Klinsmann Bought Himself Some Patience With USMNT Win Against Slovenia
By Ty Duffy
These are Midseason Friendlies. The U.S. has looked neither spectacular or coherent. This is normal. No international team looks good during midseason friendlies. The results aren’t relevant. Managers experiment. Players are at differing fitness levels, especially for the U.S. with players on different calendars. Performances have little bearing on what’s to follow. Spain just lost to England and drew at Costa Rica. Guess what? They are still favorites for Euro 2012. These matches are a cash grab for national federations. They serve little soccer purpose. Don’t read anything definitive into them.
This is a Transition Period. Klinsmann wants the U.S. to be attacking and more technically proficient. Like converting from a pro-style offense to the spread in football, this will take time. Players must shift their mindset. More suitable players trained in Mexico or Germany with American eligibility (Johnson, Williams and Chandler) must be found and embedded. Young additions must gain experience. The team must congeal and establish an identity. This doesn’t happen during sporadic midseason exhibitions. Dempsey and Donovan have not even seen the same field yet. Patience is a virtue because it’s hard. Don’t man the lifeboats.
Staring at the Cave Wall. The U.S. fielded two-strikers against Slovenia and Voila! Goals! Chances created! Awesome! If you’re John Harkes, a little English pundit or some unspecified brand of philistine, you have seen enough. The U.S. should play 4-4-2 all the freaking time. The problem with that sentiment is the U.S. had no balance. The created as many problems in back as they solved up front.
Slovenia, with acres of space, created more scoring chances than the U.S. They outshot the U.S. 14-11. They had more shots on target (7-5). They forced more corner kicks (9-5). Luck could easily have swung that match the other way. The disturbing part is the Slovenes weren’t the ideal team to counter that formation. They don’t have extraordinary skill or pace up front. Their 4-4-2 did not offer them a numerical advantage in midfield. Field that formation against Mexico and the result would resemble the Gold Cup Final. Attacking soccer is fun. Effective attacking soccer is built through a sound defense.
The Answer is in Midfield. The U.S. talent at forward and in the back four is what it is. There’s not much quality and little depth. That won’t change before 2014. Where the U.S. has options, versatility and decent talent is midfield. That’s where Klinsmann’s answer must come. It’s where the U.S. must learn to generate attacks. It’s where the U.S. must focus defensively to shield their back four.
Looking there, Michael Bradley was great yesterday. He has rediscovered his sea-legs since stabilizing his club position. He covered ground. He was aggressive and disruptive. His movement and passing were spot on. He is a weapon in an advanced role. The trouble was the U.S. had little cover for his aggression. Kyle Beckerman works hard, is tactically sound and is serviceable. That said, there’s a reason he has been a career MLS player. He’s too small to impose himself physically. He’s not the greatest passer with the ball at his feet. He was frequently caught out trying to defend in space. He can’t be the lone man in a one-man defensive midfield at international level.
[Photo via Getty]