suggestion, however that’s very true on this sport. The U.S. can not afford to take a seat in a defensive shell if it hopes to hit Mexico on the counter, which can possible be the one manner the People get alternatives. That is the place Klinsmann’s habits in dwelling video games versus on the street present no consolation. He began no large gamers towards Honduras, which led to just about no possession within the attacking half.
Eddie Johnson, who was actually taking part in extra of a shadow-striker function, and Jermaine Jones, one of many three holding gamers, offered probably the most width in that match. The skin backs’ common positions had been simply as large as they had been towards Costa Rica however farther contained in the defensive half.
That made for almost no attacking choices in San Pedro Sula. Central gamers acquired the ball and had nowhere to go along with it. Two forwards would additionally present an outlet for those self same moments on Tuesday, together with large gamers who can obtain the ball on the break. One striker can play as a extra conventional goal, whereas the opposite can drift into areas beneath him, dropping into midfield to obtain early passes from deep positions.
Absolutely the earliest Klinsmann can take into consideration sitting in and settling for some extent could be halftime. Even 45 minutes is a very long time to face up to the strain Mexico will pour on, in determined want of its first win in qualifying, however any longer could be almost unattainable. Final time, El Tri hit 34 crosses and received 10 nook kicks. If Javier Hernandez’s ending had been as much as its regular commonplace, he would have scored at the very least twice.
Let’s Speak Lineup
Taking the whole lot under consideration, a 4-4-2 with one holding midfielder is the best way to go in Mexico. Jones is unavailable anyway, so beginning Michael Bradley by himself is already extra possible than it will be if Jones had been wholesome. Broad gamers Joe Corona and Graham Zusi are tidy on the ball and may serve properly. Jozy Altidore can reprise his favored function, staying excessive to occupy Mexico’s middle backs, whereas Gomez beneath him can have free roam of the attacking half with Clint Dempsey. The again 4 stays untouched from Friday’s match aside from a swap between Clarence Goodson and Geoff Cameron. Cameron began in that central spot in August, and it was the match wherein he confirmed that he may command the again line within the hostility of Mexico Metropolis.
Lastly, and maybe most significantly, this lineup provides all three Mexican-based gamers an opportunity to carry out in an surroundings they are going to be extra accustomed to than any others on the squad. Setting a staff up for achievement contains placing gamers in positions they know they will handle. Each Mexico and america have lived surprisingly dichotomous lives in qualifying so far, with dwelling and away types contrasting sharply. For the U.S., transferring to a extra constructive sport plan on Tuesday could be a big step towards killing that Jekyll-and-Hyde duality and instilling a successful mentality, irrespective of the place the staff performs.
In any case, the subsequent World Cup just isn’t in america; it’s in Brazil. It’s time the U.S. discovered to win on the street in vital matches.
Liviu Fowl is a contract journalist based mostly in Seattle. Comply with him on Twitter.
