When the US took its second lead off of the majestic head of Abby Wambach, it was far more dramatic, but when Hope Solo went down with an injury in the 116th minute, the clouds parted and doom seemed to creep into the stadium. The injury or cramps that she suffered did not affect her play (she made the pk save needed from her); it just seemed at that moment that something bad was going to happen. Sure enough, on the ensuing corner the Japanese skipper beat her marker near post and equalized. As anyone who has watched knows, late equalizers are morale destroyers. So Shannon Boxx went the exact same way with her pk as she did on both her miss and make in the Brazil game, and predictably the keeper saved it. Carli Lloyd, who possesses a cannon of a shot sometimes to her detriment, unleashed her shot and just as my mind predicted launched her kick over the top. Then, after a Solo save to keep it close, Tobin Heath's effort was saved and the result was basically ensured.
This tournament was both an indictment and celebration of the American women's team. I can't speak as in depth about their future or past as I can the men's team, just because I am not a journalist and do not possess the time or access to do so. However, I can tell you what I observed in the tournament, and give some insight into the team. The United States is still the most imposing athletic team in the world. Both our men's and women's team possess excellent fitness that allows them to be just as dangerous in the 90th minute as they are in the opening minutes. However, as time passes, that will no longer be enough. The women's game has vastly improved since the United States famous triumph in 1999, where there were a handful of quality squads in the tournament. Now Germany, France, Brazil, Japan, and Sweden possess teams capable of playing quality possession football with the deft passing and movement to break down even the most resolute American squads.
Despite their two knockout wins, the United States in both games played the kick-and-run, counter attack football that American men are whole-heartedly abused for. The formation resembled strongly the empty-bucket formation used by Bob Bradley, leaving the team to attack on the wings but exposed in midfield with no attacking central midfielders. Wambach on occasion would retreat back to receive the ball, most often drawing fouls to allow free kicks, where the Americans physicality is best used. Amy Rodriquez, often maligned for her lack of an impact in the tournament, cannot be expected to make an impact when so separated from her teammates. (However, it must be noted that Alex Morgan's activity was much more positive when placed in the same situation). For the women to succeed, the creativity that Cheney, Rapinoe, and Morgan all displayed on occasion must be harnessed more effectively and combined with the lethality of Wambach's finishing.
Defensively, I would comment that if the United States wants to play with holding midfielders that their backs should freely move upfield and join attack and allow the central defenders to fan out and cover the wings more in their absence. The speed of Rampone allowed LePeilbet to advance forward more and granted her even more help after a shaky start to the tournament. Assuming Rampone's career is almost at an end (Even at 36, given her fitness this is just an assumption at best), it will be interesting to see how they fare in replacing her, with Becky Sauerbrunn being the most obvious replacement. The goals in the final were just mental lapses, a poor ill-advised desperation pass/clearance in the six yard box and being beat near post to a corner. Overall, the positioning was better than the group stages, but the lapses still occurred. Hope Solo was overall just as impressive as booked, so there is a steady spot in the next cycle.
As you might tell, these are just amateur observations. Overall, the United States showed poise and heart, and at times brilliant football. I'll keep an eye on them as I can, hopefully with coverage being slightly better with the success of this tournament in the United States. Now onto the men whom which I am painfully more familiar.
The Gold Cup Conundrum
There is a question that I have always wondered the answer to: would you rather tellingly lose a match before the World Cup or squeak out a win and learn nothing? Sure, I would rather the United States never lost to Mexico on any occasion, but this loss should have demonstrated the skills and deficiencies of the American team. The ultimate downside of the loss is the United States misses out on playing in the Confederations Cup, a serious challenge with Brazil, Spain, and the other continents' champions competing. However, this also means that if Mexico is run off the field, their over-reactive federation might blow up what is becoming an intriguing young squad. As for ours, it is strangely set and also incomplete. We have major holes at some positions and depth at others.
Goalkeeper
The final was not one of his better, world-beater games, but he's Tim Howard and he's one of the world's best. It's his goal until he retires or like most American keepers is replaced and pouts about the whippersnappers. However, American goalkeeper depth is not going to be a problem as young keepers are shining in MLS at the moment. (Links to Daily Soccer Fix, Steve Davis's SBNation blog, a must read for MLS and US Soccer aficionados)
Defense
Right Back is stacked with depth. Steve Cherundolo is the mainstay, and it was obvious to see what his loss did to the US defense. Eric Lichaj is the backup here, but might find himself in the gaping hole on the left despite being right footed. Timmy Chandler is the intriguing prospect in the group, just getting through with his first season in the Bundesliga and for all purposes he appears to be the successor to Cherundolo. Jonathan Spector rounds out the group, and while I don't think he should be playing anytime soon that he is fourth in the pecking order says a lot about the depth here where he was first/second choice in 2009.
Central defense is a mess. Onyewu and Goodson are the same age, neither young. Bocanegra is the linchpin when they are gone, but is in the twilight of his career. Tim Ream is the young upstart but his Gold Cup was shaky. He's young but also not quality enough to compete against the best. While these guys are not going to frighten anyone, they certainly don't inspire the mouth watering that left back does.
What to say about left back? Bocanegra isn't fast enough, Bornstein is a turnstile offering slight resistance and directing one-way traffic towards the goal, and Lichaj simply doesn't have the experience to be consistent. The best hopes for the United States are using Brek Shea or hoping Freddy Adu's partner in witness protection, Edgar Castillo, finds playing time and the US actually notices. Lichaj was decent in defense, but needs to work on crossing to be capable of successful overlapping runs. I assume he'll be the temporary solution here, as the depth at right back leaves him free to play on the left.
Midfield
The United States need not worry about midfield depth. Whether they possess the talent or consistency required to compete with the world's best is a different question. The switch to the 4-5-1 was a great decision, as the United States was overrun in midfield in the last World Cup match against Ghana. However, the United States has an interesting quandary as to where any of these players go. In a game that has increasingly leaned towards having a midfield destroyer/defensive midfielder, the United States have one in Jermaine Jones. However, he seems to be making the runs that Michael Bradley should be making, given Bradley's skills as a box-to-box midfielder and deficits in defense at times. Maurice Edu also is a more traditional CDM, but didn't see the field much in the tournament. They also lack traditional wingers, perhaps their best crossers both are right backs Steve Cherundolo and the absent Timmy Chandler. What they do have is three attacking midfielders who play best as deep lying strikers. Donovan and Dempsey are now common ground and we have good ideas of what they bring, but wingers they are not neither possessing the same inclinations or defensive responsibility. Freddy Adu, who reappeared in this tournament, is definitely never going to be confused for a defensive specialist, but he offers the kind of creativity and calmness on the ball that no United States player possesses. It will be interesting to see if he gets enough playing time to stay in the picture.
Now, this doesn't even mention Bedoya or Kljestan, but they are auxiliaries. More intriguing is Stuart Holden, who missed the entire tournament after being cut down like every talented player in the EPL is. He is Bolton's cog and the drop in form (and the standings) after his injury is telling to how much he means to Bolton's squad. Funnily, the bite he has acquired in the EPL makes him better suited to both be the stopper and deep-lying play-maker for the team. He was one of the best players in the world's deepest and most talented league before his injury, so I would hope Bradley makes him the centerpiece of his 2014 squad. Since no one in the midfield is out of their prime, not much fresh blood so be expected. The only young players (aside from Adu who somehow is only 22) on the fringes are Mix Diskerud, a Norwegian-American who plays in Norway also, and Brek Shea, who has been wonderful for FC Dallas this year (Also he can play LM and LB, both problems to say the least), will also be in the mix.
The depth here is best exemplified by the US starting the final with essentially six midfielders and no strikers. The fluidity of their movements up top both shows their versatility and the lack of a proper formation to put their talents to optimum use.
Forward
Vomit.Jozy Altidore is a physical presence and the rest of the US strikers are young. Bradley needs to stop bringing in MLS stars to play forward. Some guys just poach in the physical but technically lacking MLS, and Cunningham, Casey, Findley, Wondolowski, and the next striking star are not solutions to the dearth of strikers. Agudelo will improve, but people need to stop declaring him a savior. Perhaps Davies will return to his pre-wreck form, but other than that the depth here is shocking. However, with the attacking midfielders the United States possess, I think this is severely over-analyzed. Dempsey, Donovan, and Adu are all capable of playing as withdrawn strikers in a two striker partnership or as wide forwards in a 4-3-3 if the United States possessed traditional wingers to play behind them.
The Future
Defense is such a question mark that I can't give a prediction on the teams starting four. I will say that until they retire Cherundolo and Bocanegra will be there. If Bocanegra is in the center, Lichaj is the most likely candidate to join them. Ream and Goodson are the central paring, until Gooch recovers form or someone better arises. Midfield will most likely feature Donovan, Dempsey, Jones, Bradley, and Holden, but I assume Adu, if he continues to play, will feature in. Bedoya seems to be a decent like-for-like switch if Donovan or Dempsey is hurt. Forward is Jozy and then a deep chasm filled with developmental shame.
In the grand scheme, both the men and women need better ball skills, both touch and passing. This is a developmental problem, perhaps due to an American obsession with scoring and offense. While our current talents make bunker and counter attack a successful tactic, it can't be relied on to win matches consistently. Until American coaches learn to teach their players how to play without goals, it won't be enough. The best club and country in the world are fueled by both an unrivaled youth system and the brilliance of high pressing and the calm, slow devastation of short passes and perfect control. It's foolish to think the United States cannot succeed as a pressing team, given their fitness, but it is also foolish to assume they can play the possession game to an equal extent.
Overall, it will be interesting to see where the team heads coming into qualifying for the World Cup. I wonder whether Bradley is excited about the depth in midfield being so great or terrified at the lack of depth/quality at forward and defense. I assume that both will keep him up a night, until he finally succumbs to madness and fields eleven midfielders in a match.
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