Friendly Results Are Underwhelming, But It's Not Time to Fret About Klinsmann

This is an international friendly. These matches are jokes. There’s zero intensity. The results aren’t important. The optimum goal for European-based guys is not to get hurt. Managers experiment with tactics and personnel. Players seldom press or tackle. It’s not a competitive environment. There’s very little that can be read into these games.

This is a transition period. The U.S. has new coaches, new tactics and a new philosophical outlook. They are switching from a punt and pray, end to end style to an attacking style rooted in holding possession and build up play. This is like a football team converting from pro-style to the spread or a basketball team switching from a fast break, transition game to a half-court one. It will take time. Some players will thrive under the new system. Some are inexperienced. Some are, simply, ill-suited. These friendly matches are where Klinsmann must figure that out.

Goals Were Never Plentiful. American buildup play seldom led to goals under Bob Bradley. Generally, the U.S. scored on set pieces or on counterattacks. Learning how to create in the final third, make the appropriate runs and time passes will take experience and repetition. That will take a while.

There are potential reasons for concern about Klinsmann, but the first few friendly results do not provide conclusive evidence for anything. This far into his Germany tenure, he would have been fired. Ultimately, he’ll be judged on the World Cup. Worry when the U.S. is struggling to get there. Qualifying does not start until June.

[Photo via Getty]