Mixed Debut

Last night marked the debut on new US Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann in a friendly (exhibition) against rival Mexico.  After 10 days on the job, the man who has been touted as the savior of US soccer had to face a team that had embarrassed us a little over 6 weeks ago in the Gold Cup final and the only other soccer power in CONCACAF.  It was definitely going to be a tough task. 

As the match grew closer, pundits tried to bring expectations down a bit.  Both Alexi Lalas and Taylor Twellman said on ESPN's pregame coverage that it was not so much the result but the style that mattered.  This was the first sign that we had taken a step forward as a footballing nation.  Under Bradley style was sacrificed for results.  Now that is not something to complain about; Bradley took US soccer to the top of a World Cup group; he took the team to a new level of respect internationally.  However, his short sighted approach and his lack of tactical flexibility had taken the team as far as it was going to go.  This year's Gold Cup was an example of that: we had one way to play and it was to defend in numbers and hopefully get a goal on the counter-attack.  Unfortunately, because Bradley had taken every match one at a time this meant our defense consisted of players who had a few too many caps and way too few.  Mexico tore this to shreds.  So, last night's match would be a great barometer on how Klinsmann's style would hold up and change the side.  The result didn't matter because he had 10 days and 3 practices to put in his system.

The first half the style was not there.  Many of the players starting were stalwarts under Bradley and the same Bradley problems plagued the team.  We could not keep possession for long spells, and when they did it was just outside of our own 18 yard box, not on the Mexican side of the halfway line.  It was almost impossible to get the ball forward because there was no link.  Just like under Bradley our lone striker was useless because no one could get the ball into the final third by doing anything but hoofing a long pass up there and hoping he could fend of 3 defenders.  As a result the halftime whistle blew with 0 shots on goal for the US.  While the goal conceded could be chalked up to bad luck, the team was lucky to not be down more than 1.  Mexico deserved the lead.

The second half was much more promising.  It started the same as the first half: Mexico possessing, probing, looking the most likely to score.  Then Klinsmann went to his bench.  He brought on two players Bradley either completely failed to utilize (Brek Shea) or used poorly (Juan Agudelo who was always either a lone striker or alone on a wing under Bradley).  These two proved to be crucial in implementing Klinsmann's style onto the game.  Immediately the squad began pinging the ball around with series of one touch passes.  The triangle game was there.  The US kept possession; we kept it well into Mexico's half.  After that we took control of the game and it began to look like a goal for Sam's Army was inevitable.  And that goal did come.  It was a beautiful move of short passes and individual skill that led to Shea teeing up Robbie Rogers with a snappy cross along the ground for an unmarked shot from 2 yards out to a wide open goal.  Ironically Rogers came on for son of the former coach, Michael Bradley.  Is this a sign or a coincidence? 

Michael has been a great player and there is certainly a role for him as more of a midfield enforcer, but he symbolizes his father's game plan: defend then long ball.  Klinsmann wants to play more like Spain than a mid-table Premiere league squad.  The question was do we have the players who can play that style.  Last night answered that partly: you have to be able to play like that if you want a spot in Klinsmann's team.  Obviously, one game is no judge of how the Klinsmann era will play out.  However, last night's second half showed we can play like he wants us to for spells, but we have a long way to go.  He's only been on the job for 11 days and there are two more good tests coming up for the German in the next month or so.  Those two games will be more telling, but the attitude is certainly right: he wants players to fit his style, not the other way around.  That style is what is needed for the next level of success (see Spain, FC Barcelona).