United States Gold Cup: Clint Dempsey's Still Got It, Gyasi Zardes, Too

Although it hasn’t exactly been the prettiest, most-memorable 180 minutes of soccer ever played, the United States did what it needed to do in its first two matches of the 2015 Gold Cup. Narrow wins over Honduras and Haiti ensured a first-place finish in Group A, rendering Monday night’s game vs. Panama in Kansas City (9:30 p.m., FS1) into something where the most-important thing is players avoiding injuries or red cards. Panama, a finalist in 2013, needs some sort of result to advance following draws in its first two games.

Jurgen Klinsmann made seven changes to the starting lineup between the Honduras and Haiti matches — mostly through necessity given a two-day break and long flight from Dallas to Boston. Only Brad Guzan, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey started both. Tonight is only a two-day rest, too, so fitness levels might dictate the XI more than form in the first two games. I’d imagine both Bradley and Dempsey have warranted breaks. The upside, winning Group A means the U.S. doesn’t play again until Saturday in Baltimore.

Through the first two matches here are a few noteworthy observations:

CONCACAF continues to improve: Each qualifying cycle the United States and Mexico still start will one foot firmly planted in the World Cup, but the rest of the region is steadily improving. Honduras, which qualified in 2014, pressed the United States rather than putting 10 players behind the ball. Haiti used its speed to disrupt the U.S. defense. Neither team looked intimidated and had clear chances to take all three points. Mexico, which isn’t far removed from struggling to qualify for Brazil last summer, drew Guatemala 0-0 Sunday night.

MLS has certainly helped change the face of U.S. soccer, but it’s done so in the region as well. Over 25 players on Gold Cup rosters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) play in MLS, the number increases to close to 40 when you add in the United States lower divisions and colleges. Interestingly enough only a handful of non-Mexican or non-American players in the tournament play professionally in Mexico.

For whatever it’s worth, Andy Najar — who looked fantastic for Honduras vs. the U.S. — came up through the D.C. United youth teams after moving to America as a teenager.

There will still be plenty of walkovers for the United States in CONCACAF, namely the first rounds of qualification, but 12-team field for the Gold Cup is comparatively strong.

The CONCACAF officiating, of course, remains as suspect as ever.

Gyasi Zardes is the new fan favorite: Talk about impact sub: Zardes came on at halftime for Jozy Altidore (more on him in a second) and immediately carved up the Haiti left side and set up Clint Dempsey (more on him, too) for the game’s only goal. In barely seven months Zardes went from an unknown — outside MLS circles — to the player many U.S. fans want to see the most. Not bad, right?

The question going forward is whether Klinsmann will run him out there at striker, rather than a left-sided midfield as the tournament progresses. Per ESPN FC, Klinsmann said it’s a “joy to work” with Zardes, so we can safely assume, for now, the 23-year-old Galaxy player is squarely in the plans heading toward 2018.

Clint’s still got it: I’ll eat a helping of crow here. A couple weeks ago I surmised the U.S. could still function at the Gold Cup if Dempsey ended up suspended for his actions during the U.S. Open Cup. When you’re wrong you’re wrong: Dempsey’s play and production made the idea of phasing him out (with an eye on 2018) immediately look dumb. Without Dempsey’s nous and knack for being in the right back in the opponent’s penalty area these first two games would look a lot different for the U.S.

Sports can often be funny. A couple weeks ago there were questions about Dempsey’s future. Now he’s up to 44 career goals for the U.S. and we’re asking if he’ll catch Landon Donovan’s record of 57 before it’s all said and done.

An angry, motivated Clint Dempsey is a good thing for the United States.

Oh Jozy: To put it kindly, Altidore wasn’t at his best vs. Haiti putting forth the type of performance that Sunderland fans remember fondly could despairingly relate to. As I wrote before the tournament, when Altidore is on he looks like a fantastic player, when he struggles the social media knives come out.

Both Dempsey and Altidore entered the tournament with some questions about their place in the lineup. Klinsmann clearly rated both veterans, giving them each two starts on short rest. Dempsey responded, Altidore didn’t. We know Zardes warrants a more time for the U.S. closer to goal. Aron Jóhannsson is a borderline starter, while Jordan Morris and Juan Agudelo are waiting in the wings.

Let’s see how Altidore — who, to be fair, injured his hamstring in May — responds. Given the injury Altidore should be rest vs. Panama.

Yeah … guess we need to talk about the defense: Klinsmann’s tried two different back fours in the two matches: Fabian Johnson, Ventura Alvarado, John Brook sand Timmy Chandler vs. Honduras and then Greg Garza, Tim Ream, Omar Gonzalez and Brad Evans against Haiti. The results? More questions than answers as the new-look units looked — as expected — like guys who’d never played alongside one another. Each unit struggled in 1-v-1 situations, a disturbing trend but did only allow one actual goal. Fortunately both opponents settled, mostly, for long-range shots and Brad Guzan was there to clean up whatever else.

Of the eight defenders listed, Johnson is the closest to automatic starter, however he’s still better as an attacking player moving forward than straight up defending and can also play on the right. (Garza is solid enough to warrant an extended look at left back.) Tonight’s game vs. Panama might not carry much weight, but it’s another 90 minutes for some combination of these players to acclimate themselves to one another and prove points to Klinsmann.

Gridiron’d: The long-rumored centenary Copa America may or may not be coming to the United States in 2016, in the wake of the FIFA scandal. There hasn’t been official word either way. If it does come, figure the games will be played at massive NFL stadiums vs. smaller soccer-specific grounds because … $$$$.

Friday night’s U.S./Haiti game in Foxborough reminded us that games on temporarily installed grass fields look terrible on television and must be awful for players. But again, with the ticket sales available for places like Baltimore, Seattle, Atlanta, Indianapolis, etc. there is too much money on the table to worry about these sort of issues.

[Photo via USA Today Sports Images]