(Editorial) – Jermaine Jones summed it up well: “We’re not happy. It’s bad.” The United States fell to arch rival Mexico 3-2 in extra time on Saturday night in the CONCACAF Cup. In doing so, they have qualified for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.
El Tri held 56% possession and outshot their opponents by a factor of two. The USMNT adjusted after a poor opening 15 minutes defensively. After playing to 1-1 after 90 minutes, a wild extra time period resulted in a loss. There are plenty of story lines and things to talk about with this result, how it happened, and where the USMNT program goes from here. Then there’s the growing movement of fans who want Jurgen Klinsmann replaced.
I had the pleasure of taking in the match from the Rose Bowl’s South Press Box. Here are my key thoughts on the match and what this means for the future of the USMNT:
Mexico created every goal from their right:
Any analysis of USA-Mexico has to start with the contrasting game plans. From the opening whistle, it was clear that Mexico came to possess and attack. The Yanks chose to sit and absorb pressure.
Poor defensive spacing and flank play resulted in the opening goal. DaMarcus Beasley got caught up field, leaving Oribe Peralta open. Kyle Beckerman and Matt Besler both went for Peralta and neither got there in time. At that point, both were out of position and behind the play. One quick pass by Raúl Jiménez and suddenly two men were in on goal with Fabian Johnson being the closest defender, at 10 yards away. It was an easy finish for Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández. That was his first goal against the USMNT, by the way.
Interim manager Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti opted for three strikers up top. It gave the USMNT fits all night. The Yanks did settle down after conceding and the defensive shape got better as the game went on. Still every time Mexico created something dangerous, it was by attacking to the right with Peralta and Chicharito making runs and pressuring the back line.
Paul Aguilar created the second goal with a well timed run into the box. Beasley and Jones didn’t pick him up. The center backs focused on Chicharito, leaving Peralta open to finish the play
The game winning goalazo from Aguilar was possible because Beasley made a run to pressure Jiménez. Beasley didn’t get to there in time as Jiménez played the ball off to Aguilar who was then unmarked. Cameron called it “a worldie of a goal.” Jones said Peralta would have scored once if he got that chance 10 times.
I say that chance only happened because of an inexcusable decision by a defender. It is fitting that the thing that plagued the USMNT all night led to their demise.
Mexico was better in possession and created more scoring chances. They found a weakness and exploited it. They attacked early and often. The better team won, it’s as simple as that.
The United States Had Substitution Issues:
It was clear in the second half and extra time (before Mexico’s second goal) that the United States needed to change things up. If they weren’t going to change the tactics, they needed some help from the bench.
The USMNT’s first sub came in the 78th minute, when DeAndre Yedlin came on for Gyasi Zardes. Zardes looked tired and Yedlin brought much needed fresh legs and pace. Still, the team could have used it 15 minutes prior. Unlike in previous games, Yedlin did not make an immediate impact. His presence wasn’t felt until extra time as he helped the USMNT come out of their shell. His most significant play was the primary assist on Bobby Wood’s 108th minute goal.
Klinsmann waited until after Mexico’s second goal to make his second sub, bringing Bobby Wood on for Jozy Altidore. While the sub made sense, again it came later than needed. The USMNT created next to nothing offensively in the second half, even after Yedlin came on. It was clear they needed to switch things up at the start of extra time, but Klinsmann waited. Peralta’s goal forced his hand. Perhaps making a sub at the start of extra time would have helped the Yanks possess the ball and create chances, rather than concede.
Johnson was subbed out for Brad Evans later in the match. Klinsmann confirmed after the game that Johnson had an injury and could not go any longer. Klinsmann didn’t have much of a choice at that point. Being forced to burn your last sub on a defender hurt the team. He mentioned wanting to use his last sub to bring on either Chris Wondolowski or Nick Rimando. An attacking sub might have helped create a third goal. Rimando certainly would have been a boost in a potential PK shoot out.
I would have considered subbing in Danny Williams for Beckerman early on in the second half as well. Beckerman did not have a good game and was at fault for the USMNT’s defensive issues. Williams has improved in 2015 and could have helped out defensively and given the midfield some much needed gumption.
The Second Half Game Plan Failed Miserably:
It was clear leading up to the opening goal that the U.S. was in over its head defensively. While the back four was probably the right selection, these four hadn’t played together since the World Cup. Klinsmann’s 10 month experiment with the back line hurt the team’s start. Had these four played together throughout 2015, maybe their spacing and gap control would have been better. Regardless, they improved as the game went on.
Klinsmann should be given credit for two first half adjustments. The U.S. quickly flattened the diamond to a regular 4-4-2 and had Jones and Zardes switch sides of the field. These moves helped the team settle down.
Still, the wing play disappointed. For all Zardes brings in the attack, his defensive marking needs work. That limited Beasley’s ability to go forward. When they were caught up field, Mexico attacked their side. Jones was played out of position out wide. The first half tactical changes helped the wide players defend better. It still wasn’t great.
The Americans did secure their right side better once Yedlin came on. He and Johnson are very familiar with each other. Alejandro Bedoya was kept him out of the match due to an illness. He is arguably the USMNT’s most defensively sound wide midfielder. His presence was missed.
While the Americans stayed organized defensively, there was no offensive plan going into the second half. “We said ‘let’s be as compact as possible,'” said Klinsmann after the match. “What we didn’t do well during the second half was to keep the ball. We ran a lot, we won a lot of balls, but we couldn’t combine. We couldn’t calm the game down,” he added.
This is what cost the USMNT the game. When they were able to keep the ball, it led to hopeless long balls to Jozy Altidore or to Michael Bradley’s feet with no options. The wing players were so compact, they did not push up the field to provide outlets for possession. Possession was lost and Mexico restarted the attack.
There appeared to be no plan on how to attack the Mexican defense. The Americans had very few counters in the second half and didn’t really come alive until they were down a goal in extra time. If there was an offensive strategy, it was executed horribly. This falls clearly on Klinsmann’s shoulders. He did not set his team up to succeed.
One could argue that they parked the bus and played for PKs. When you play not to lose, sometimes you concede. It is very difficult to play defensively for 90+ minutes and then flip the switch to score once you’re down a goal. It’s not a recipe for success and it’s something Klinsmann said in the past he would eliminate. All to often, it’s been the USMNT’s fall back. That doesn’t bode well for Klinsmann’s job security.
Other closing remarks:
1. Center Backs: For all the issues the USMNT had with their center back play this year, fans cannot get mad over the selection of Besler and Cameron. The two haven’t started together since the World Cup. For all their rusty familiarity, they improved tremendously as the game went on. I’ve said for months that Cameron, Besler, and Omar Gonzalez are the three best center backs in the player pool. I think Klinsmann found his first choice pair going forward.
2. Bobby Wood: He’s still coming into his own, but he’s made the most of the opportunities he’s been given. Wood was called up for the first time last fall and was lackluster. It was clear his club situation was affecting his international play. He left a toxic situation at 1860 Munich for 2. Bundesliga side, Union Berlin. He’s now playing regularly and scoring goals. He’s scored 3 goals in 5 USMNT caps in 2015. He might not be ready to start for the first team yet, but Bobby Wood is becoming what we hoped Julian Green would be.
3. Mexico’s Weaknesses: I was baffled that the U.S. never attacked El Tri’s weak points. It was well-known that Rafa Márquez was not 100% coming into this match. The attack never went at him. The midfield battle was mostly Bradley vs. All and it was a slog. Beckerman never contributed to the attack. Jones had a few good moments, but wasn’t great. The Yanks also never went at defenders Héctor Moreno and Aguilar, who both received yellow cards in the first half. This lineup had holes but they were never exploited.
4. Changing Of The Guard: Several veterans had bad games. Dempsey didn’t do enough in the attack. Beckerman and Jones were both questionable. Beasley was involved in all three goals conceded. Klinsmann was complementary of the efforts from the veterans, despite poor performances. He says he won’t cut the cord with them, but will have an open competition with younger players. Some of these guys are past their national team expiration date. The program needs to find the kids who will take their place come 2018.
5. Klinsmann Won’t Be Fired: Yeah, I said it. Sunil Gulati has been consistent on this topic. Klinsmann is safe and they’re looking at the long term process leading up to Russia in 2018. Klinsmann defended himself arguing progress: 2012 was a rebuild. They did well in the Hexagonal and the Gold Cup in 2013. In 2014, they got out of the ‘Group of Death.’ 2015 was a bad year. He can argue results all he wants. Many fans and pundits are doubting performances and the process.
6. Bradley Taking Shots: On several restarts, Bradley opted for taking a direct shot rather than crossing it into a teammate. The General did score an Olimpico back in February. Since then, it seems to me that he takes far too many chances straight at goal. It’s not a bad idea, but it’s becoming a bit predictable. For the U.S. to remain dangerous on set pieces (on of their few weapons), Bradley needs to change it up.
Main photo provided by Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
