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USA looks to shake World Cup hangover for good against Denmark, Switzerland USA look to shake World Cup hangover for good against Denmark, Switzerland
(about 4 hours later)
Interesting times for Jurgen Klinsmann since the World Cup. The US coach was in typically ebullient form at the recent announcement of the Gold Cup groups in Philadelphia – relishing what in Gold Cup terms is a relatively (and the key word should be “relatively”) difficult draw for this summer’s tournament, but he also had to face one or two questions about what’s been a rather lackluster run since the highs of the Ghana game that opened the World Cup.Interesting times for Jurgen Klinsmann since the World Cup. The US coach was in typically ebullient form at the recent announcement of the Gold Cup groups in Philadelphia – relishing what in Gold Cup terms is a relatively (and the key word should be “relatively”) difficult draw for this summer’s tournament, but he also had to face one or two questions about what’s been a rather lackluster run since the highs of the Ghana game that opened the World Cup.
The subsequent mediocre run of results, characterized by late collapses, has begun to accrue a weight of caveats that might make you wonder why the games were played at all, if they were going to be rendered this meaningless by Klinsmann’s “big picture” advocates.The subsequent mediocre run of results, characterized by late collapses, has begun to accrue a weight of caveats that might make you wonder why the games were played at all, if they were going to be rendered this meaningless by Klinsmann’s “big picture” advocates.
There’s certainly an argument, and in fairness it’s one that Klinsmann would make himself, that there shouldn’t be a drop in intensity, even if it is the start of a new World Cup cycle. But there was a definite sense of a World Cup hangover as 2014 ended with an embarrassing defeat to something of a Republic of Ireland ‘B’ team, while 2015 has opened with a loss in Chile and a rare win, over Panama at the StubHub Center.There’s certainly an argument, and in fairness it’s one that Klinsmann would make himself, that there shouldn’t be a drop in intensity, even if it is the start of a new World Cup cycle. But there was a definite sense of a World Cup hangover as 2014 ended with an embarrassing defeat to something of a Republic of Ireland ‘B’ team, while 2015 has opened with a loss in Chile and a rare win, over Panama at the StubHub Center.
Those two games were played with the traditional MLS-heavy January roster – whereas the squad for this pair of games versus Denmark and Switzerland is, as expected, a far more eclectic affair. There’s the healthy Liga MX contingent, most of the expected Europeans and just five MLS players, now that Clint Dempsey has limped out of camp with a hamstring strain that’s expected to keep him out for the next two to three weeks.Those two games were played with the traditional MLS-heavy January roster – whereas the squad for this pair of games versus Denmark and Switzerland is, as expected, a far more eclectic affair. There’s the healthy Liga MX contingent, most of the expected Europeans and just five MLS players, now that Clint Dempsey has limped out of camp with a hamstring strain that’s expected to keep him out for the next two to three weeks.
While unfortunate for Dempsey and his club side Seattle, his absence does mean that there’s the potential for a more detailed look at Gyassi Zardes as Klinsmann reshapes his attack. Zardes was one of the bright spots of the last team camp. He’s still raw, but his decision-making was much improved last season with LA Galaxy (amazing what being within shouting distance of Robbie Keane can do for a young player), which allied with his natural speed and touch, could make him a potent option in the cycle to come – and definitely someone Klinsmann might hope to coax to a peak in this summer’s Gold Cup.While unfortunate for Dempsey and his club side Seattle, his absence does mean that there’s the potential for a more detailed look at Gyassi Zardes as Klinsmann reshapes his attack. Zardes was one of the bright spots of the last team camp. He’s still raw, but his decision-making was much improved last season with LA Galaxy (amazing what being within shouting distance of Robbie Keane can do for a young player), which allied with his natural speed and touch, could make him a potent option in the cycle to come – and definitely someone Klinsmann might hope to coax to a peak in this summer’s Gold Cup.
Elsewhere in the squad, Rubio Rubin gets another chance to alter the underwhelming impression of his various post World Cup cameos, while Jozy Altidore will be hoping to carry his promising start at Toronto back into his international form.Elsewhere in the squad, Rubio Rubin gets another chance to alter the underwhelming impression of his various post World Cup cameos, while Jozy Altidore will be hoping to carry his promising start at Toronto back into his international form.
It’s perhaps at the back that the most intrigue lies though. Brek Shea has attracted positive notices from his national team coach for his deployment as a wing back in Orlando, and Klinsmann will be hopeful Shea can finally steady in Florida and fulfill a potential that looked to have got lost somewhere in the Potteries.It’s perhaps at the back that the most intrigue lies though. Brek Shea has attracted positive notices from his national team coach for his deployment as a wing back in Orlando, and Klinsmann will be hopeful Shea can finally steady in Florida and fulfill a potential that looked to have got lost somewhere in the Potteries.
Klinsmann may also make sure Shea is seated next to DeAndre Yedlin in the locker room. Yedlin has just arrived with Tottenham, but is already experiencing the harsh realities of expectation and standards in the Premier League as he fights to come anywhere near the bench let alone the first team. Yedlin’s taken the type of route Klinsmann expects his players to pursue, given the chance, and while he adjusts such national team check-ins as he can get will be a key part of his development. And if things don’t work out as planned, the likes of Shea show there are routes through the wilderness.Klinsmann may also make sure Shea is seated next to DeAndre Yedlin in the locker room. Yedlin has just arrived with Tottenham, but is already experiencing the harsh realities of expectation and standards in the Premier League as he fights to come anywhere near the bench let alone the first team. Yedlin’s taken the type of route Klinsmann expects his players to pursue, given the chance, and while he adjusts such national team check-ins as he can get will be a key part of his development. And if things don’t work out as planned, the likes of Shea show there are routes through the wilderness.
Watch the endgameWatch the endgame
On a more general note, the ongoing rumbling about appropriate levels of fitness for the US doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. According to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, Klinsmann was reportedly rebuffed by MLS teams when he tried to ask for fitness monitoring tests of US players before the league’s opening weekend – reminiscent of the demands he made on Bundesliga players during his tenure as German coach.On a more general note, the ongoing rumbling about appropriate levels of fitness for the US doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. According to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, Klinsmann was reportedly rebuffed by MLS teams when he tried to ask for fitness monitoring tests of US players before the league’s opening weekend – reminiscent of the demands he made on Bundesliga players during his tenure as German coach.
For Klinsmann, fitness is also a matter of intensity – he wants to see players play more games at the type of frequency found in Europe. Yet given the differing stages of the season his various players are at (Minnesota’s Miguel Ibarra, for example, is actually in NASL pre-season), getting all the cycles to mesh is always going to be a difficult task, and that’s understandable.For Klinsmann, fitness is also a matter of intensity – he wants to see players play more games at the type of frequency found in Europe. Yet given the differing stages of the season his various players are at (Minnesota’s Miguel Ibarra, for example, is actually in NASL pre-season), getting all the cycles to mesh is always going to be a difficult task, and that’s understandable.
What’s less understandable is this team’s propensity to give up late goals, and that’s something Klinsmann (and his critics) will be watching carefully over these two games. Whether it’s through lack of concentration or fitness, the number of late goals the US have conceded has gone beyond a statistical aberration to be a matter of real concern.What’s less understandable is this team’s propensity to give up late goals, and that’s something Klinsmann (and his critics) will be watching carefully over these two games. Whether it’s through lack of concentration or fitness, the number of late goals the US have conceded has gone beyond a statistical aberration to be a matter of real concern.
And if it seems premature to be talking of concerns with the 2018 World Cup three years away, in some ways it’s later than you think. Winning this summer’s Gold Cup would guarantee the US a slot in the 2017 Confederations Cup – a key plank in Klinsmann’s 2018 strategy. Anything less in July and he’s pitched into a playoff for that slot. With next year’s centenary Copa America and Olympics coming up too, the rolling effect of the national team schedule is to begun squeezing significance earlier and earlier into the cycle. These games are friendlies, but there’s a definite competitive edge creeping in.And if it seems premature to be talking of concerns with the 2018 World Cup three years away, in some ways it’s later than you think. Winning this summer’s Gold Cup would guarantee the US a slot in the 2017 Confederations Cup – a key plank in Klinsmann’s 2018 strategy. Anything less in July and he’s pitched into a playoff for that slot. With next year’s centenary Copa America and Olympics coming up too, the rolling effect of the national team schedule is to begun squeezing significance earlier and earlier into the cycle. These games are friendlies, but there’s a definite competitive edge creeping in.
US roster for games against Denmark and SwitzerlandUS roster for games against Denmark and Switzerland
Goalkeepers: Cody Cropper (Southampton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)Goalkeepers: Cody Cropper (Southampton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)
Defenders: Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)Defenders: Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Julian Green (Hamburg), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Danny Williams (Reading FC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Julian Green (Hamburg), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Danny Williams (Reading FC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht)Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht)