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| USA at the Copa América: the team's winners and losers | USA at the Copa América: the team's winners and losers |
| (2 months later) | |
| Winners | Winners |
| Jürgen Klinsmann | Jürgen Klinsmann |
| After the first Colombia loss and before the Costa Rica game, Jürgen Klinsmann was sent the clearest message yet by Sunil Gulati that he needed results to keep his job. After five years during which Gulati and Klinsmann seemed joined at the hip, this was the first indication yet that the head of US Soccer might be prepared to sacrifice his coach and head of technical development before the World Cup qualifying campaign. | After the first Colombia loss and before the Costa Rica game, Jürgen Klinsmann was sent the clearest message yet by Sunil Gulati that he needed results to keep his job. After five years during which Gulati and Klinsmann seemed joined at the hip, this was the first indication yet that the head of US Soccer might be prepared to sacrifice his coach and head of technical development before the World Cup qualifying campaign. |
| We know what happened next – a resounding victory over Costa Rica not only changed the mood around the team, but swept the US to the top of the group after the Paraguay game, once goal differential was factored in. And when Ecuador were beaten in the quarter finals and the team had achieved its pre-tournament benchmark of the semi-finals it was clear that, even with the 4-0 Argentina humiliation, Klinsmann’s job was safe for now. | We know what happened next – a resounding victory over Costa Rica not only changed the mood around the team, but swept the US to the top of the group after the Paraguay game, once goal differential was factored in. And when Ecuador were beaten in the quarter finals and the team had achieved its pre-tournament benchmark of the semi-finals it was clear that, even with the 4-0 Argentina humiliation, Klinsmann’s job was safe for now. |
| And for now, read till 2018. Barring a World Cup qualifying collapse, this moment is realistically the last one where the two-term Klinsmann reign could be ended abruptly before Russia. After the relative personnel stability of this tournament, he may go back to infuriating tinkering in the games to come. The same complaints that have dogged him since the 2014 World Cup may gather momentum again. But having reached the semi-finals of this tournament, whatever the result there, Klinsmann can look to the end of his contract knowing those complaints will be moot. | And for now, read till 2018. Barring a World Cup qualifying collapse, this moment is realistically the last one where the two-term Klinsmann reign could be ended abruptly before Russia. After the relative personnel stability of this tournament, he may go back to infuriating tinkering in the games to come. The same complaints that have dogged him since the 2014 World Cup may gather momentum again. But having reached the semi-finals of this tournament, whatever the result there, Klinsmann can look to the end of his contract knowing those complaints will be moot. |
| Clint Dempsey | Clint Dempsey |
| Deuce is still here. There’s been a sense, since the World Cup, that Clint Dempsey has been on the wane. Some of that perception was perhaps based less on empirical observation of Dempsey’s performances and more on a back-of-the-mind projection of where he would be by the time Russia 2018 came round. | Deuce is still here. There’s been a sense, since the World Cup, that Clint Dempsey has been on the wane. Some of that perception was perhaps based less on empirical observation of Dempsey’s performances and more on a back-of-the-mind projection of where he would be by the time Russia 2018 came round. |
| And there are valid concerns about what will happen when the familiar Dempsey hunger and harrying can not be sustained by aging legs, and what the US will do then. But as Dempsey has reminded us at this tournament, that moment has not yet come. And with the tournament being given a competitive edge it perhaps might not have occupied on Jürgen Klinsmann’s intended developmental arc towards Russia, what with the coach’s job apparently being on the line for the first time since he took it, it’s telling that he didn’t consider making a Donovan-like example of Demspey. He’s still needed. | And there are valid concerns about what will happen when the familiar Dempsey hunger and harrying can not be sustained by aging legs, and what the US will do then. But as Dempsey has reminded us at this tournament, that moment has not yet come. And with the tournament being given a competitive edge it perhaps might not have occupied on Jürgen Klinsmann’s intended developmental arc towards Russia, what with the coach’s job apparently being on the line for the first time since he took it, it’s telling that he didn’t consider making a Donovan-like example of Demspey. He’s still needed. |
| There’s a caveat to thi,s of course. Playing Dempsey as a second striker against Argentina resulted in the Seattle player watching most of the game as a spectator to Argentina possession building around him. There’s still something of a dilemma for Klinsmann about when to trade in the points Dempsey can still earn him in Concacaf qualifiers for the need to build for the future and a Russian campaign that may be a World Cup too far for the player. But with no credible alternatives, Dempsey’s put down a marker for the forseeable future. | There’s a caveat to thi,s of course. Playing Dempsey as a second striker against Argentina resulted in the Seattle player watching most of the game as a spectator to Argentina possession building around him. There’s still something of a dilemma for Klinsmann about when to trade in the points Dempsey can still earn him in Concacaf qualifiers for the need to build for the future and a Russian campaign that may be a World Cup too far for the player. But with no credible alternatives, Dempsey’s put down a marker for the forseeable future. |
| John Brooks | John Brooks |
| A complaint about the Klinsmann regime has been the near constant defensive rotation. The hunt for a viable left-back, in particular, has reached almost farcical proportions, but the coach’s critics have been just as vocal about Klinsmann’s reluctance to select and stick with a center-back partnership worthy of the name. | A complaint about the Klinsmann regime has been the near constant defensive rotation. The hunt for a viable left-back, in particular, has reached almost farcical proportions, but the coach’s critics have been just as vocal about Klinsmann’s reluctance to select and stick with a center-back partnership worthy of the name. |
| But this tournament has seen John Brooks and Geoff Cameron not only start each game, barring the third-place playoff, but also provide a defensive solidity that’s made them look like the answer for the forseeable future. Cameron did have one moment to forget in the opening game against Colombia, but Brooks, for the most part, has not put a foot wrong – even if the Argentina game revealed the step of anticipation he still has to find in his game at the very highest level. | But this tournament has seen John Brooks and Geoff Cameron not only start each game, barring the third-place playoff, but also provide a defensive solidity that’s made them look like the answer for the forseeable future. Cameron did have one moment to forget in the opening game against Colombia, but Brooks, for the most part, has not put a foot wrong – even if the Argentina game revealed the step of anticipation he still has to find in his game at the very highest level. |
| When you look at the expectations around the young players who unexpectedly grabbed goals for the USA in the last World Cup, you might have thought Julian Green was the one most likely to blossom in the months and years that followed, while it was unclear what the puppyish enthusiasm of John Brooks would turn into. | When you look at the expectations around the young players who unexpectedly grabbed goals for the USA in the last World Cup, you might have thought Julian Green was the one most likely to blossom in the months and years that followed, while it was unclear what the puppyish enthusiasm of John Brooks would turn into. |
| Well, the answer is that Brooks is a much-improved Bundesliga regular, who doesn’t look out of place in international tournaments. Green, meanwhile, has slipped back to obscurity — long since relinquishing his “next big thing” crown (current incumbent — Christian Pulisic). | Well, the answer is that Brooks is a much-improved Bundesliga regular, who doesn’t look out of place in international tournaments. Green, meanwhile, has slipped back to obscurity — long since relinquishing his “next big thing” crown (current incumbent — Christian Pulisic). |
| There may be several players on the Copa roster with big question marks against their names for World Cup qualifying, let alone the tournament, but something will have to go seriously wrong for Brooks not to be starting in the finals should the USA get there. | There may be several players on the Copa roster with big question marks against their names for World Cup qualifying, let alone the tournament, but something will have to go seriously wrong for Brooks not to be starting in the finals should the USA get there. |
| Losers | Losers |
| Brad Guzan/Tim Howard | Brad Guzan/Tim Howard |
| The two US goalkeepers have been locked in a mutual transitional moment in the lead up to this tournament. Howard might have known his international sabbatical would have put him out of starting contention, even before Klinsmann confirmed Guzan would be his tournament starter, but with he and Guzan alternating games in the lead up to the tournament, Howard perhaps had hopes that he might be able to make his summer move to Colorado at rather more of a visible high point than sitting on the bench for the whole Copa. Or at least the whole meaningful portion of the Copa. | The two US goalkeepers have been locked in a mutual transitional moment in the lead up to this tournament. Howard might have known his international sabbatical would have put him out of starting contention, even before Klinsmann confirmed Guzan would be his tournament starter, but with he and Guzan alternating games in the lead up to the tournament, Howard perhaps had hopes that he might be able to make his summer move to Colorado at rather more of a visible high point than sitting on the bench for the whole Copa. Or at least the whole meaningful portion of the Copa. |
| Guzan on the other hand, might feel like he should be careful what he wishes for. He was solid without being spectacular throughout the tournament, but never looked like there was a Howard-versus-Belgium performance in him to solidify his claim as undisputed number one. He competently saved some shots and competently picked some out of the net. | Guzan on the other hand, might feel like he should be careful what he wishes for. He was solid without being spectacular throughout the tournament, but never looked like there was a Howard-versus-Belgium performance in him to solidify his claim as undisputed number one. He competently saved some shots and competently picked some out of the net. |
| Against Argentina, Guzan had what might be a tournament-defining moment when he stood rooted in no man’s land as Lavezzi cushioned the simplest of headers over him in the 3rd minute. He could do nothing about Messi’s sublime free kick into the one square foot of space that would have led to a goal on that side of the net, but perhaps unfairly, it solidified an impression of Guzan in this tournament as a Washington General among Harlem Globetrotters. By the time he made a decisive save against Messi in the 84th minute, the score was 3-0. | Against Argentina, Guzan had what might be a tournament-defining moment when he stood rooted in no man’s land as Lavezzi cushioned the simplest of headers over him in the 3rd minute. He could do nothing about Messi’s sublime free kick into the one square foot of space that would have led to a goal on that side of the net, but perhaps unfairly, it solidified an impression of Guzan in this tournament as a Washington General among Harlem Globetrotters. By the time he made a decisive save against Messi in the 84th minute, the score was 3-0. |
| Whether William Yarbrough is ready to grow into the part in time for Russia is a vexing question, if not a total reach, but among the two senior US keepers coming into this tournament there’s been less a sense of keen competition driving them both on, and more a sense of mutually assured destruction as time passes both by. | Whether William Yarbrough is ready to grow into the part in time for Russia is a vexing question, if not a total reach, but among the two senior US keepers coming into this tournament there’s been less a sense of keen competition driving them both on, and more a sense of mutually assured destruction as time passes both by. |
| Michael Bradley | Michael Bradley |
| He’s neat, hard-working, and when the US are on song he’s the metronome of the team. Against Costa Rica Michael Bradley looked as if he was having a tournament defining performance in the more familiar defensive midfield role that Klinsmann has a habit of pushing him out of. | He’s neat, hard-working, and when the US are on song he’s the metronome of the team. Against Costa Rica Michael Bradley looked as if he was having a tournament defining performance in the more familiar defensive midfield role that Klinsmann has a habit of pushing him out of. |
| Unfortunately, he picked the highest profile game of the tournament to have one of his worst games in a US shirt. Bradley’s first touch and passing was off all night, while he had a habit of arriving on the scenes of Argentina’s pass and move just in time to watch the ball zipping past him to another blue shirt. | Unfortunately, he picked the highest profile game of the tournament to have one of his worst games in a US shirt. Bradley’s first touch and passing was off all night, while he had a habit of arriving on the scenes of Argentina’s pass and move just in time to watch the ball zipping past him to another blue shirt. |
| You can say that Bradley receives more unfair scrutiny than other US players, but it’s scrutiny he invited with his symbolic big money move from Roma to Toronto, amid his international coach’s suggestion that that could only harm the standard of his game. | You can say that Bradley receives more unfair scrutiny than other US players, but it’s scrutiny he invited with his symbolic big money move from Roma to Toronto, amid his international coach’s suggestion that that could only harm the standard of his game. |
| Nobody doubts Bradley’s enduring honesty and commitment (and his rainbow captain’s armband in the wake of the Orlando shootings was emblematic of the straightforward decency of the man), and he’ll have the chance to rebuild his reputation and greatly influence the USA’s World Cup qualifying campaign over the next 18 months or so. But after the Argentina game it was hard to escape the conclusion that his coach was right. | Nobody doubts Bradley’s enduring honesty and commitment (and his rainbow captain’s armband in the wake of the Orlando shootings was emblematic of the straightforward decency of the man), and he’ll have the chance to rebuild his reputation and greatly influence the USA’s World Cup qualifying campaign over the next 18 months or so. But after the Argentina game it was hard to escape the conclusion that his coach was right. |
| Darlington Nagbe | Darlington Nagbe |
| Came into the tournament as Klinsmann’s possible secret weapon. Ended the tournament being given 15 minutes to help retrieve a 3-0 deficit — the slot you usually give to “one for the future” (Christian Pulisic, for what it’s worth, got a complete half), rather than the player you have faith in to change the game. | Came into the tournament as Klinsmann’s possible secret weapon. Ended the tournament being given 15 minutes to help retrieve a 3-0 deficit — the slot you usually give to “one for the future” (Christian Pulisic, for what it’s worth, got a complete half), rather than the player you have faith in to change the game. |
| You might say that Argentina was never the game for Nagbe, but you might also say that Ecuador was never the game for Alejandro Bedoya, and made for Nagbe. Klinsmann played Bedoya. Nagbe’s still on the outside looking in. | You might say that Argentina was never the game for Nagbe, but you might also say that Ecuador was never the game for Alejandro Bedoya, and made for Nagbe. Klinsmann played Bedoya. Nagbe’s still on the outside looking in. |
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