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Version 5 Version 6
USA 4-0 Costa Rica: Copa América – as it happened USA 4-0 Costa Rica: Copa América – as it happened
(about 1 month later)
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Post-game thoughts: And the US are (temporarily) top of the group. It’s perhaps a testament to how the players feel about their coach that they put in that performance tonight. A great reaction for a team under pressure while hosting a tournament. Costa Rica were great for the first five minutes and largely absent for the next 85, a strange performance from a team that have shown they can raise their games on the big stage. Jones, Johnson and Dempsey were excellent for the US. And now it’s Paraguay next - on this evidence, the US should have few troubles.Post-game thoughts: And the US are (temporarily) top of the group. It’s perhaps a testament to how the players feel about their coach that they put in that performance tonight. A great reaction for a team under pressure while hosting a tournament. Costa Rica were great for the first five minutes and largely absent for the next 85, a strange performance from a team that have shown they can raise their games on the big stage. Jones, Johnson and Dempsey were excellent for the US. And now it’s Paraguay next - on this evidence, the US should have few troubles.
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FULL TIME: USA 4-0 COSTA RICAFULL TIME: USA 4-0 COSTA RICA
The US finish things off with a free-kick on the edge of the area. Johnson will take ... but it smacks into the wall and out for a coner. That will not be taken - the ref (and Costa Rica) have seen enough and the whistle is blown.The US finish things off with a free-kick on the edge of the area. Johnson will take ... but it smacks into the wall and out for a coner. That will not be taken - the ref (and Costa Rica) have seen enough and the whistle is blown.
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90 min +2: Guzan saves well - Jurgen looks a bit sad on the bench. Cheer up man! You’ve still got a job! Yedlin scuffs a shot wide in the area - Costa Rica have all but given up now.90 min +2: Guzan saves well - Jurgen looks a bit sad on the bench. Cheer up man! You’ve still got a job! Yedlin scuffs a shot wide in the area - Costa Rica have all but given up now.
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90 min: Three minutes of added time for Costa Rica to score five goals and pull off a shock win.90 min: Three minutes of added time for Costa Rica to score five goals and pull off a shock win.
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89 min: Oscar Ramirez on the Costa Rica bench looks like he’s going to cry. This is not the team who reached the World Cup quarter-finals.89 min: Oscar Ramirez on the Costa Rica bench looks like he’s going to cry. This is not the team who reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
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GOAL! USA 4-0 Costa Rica (Zusi 86)GOAL! USA 4-0 Costa Rica (Zusi 86)
It’s a good one too. Well, not for Costa Rica who lost the ball outside their own area. Wondolowski steals the ball, Zusi streaks away towards goal with it and finishes calmly past Pemberton.It’s a good one too. Well, not for Costa Rica who lost the ball outside their own area. Wondolowski steals the ball, Zusi streaks away towards goal with it and finishes calmly past Pemberton.
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86 min: Zusi is brought down on the edge of the area, and the US have a free-kick to the right of goal. Bradley steps up to take - he beats the wall but diving header from Costa Rica clears the danger.86 min: Zusi is brought down on the edge of the area, and the US have a free-kick to the right of goal. Bradley steps up to take - he beats the wall but diving header from Costa Rica clears the danger.
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84 min: Costa Rica have a free-kick from around 30 yards out. It’s floated into the area, and the ball is then tapped across goal. It just needs someone to tap the ball home but no one can exploit. That sums up their evening.84 min: Costa Rica have a free-kick from around 30 yards out. It’s floated into the area, and the ball is then tapped across goal. It just needs someone to tap the ball home but no one can exploit. That sums up their evening.
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83 min: Brooks is booked for clipping the heels of Ruiz. Brooks grins - but remember kids, play the game fair. Unless you can get away with cheating. Beckerman comes on for Bedoya, who is feeling that knock he took earlier.83 min: Brooks is booked for clipping the heels of Ruiz. Brooks grins - but remember kids, play the game fair. Unless you can get away with cheating. Beckerman comes on for Bedoya, who is feeling that knock he took earlier.
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81 min: Jones lobs the ball into the path of Zusi who is tearing into the box but Pemberton is there first. Bedoya is down after a painful knock to his leg. Looks like it’s not serious though.81 min: Jones lobs the ball into the path of Zusi who is tearing into the box but Pemberton is there first. Bedoya is down after a painful knock to his leg. Looks like it’s not serious though.
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78 min: Dempsey is off for Wondolowski. Typically brilliant from Dempsey - he’s run himself into the ground and took his penalty really well. What a career he’s had for the US.78 min: Dempsey is off for Wondolowski. Typically brilliant from Dempsey - he’s run himself into the ground and took his penalty really well. What a career he’s had for the US.
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76 min: The attendance is 39,000 (Soldier Field has a capacity of 61,000). A shame as the US have been brilliant tonight. “Bedoya and Zusi at the same time - too many buns in the oven,” chuckles Elliott Turner.76 min: The attendance is 39,000 (Soldier Field has a capacity of 61,000). A shame as the US have been brilliant tonight. “Bedoya and Zusi at the same time - too many buns in the oven,” chuckles Elliott Turner.
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74 min: GOAA... No. Zardes thinks he’s scored as the ball is played across the face of the goal with the keeper horribly stranded. But Calvo darts in to clear for a corner. Good defending.74 min: GOAA... No. Zardes thinks he’s scored as the ball is played across the face of the goal with the keeper horribly stranded. But Calvo darts in to clear for a corner. Good defending.
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71 min: We have our first sub for the US. Zusi comes on for Wood, who has been a real pest (in a good way) for the US. He was starting to get in the face of some of his opponents though and maybe Klinsmann thought it was best to take him off before he got himself into trouble.71 min: We have our first sub for the US. Zusi comes on for Wood, who has been a real pest (in a good way) for the US. He was starting to get in the face of some of his opponents though and maybe Klinsmann thought it was best to take him off before he got himself into trouble.
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68 min: Costa Rica’s best chance! A header cannons off the post but the flag had been raised for offside anyway. At the other end, Wood has a good shout for a penalty but the ref waves play on.68 min: Costa Rica’s best chance! A header cannons off the post but the flag had been raised for offside anyway. At the other end, Wood has a good shout for a penalty but the ref waves play on.
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65 min: Dempsey is down and looks hurt - his arm thrown across his face. But he’s bounced up again and is OK to continue. The game is all but won - maybe time to bring off some of the better US players?65 min: Dempsey is down and looks hurt - his arm thrown across his face. But he’s bounced up again and is OK to continue. The game is all but won - maybe time to bring off some of the better US players?
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62 min: Costa Rica’s lack of urgency is puzzling considering they’re pretty much out if the scoreline stays this way. They do win a corner though - a fine challenge from Jones caused it as Costa Rica shaped up for a cross.62 min: Costa Rica’s lack of urgency is puzzling considering they’re pretty much out if the scoreline stays this way. They do win a corner though - a fine challenge from Jones caused it as Costa Rica shaped up for a cross.
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60 min: If smoking was still acceptable in public places (and among professional athletes) the US would be sitting down and having a nice cigarette right now and maybe a cheap scotch.60 min: If smoking was still acceptable in public places (and among professional athletes) the US would be sitting down and having a nice cigarette right now and maybe a cheap scotch.
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56 min: Borges rips into the box but Brooks and Johnson do enough to put him off and he shoots over. Wood, who is a fiery scrapper, has been tangling with the Costa Ricans. Maybe time to take him off before he gets himself into trouble.56 min: Borges rips into the box but Brooks and Johnson do enough to put him off and he shoots over. Wood, who is a fiery scrapper, has been tangling with the Costa Ricans. Maybe time to take him off before he gets himself into trouble.
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53 min: Costa Rica, for a team that is 3-0 down don’t look too urgent. They do sky a shot over but Guzan barely bothers to watch it sail into the evening sky. “Trying to figure out how to watch a 3-0 game,” says Rob Richardson. “Do I read the paper at the same time? Do I grade papers? Maybe a crossword or Suduko? I actually ice my knees while watching sports so I can act like I might still play a game.” I think the US team could do a sudoku and still win this game.53 min: Costa Rica, for a team that is 3-0 down don’t look too urgent. They do sky a shot over but Guzan barely bothers to watch it sail into the evening sky. “Trying to figure out how to watch a 3-0 game,” says Rob Richardson. “Do I read the paper at the same time? Do I grade papers? Maybe a crossword or Suduko? I actually ice my knees while watching sports so I can act like I might still play a game.” I think the US team could do a sudoku and still win this game.
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50 min: Guza, who didn’t have to do too much in the first 45 minutes, comes out to gather a cross. As a Villa player it must be an odd situation to be up 3-0 at halftime.50 min: Guza, who didn’t have to do too much in the first 45 minutes, comes out to gather a cross. As a Villa player it must be an odd situation to be up 3-0 at halftime.
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48 min: The cheers ring around Soldier Field - this half should be a procession for the US. Will we see Pulisic come on with the game won?48 min: The cheers ring around Soldier Field - this half should be a procession for the US. Will we see Pulisic come on with the game won?
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46 min: Salvatierra and Azofeifa are on. Campbell has been subbed off. Very odd decision - he’d been pretty good.46 min: Salvatierra and Azofeifa are on. Campbell has been subbed off. Very odd decision - he’d been pretty good.
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Meanwhile, at Adidas (or should that be Addiddaas?):Meanwhile, at Adidas (or should that be Addiddaas?):
Seriously, @adidasfootball - IT'S COLOMBIA, not Columbia! Colossal mistake for such a brand. Unacceptable @adidasCO pic.twitter.com/Xvapv2i2RDSeriously, @adidasfootball - IT'S COLOMBIA, not Columbia! Colossal mistake for such a brand. Unacceptable @adidasCO pic.twitter.com/Xvapv2i2RD
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Half time emails:Half time emails:
Scott Bassett: “After that wobbly start, I had begun to worry the Costa Rica blitz was going to work and work well, but my goodness this comeback has been rampage-riffic!”Scott Bassett: “After that wobbly start, I had begun to worry the Costa Rica blitz was going to work and work well, but my goodness this comeback has been rampage-riffic!”
Me (I get lonely and email myself): “Sunil Gulati should threaten to fire Jurgen every week!”Me (I get lonely and email myself): “Sunil Gulati should threaten to fire Jurgen every week!”
JR in Illinois: “You have a girlfriend and spice rack? What a show off. Anyway, tell your girlfriend to forget about the bay leaves. As far as I’m concerned they don’t do anything at all.”JR in Illinois: “You have a girlfriend and spice rack? What a show off. Anyway, tell your girlfriend to forget about the bay leaves. As far as I’m concerned they don’t do anything at all.”
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Half-time: USA 3-0 Costa RicaHalf-time: USA 3-0 Costa Rica
Against Colombia, the US had 61% possession in the first half - and no shots on target. Suffice to say, they’ve done better with their chances this half. The pace and ferocity they’ve attacked Costa Rica with in this half has been brilliant. And the finishing incisive too. An excellent, excellent half (if you’re not Costa Rican.Against Colombia, the US had 61% possession in the first half - and no shots on target. Suffice to say, they’ve done better with their chances this half. The pace and ferocity they’ve attacked Costa Rica with in this half has been brilliant. And the finishing incisive too. An excellent, excellent half (if you’re not Costa Rican.
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45 min: One minute of added time.45 min: One minute of added time.
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GOAL! USA 3-0 Costa Rica (Wood 41)GOAL! USA 3-0 Costa Rica (Wood 41)
I think Jurgen’s job is safe for just now. Bradley sets up the attack with the most delicious of balls, a sweeping 30 yard thing of beauty. It eventually comes to Wood on the edge of the area, who turns and shoots. Pemberton is beaten at his near post.I think Jurgen’s job is safe for just now. Bradley sets up the attack with the most delicious of balls, a sweeping 30 yard thing of beauty. It eventually comes to Wood on the edge of the area, who turns and shoots. Pemberton is beaten at his near post.
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40 min: A great finish from Jones, but Dempsey tore into Costa Rica in the build-up: he was at his rampaging best there. A fine game from the veteran so far. My girlfriend is asking me where various spices and herbs are in the kitchen as I attempt to cover this game. If you know where the chili flakes and bay leaves are, please do tell her. I’m fairly sure they’re in the spice rack though.40 min: A great finish from Jones, but Dempsey tore into Costa Rica in the build-up: he was at his rampaging best there. A fine game from the veteran so far. My girlfriend is asking me where various spices and herbs are in the kitchen as I attempt to cover this game. If you know where the chili flakes and bay leaves are, please do tell her. I’m fairly sure they’re in the spice rack though.
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GOAL! USA 2-0 Costa Rica (Jones 37)GOAL! USA 2-0 Costa Rica (Jones 37)
Jones curls one from the edge of the area that just misses. A fine effort. Then he scores seconds later! A counter-attack from the US: Dempsey lays it off to Jones, who lasers his shot past the keeper from the edge of the area. Brilliant finishJones curls one from the edge of the area that just misses. A fine effort. Then he scores seconds later! A counter-attack from the US: Dempsey lays it off to Jones, who lasers his shot past the keeper from the edge of the area. Brilliant finish
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34 min: Zardes! Almost. If the goal was ten feet higher. Dempsey lays it off to the Galaxy man, who blazes the ball over. from 10 yards out. Galaxy Man sounds a bit like a superhero. “Are the USA also not the baldest team in the tournament? With Guzan, Brooks & Bradley through he middle, that’s one shiny spine of a team,” asks Scott Bassett. That will come into play as the lights come on too - the glare will be fierce.
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32 min: The US get their first corner after more good work down the left from Johnson, who has been a lively presence so far. But the US are caught offside and Costa Rica regroup.
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29 min: Costa Rica continue to threaten sporadically and Saborio can’t quite get the ball out from under his feet after Campbell sets him up on the edge of the area.
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26 min: Zardes smacks it into the side netting after just beating the offside trap. But the ball was a little too heavy for him and he had to shoot from a steep angle. “Watching in Spanish [free!] and still marveling that the US, Wood perhaps aside, may have the oldest starting team in the Copa,” says Sam in Texas. “How long can they keep on this way? Purely [mostly] rhetorical question.” They just need to bring on Christian Pulisic, 3, and they’ll get their average age down by a few years.
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23 min: Johnson flies in to intercept a ball that almost catches Guzan out. Sharp defending, right there although the Villa keeper probably had it covered.
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21 min: Wood charges forward and then tries to chip the ball into Bedoya. But Bedoya is minding his own business elsewhere and the ball sails through to Pemberton in the Costa Rica goal. “Surely I can’t be the only one who, when seeing Joel Campbell, can only think of his heinous dive against the US in 2013 to get Matt Besler suspended,” says JR in Illinois. “I’m not even a USA supporter but I’ll never forgive Campbell for that.”
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18 min: Costa Rica are playing keep ball, they’ve still had the better of the game (the small matter of the goal aside). Saborio replaces Urena, who looks to have injured hid shoulder after falling awkwardly.
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15 min: Yedlin loses the ball before tearing back to win the ball. He’s been enthusiastic this game - and did well in the lead up to the penalty - but has looked a little suspect at the back.
happy 50, #deuceface! RT @ussoccer: GOAL! @clint_dempsey converts the penalty for his 50th career score! #USAvCRC pic.twitter.com/63dGk73iSI
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13 min: Now Jones surges forward clipping it to Johnson on the wing. He plays a nice ball in to Zardes’s feet in the area (the rest of Zardes is in the area too, there wasn’t some hideous dismemberment beforehand) but the forward can’t control the pass.
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11 min: Well, that should settle US nerves after an iffy start. It was a great build-up to the penalty with some intelligent, calm passing. The best spell of play from the US this tournament. It was also Dempsey’s 50th goal for his country.
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GOAL! USA 1-0 Costa Rica (Dempsey, pen 8)
Dempsey is made to wait as the keeper chats about the weather with the ref. But it’s a lovely penalty, low to the keeper’s left and into the far corner.
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Penalty to the US!
The US get it out of their half for the first time and there’s some nice play on the edge of the area before a cross is heaved in from Yedlin. Wood is clearly pushed and the ref points to the spot.
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6 min: Not great for the US so far. Some nervy defending in the area, mainly consisting of thrashing wildly at the ball in an attempt to clear it. Campbell then latches on to a laughable clearance from Yedlin and screws the ball wide. But not by much.
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3 min: Campbell swing a cross-shot in from the right, which Guzan gathers comfortably. Some early pressure from Los Ticos here - they need a win as much as the US do with Colombia up next.
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1 min: And we’re off. The US in black and Costa Rica in white, which should keep things simple. And some early support for Klinsmann too:
“Fire Klinsmann” banner hanging in lower corner of Soldier Field #USAvCRC
Tom Dart is at Soldier Field and has an update on the atmosphere: “Good noise from the USA fans behind the goals. All the same, a poor crowd - one of the upper tiers along the side is completely empty. It’s also relatively cold - only 60F.”
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01:04
Will the organizers manage to play the correct national anthems? The Costa Rica one appears to be right - Los Ticos are singing along anyway. It’s a jaunty number too with plenty of strings. The US anthem is also played correctly too! Two out of two Copa America! Well done!
There are gaps in the stands, by the way. It would appear Jay Cutler is a bigger draw than Brad Guzan.
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1.00am BST
01:00
The teams are out on the field. There was a delay as Costa Rica left the US waiting as the teams gather in the tunnel, the wily Ticos. Jürgen looks cheery, shaking hands - if he’s feeling the pressure he’s doing a good job of disguising it. The ref, Roger Zambrano of Ecuador, is ripped by the way. Do not talk back to this man if he books you.
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The Fox panel all say a USA win tonight - the consensus is that the US will perform with their backs against the wall, and a home crowd to cheer them on. I’m going for a 1-1 draw myself, Costa Rica are a hard team to beat and I didn’t see too much creativity for the US against Colombia last week.
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A video of some men in tracksuits walking on a field, on which some of the same men will be running about later:
The #USMNT has arrived at @SoldierField for #USAvCRC. pic.twitter.com/JajeDueb2h
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00:32
The obligatory post where I have to pull out a fact about Costa Rica and note that it doesn’t have an army (side note: America does have an army). As for their football team, if your job as a coach was on the line this isn’t a team you would necessarily want to face. In the last World Cup they didn’t do much, except win a group compromising of three former World Cup winners (Italy, England and Uruguay) before beating a former European champion (on penalties, Greece) and only going out on penalties to Holland. That meant they didn’t lose a single game in regulation in the 2014 World Cup. They’re also undefeated in World Cup qualifying for 2018, with three wins a draw. So, absolutely no danger of defeat here for the US.
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00:23
Is Klinsmann’s job in danger? Sunil Gulati, the silver fox of football administrators, met with reporters before tonight’s game to discuss the coach’s future. And while Jürgen shouldn’t be skimming the Big Book of Job Ads just yet, it’s pretty clear he could be in trouble if the US don’t get out of the group stage in this tournament. The Washington Post has the interview in detail but here’s Gulati on Klinsmann:
Results are what matter and everyone understands that. Results of the last 18 months overall haven’t been what we would have hoped for, especially in the official competitions. We had some good results last spring that were friendlies, we had some wins coming into this event, but it’s the official competitions that matter the most and we haven’t been up to where we would like to be. We will look at everything after this competition.
Not exactly a glowing endorsement ...
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00:14
Tonight, I think, we see how good the US are in this tournament. I was at the opener against Colombia and the US were thoroughly outplayed. But then again - according to Fifa at least - Colombia are one of the five best teams in the world, so what do you expect? Well, maybe a bit more creativity from the US but it was disaster to lose to Colombia. Tonight though? Against Costa Rica on home soil? A draw is the very least they should achieve.
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The teams
Good evening, and early team news from Chicago. The US will start with the same XI that took on Colombia to not great effect:
Here is the #USMNT Starting XI for #USAvCRC. #Copa100 pic.twitter.com/gLsnTIEOYb
While Costa Rica win the opening skirmish with a tweet that scrolls through their line-up in real time. They’ve won me over already (NOTE: ALL COMMENTARY TONIGHT WILL BE IMPARTIAL):
Así alinea #LaSele esta noche para enfrentar a @ussoccer, en su segundo juego en #CopaAmerica #VamosTicos @CA2016 pic.twitter.com/kW7Sm3gw15
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19:08
Tom will be here shortly. In the meantime have a look at Tom Dart’s preview of tonight’s match:
At [Jürgen Klinsmann’s] press conference on Monday he came close to sounding like the the coach of a youth programme where even the losers get a participation medal when he said he was pleased with the “good” performance.
If the Colombia loss was “totally even” apart from the score, as Klinsmann told reporters on Friday, that seemed mainly a function of a risk-averse opponent looking content to sit on their 2-0 half-time lead against a team that lacked a coherent attack.
Though a defeat to one of the world’s best teams in which both goals came from isolated individual errors is hardly cause for self-flagellation, there is no column in the standings called “mitigating circumstances”. Right now, the US are bottom of the four-team group and Klinsmann will ultimately be judged on his results with the same kind of uncompromising ruthlessness that he applies to his young players.
But Costa Rica and Paraguay could only draw 0-0 in their opening Group A game in Orlando on Saturday, so a win on Tuesday would put the Americans in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals. And neither country is as daunting as Colombia.
While there was a natural tendency to attach profound importance to the opening game of not only the group but the entire competition, Tuesday’s is the pivotal occasion. How Klinsmann’s charges fare against an eminently beatable side is a far stronger portent of whether they will achieve the bare minimum: progressing out of the group.
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