Round of 16

RECAP 

It was yet another typical World Cup (WC) performance for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) in losing to Belgium 2-1 in extra time.  I say typical because we had our chances to win but as usual we were unable to convert them and lost to the far superior side in the end.  Before I go any further it’s worth noting that Belgium is the third highest paid team at the WC when you add up all of their club salaries, so there is no shame in losing to them. 

USMNT goalkeeper Tom Howard played the match of his life making 16 saves and basically keeping us in the match throughout.  Timmy’s 16 saves (seen here) were the most in a WC match since 1966 and earned him FIFA’s Man of the Match award in a losing effort.  Howard also received a call from the President and his 28 saves were the most in the WC through four matches.  Even though the USMNT was badly outplayed (38-14 total shots & 27-9 shots on goal) we did have the edge in possession (53%-47%) and a real chance to win the match prior to extra time. 

In the 90+3 minute Chris Wondolowski broke free right at the goal mouth off a header from Jermaine Jones and somehow managed to miss a wide open net.  That was the exact type of situation Wondo was on the pitch for in the first place and that miss reminded every USMNT supporter of his miss against Panama in the 2011 Gold Cup.  Of the miss against Belgium Wondo said “I’m gutted to have let down everyone but especially my teammates.”  I’m sure that miss will haunt him for the rest of his days but really it was just another in a long line of woulda-coulda-shoulda moments for the USMNT at the WC.  There was some conjecture that the referee’s assistant had his flag up making Wondo offside (which he clearly wasn’t) but FIFA’s official statistics credit the USMNT with zero offsides for the match so that mystery is solved. 

When extra time started Red Devils Manager Marc Wilmots switched strikers inserting Romelu Lukaku for Divock Origi.  This would prove to be the decisive substitution.  In the run up to the first goal Matt Besler was manhandled on a challenge by Lukaku giving him acres of space in the process.  Romelu then found Kevin De Bruyne who patiently moved into open space and finally beat Howard in the 93^rd minute.  On the second goal De Bruyne returned the favor on a counterattack playing Lukaku into space after he once again ran right past Besler.  Romelu was clinical in beating Timmy near post in the 105^th minute.  

USMNT Manager Jürgen Klinsmann made his third sub in the 105+2 minute bringing in 19-year old Julian Green for the gassed Alejandro Bedoya.  Green made an immediate impact using his speed to create space on a diagonal run into the box.  Michael Bradley found Julian with a deft pass over the top and Green beat Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois in the 107^th minute on his first touch ever at the WC.  In the process Green became the youngest USMNT player to appear and score at the WC.  The match wasn’t over yet though as Clint Dempsey’s shot off an absolutely masterful set piece was saved by Courtois in the 114^th minute. 

LINEUP 

Klinsmann made one change to his starting XI inserting Geoff Cameron for Kyle Beckerman in the midfield.  I’ve heard lots of analysts say post-match that this was a critical error but I don’t see it that way.  Jürgen said he made the change because Cameron was more physically able to deal with Marouane Fellaini and he was 100% right.  Kyle is a nice MLS player but him not featuring was not the reason we lost, and while I’m at it Landon Donovan and Bruce Arena sound so petty when ripping Klinsmann after the fact.  I mean seriously, give it a rest guys.  We get it already, you don’t like Jürgen. 

Klinsy kept Omar Gonzalez in there and Omar didn’t really make any mistakes but losing Fabian Johnson to a hamstring injury in the 32^nd minute was a big blow.  Don’t get me wrong DeAndre Yedlin played well in replacing Fabian but we probably needed both of them on the pitch to win.  I didn’t like the sub of Wondo for Graham Zusi at the 72^nd minute and I was proven right when he missed the match winner.  I just have a hard time seeing Aron Jóhannsson missing that same shot.  There was a lot of talk about Aron being injured during the tournament and after the WC it was announced that he will need ankle surgery and be out 6-8 weeks.  So it looks like Wondo really was the only option as a substitute striker. 

In terms of who made the roster, who started and who was used as a substitute for the tournament as a whole Klinsmann was proven mostly right in his selections.  Green scored a goal most on the USMNT couldn’t, Yedlin was a difference make every time he stepped on the pitch and John Brooks’ goal against Ghana was the most important one for the USMNT at the WC.  Coincidentally all three of those guys are now permanently cap-tied to the USMNT, and I suspect that is why Green was used after we were already down 0-2 in extra time. 

As for what Jürgen did wrong I’m going to say keeping Wondo over Terrence Boyd and Brad Davis over Landon when the cut down to 23 was made.  It’s quite obvious that Klinsmann and Donovan don’t get along on a personal level but after seeing Davis in action at the highest level he just plain wasn’t up to the task.  You can’t tell me that Landon in limited minutes or just as another option off the bench wasn’t a better choice than Davis.  The same way Boyd would have given Klinsy a true backup to Jozy Altidore and forced him to use Iceman in those goal-poaching situations where he went with Wondo. 

As for Jozy it was revealed after the WC that he had a Grade 2 hamstring tear and was nowhere near ready to play against Belgium.  Losing Jozy was just a massive blow to us in terms of our tactical approach to every match.  I think the ripple effect was felt most by Bradley whose subpar play throughout the WC has been a topic of much discussion.  With Dempsey stepping into Altidore’s place Michael had to play Clint’s role and he obviously couldn’t.  This doesn’t mean Bradley stinks or anything but going forward as our likely new Captain he needs to play the holding midfield role he is most effective at. 

Only two outfield players didn’t see the pitch at this WC and they were Timmy Chandler and Mix Diskerud.  Chandler didn’t play because DaMarcus Beasley managed to not pull his hamstring.  Mixy on the other hand could have been very useful in Dempsey’s normal role if Klinsmann would have just moved Michael back to where he’s most comfortable.  I would have liked to see Clint up top with Diskerud underneath him.  Then those two would be flanked by Zusi and Bedoya with Jones and Bradley behind all of them.  I think that formation would have unlocked some more offense for the USMNT. 

HISTORY 

I’m so sick of guys like Alexi Lalas, Taylor Twellman and Donovan ripping Jürgen because he didn’t deliver on his promise to play a more attacking style in the WC.  Seriously guys?  Look at the talent on that roster and tell me who the attacking studs are especially after losing Altidore and with Jóhannsson hurt?  I never hear these guys say what they would do with the talent on hand.  Instead it’s just that Klinsy lied to us and we are playing the same old style the USMNT has always played.  Really, that makes you mad?  We still advanced out of the Group of Death and if playing the “old way” is what got us there who really cares?  Results are what matters not how you get them.  If Wondo makes that shot in the 90+3 and we win 1-0 to advance to the Quarterfinals (QF) does anything else matter?  

These guys also like to point out the lack of progress US Soccer has made by referencing 2010 and 2002.  In 2010 we won our group by going undefeated (1-0-2) and both were first’s for the USMNT.  My how easily we forget.  If not for Landon’s miracle goal against Algeria we are going home after the Group Stage in 2010.  Then in 2002 we got beat by Poland 1-3 on the final fixture day of Group D.  We needed South Korea to beat Portugal 1-0 just to advance, which at the time was considered a miracle victory by the Taegeuk Warriors.  But that team was so much better because we advanced to the QF they say.  Really?  We beat Mexico in that Round of 16 (R16), not some world power.  Then we lost to Germany 0-1 in the QF.  And those are considered the glory days by the experts?  Sure seems like more of the same to me. 

Another ridiculous complaint is about all the dual-nationals Klinsmann has recruited during his tenure.  I just flat out don’t get this one.  Two-thirds of Switzerland’s national team is made up of these supposed demonic dual-nationals.  Do the Swiss care?  Of course not!  In world football this is the norm, meaning every single nation does this when it benefits them.  I personally LOVE that Jürgen has yet to lose out on any dual-national players.  I’m glad there won’t be any more “defectors” like Vedad Ibišević, Neven Subotić, Yura Movsisyan or Giuseppe Rossi on Klinsy’s watch. 

The 93^rd minute has not been kind to the USMNT in the R16.  First it was Asamoah Gyan’s goal for Ghana that sent us home in 2010.  Then Wondo’s miss (technically in the 90+3) and finally De Bruyne’s goal that put us down 0-1.  The USMNT allowed the most shots (74) of any side that played four matches and they were -39 on total shot differential.  However Beasley was the first American to feature in four WC’s and Dempsey the first to score in three, so it wasn’t all bad.  

This was the first WC ever where all eight group winners advanced to the QF.  It also featured five R16 matches going to extra time, which is the most since FIFA changed formats in 1998.  Five goals being scored in extra time is also a record for the R16 and 67% of the goals were scored after the 75^th minute.  So if you haven’t been watching it’s been pretty entertaining stuff. 

FUTURE 

I think it’s pretty safe to say that Howard (39 in 2018), Nick Rimando (39). Beasley (36), Jermaine (36), Davis (36), Beckerman (36), Wondo (35) and Clint (35) won’t be part of the 23 for Russia.  I won’t totally rule Dempsey out but he’s a long shot at best.  Of that list the scariest to lose is obviously Timmy but Brad Guzan is a high-quality player and will be right in a keeper’s prime at 33 in 2018.  Our back line in front of Guzan will still have Omar, Besler, Cameron, Brooks, Fabian, Yedlin and Chandler available along with 17-year old Erik Palmer-Brown thrown into the mix as well.  So I think we’ll be pretty good defensively. 

When it comes to forwards hopefully Jozy can stay intact and Iceman can get stronger physically.  I’d also have to say that Boyd has a pretty good chance but after that the pickings get a little slim.  Someone like Juan Agudelo, Josh Gatt or a player-to-be-named will have to step up.  In this WC the spotlight shined brightest on how our midfield could not maintain possession against the better teams.  Right now it’s hard to see that changing unless Mixy, Julian, Brek Shea or possibly DeAndre really step up their skill level.  I’m almost afraid to mention 17-year old dual-national Gedion Zelalem but this guy could be the playmaker we so badly require.  Needless to say the midfield is where we need to improve the most if we are ever to make a deep run in the Knockout Round. 

It’s not like the USMNT won’t play important matches in this four-year cycle between now and when WC Qualifying starts up again in 2016. In the summer of 2015 there is the Gold Cup, which if we win will qualify us for the Confederations Cup in Russia in 2017.  Even if we don’t win we’ll still qualify for a one-match playoff against the winner since we won it in 2013.  The Confederations Cup is a hugely important tune up for the WC in 2018 so you can expect to see our best 23 for the 2015 Gold Cup in hopes that we can avoid that playoff match.  Then there’s the Copa América Centenario which the United States will be hosting in the summer of 2016.  This will be the first Copa held outside of South America and with all the big boys from CONMEBOL participating you can bet the USMNT will once again field their best 23.  There’s also the 2016 Olympics in Brazil but that tournament is limited to players 23 years old and younger.  I suspect I’ll pay closer attention to Olympic Qualifying this time around since Zelalem and other “upside” guys will likely be playing in it. 

When it comes to summing up this WC I’m most bummed about American’s missing out on their first ever Soccer Super Bowl which would have been on Saturday 7/5 at 9 AM Pacific against Lionel Messi and Argentina.  The TV ratings were ridiculous during the USMNT’s run and this hypothetical match would have shattered the record set when we went up against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal on 6/24.  At least FIFA has taken notice floating the idea that the USA might get a chance to host the WC again in 2026 (assuming we aren’t picked to replace Qatar in 2022). 

The cycle to Russia 2018 starts in Prague for the USMNT with a friendly against the Czech Republic on 9/3.  “WHO’S WITH ME?!?!?!”