By FRANCO PANIZO
Another friendly. Another 1-0 loss.
The U.S. men's national team was unable to score for the fourth time in six games under new head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, and as a result fell, 1-0, to France at Stade de France on Friday. The defeat dropped the U.S. team to 1-4-1 under Klinsmann.
Loic Remy scored the game's only goal minutes after entering in the second half, but the result could have been worse for the Americans if not for several quality saves from Tim Howard.
Playing against a young French side missing some of its star players, the U.S. team struggled to maintain possession and create chances. The Americans had to rely on shots from distance to trouble goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, but even those lacked venom and accuracy.
Led by Carlos Bocanegra and Steve Cherundolo, the U.S. defense did well against France's attack in the opening 45 minutes. The Americans held Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery and the rest of Les Bleus at bay for much of the first half despite the hosts' domination of possession.
France had more success breaking down the American defense in the second half. Benzema nearly opened the scoring when he got on the end of a corner kick, but his headed effort smacked off the crossbar.
The Americans weren't so lucky in the 72nd minute. Remy, who entered the match seven minutes earlier, got on the end of a long ball played over the top and fought off a Clarence Goodson challenge before hitting a low shot past Howard.
The defeat to France, which is the third all-time in as many games for the Americans, ensured that the United States will have a losing year for the first time since 1997.
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What do you think of the United States' 1-0 loss to France? Who impressed/disappointed you? What do you think needs to be different in order for the team to score?
Share your thoughts below.
For someone who doesn’t pay attention you sure respond a lot…
I have been posting the same things since before the fourth game, which just means I saw this trainwreck coming before most other people.
Gold Cup: I forgot Altidore, who got injured mid-tournament. And of course Onyewu wasn’t fully recovered yet. And Cherundolo went down with an injury in the final. Boy, considering all that, making it to the final isn’t half bad, hire Bradley!
Did Bradley have a B squad at the World Cup, with Davies and Jones out and Holden and Onyewu coming back from injury?
Did Bradley have a B squad at the Gold Cup, with Davies, Holden, and Chandler out?
Let’s be consistent….
Right, it was even worse: both our CBs slipped and fell on the same play!
Lichaj and Torres are hurt, and Holden is having such physical problems I’d not necessarily assume he comes back 100%, ever. Since teams have players injured all the time you can’t just call what’s left the B team. This is a continuity unit of most of the people Klinsi likes, and as I demonstrated, people he’s running out every chance. To call that a B team is self-serving. It may not be people we both like, or his potential best 11, but it’s not far from his concept of an A team.
Is anyone else concerned that Martin Vasquez is JK’s assistant coach? The guy crashed and burned as coach as Chivas USA…
… not to mention the same pair failed to get the most out of a talented squad at Bayern.
What you’re missing is there was at least some grind it out core concept to our approach to Spain. We clogged the middle, forced the ball wide, and just kept picking off and heading out crosses. And while the offense was not pretty, blasting it forward on counters at least was a functioning (2 goals) tactic that cohered with staying tight in the back.
In contrast, I watch Klinsi’s teams the past few games and I’m wondering how we’re going to score, and the defensive concept doesn’t seem coherent. At least in his initial games there was something there, a commitment to getting numbers forward and knocking it around….we just couldn’t finish. But now it’s like dysfunctional everywhere and I don’t see what the plan is.
I mean, to me, if we’re going to counterpunch, have two forwards. We did the 451 in Germany 06 and it didn’t work. I don’t mind a 451 if we want to play flowing soccer…..but I’m just looking for a method to the madness and don’t see it yet…..like I said above you’d like to have seen what Klinsi would have done with the Gold Cup where we could see if he could establish something coherent tactically against the sort of teams we will see in qualifying. Cause it’s obvious we’ll be in the hex, it’s just a matter of if the concept is coherent when we get there. Right now I’m worried we’re not getting results, and of late don’t even have the attacking verve of the earlier units.
Ummmm we sure as heck didn’t change tactics for Mexico, why start now? It’s schizo….do we have a style or not? Because depending whether we’re attackers or counterpunchers we should be starting different people. If this is like a Dynamo grind it out outfit then you need to start with forwards who can chase the ball and work your way back. But if this is the total football approach of the first games he needs to pick 1 d-mid and keep looking for attacking mids.
I’m trying to sort out if Klinsi is doing this on purpose or if he just rolls the ball out for an 11 who then play with their natural tendencies, which in the case of his recent post-Torres-injury lineups means less offense more defense.
I don’t want him out per se I just think his supporters overstate his CV. Arena had won everywhere he went, college, DC. Bradley won with the Fire and made NY and Chivas into surprisingly decent teams for what they were at the time. I’d be more comfortable with giving Klinsi a lot of slack if he’d coached even one men’s league team, much less a pro or international side, to a championship……so while I respect your riposte I am not yet convinced Klinsi is a serious, winning coach yet.
I don’t know what to think about the tactics/personnel. Part of my concern is we’re schizo, are we the attacking team of the first few games or this counterpunching defensive outfit of late? Because depending which it is should help dictate the personnel. I mean, if the focus is defense maybe we need 2 dmids and more tough defenders on the pitch…..or if we want to attack you want like you said one dmid and maybe some better finesse players and finishers. I’m not sure what we are stylistically anymore, I just know it’s not working and somewhat dysfunctional. So Klinsi needs to figure out how he wants us to play and then tailor the personnel accordingly.
But IMO Altidore is not a central striker because he’s not technical enough or precise enough a finisher. All due respect to the people touting AZ form but Bradley had umpteen goals at Heerenveen, it’s what happens when you play fast break no defense 433 soccer…..look at the table there are teams with 32, 33 goals so far this season….12 games in. Someone sneezes they miss a goal. I actually tend to think Jozy is better on a wing like NY used to use him.
He does remind me of Dempsey at times but since his impact is in spurts maybe he’s better off the bench.
You’re absolutely right about movement off the ball. We don’t do it and I don’t know why. It seems like such a simple thing for a coach to emphasize.
Moving the ball out quickly isn’t necessarily a virtue. He has no vision. He moves it out quickly to the first guy nearby he sees open. He has no sense for whether he’s passing to a guy in a good position or whether the guy he’s passing to is about to be closed down by a defender (which is often the case because he has to pick his head up and look around before he passes and then he telegraphs his pass). Time and time again we lose possession because Beckerman passes to a guy who has two players about to descend on him and take the ball away.
It was just one bad game. Let’s see how he does against Slovenia.
Do you people even watch the games? The US got ONE ball successfully into the box yesterday and that was Beasley’s chip from the left in the 83rd minute. Jozy got NO service yesterday. The entire midfield struggled. It’s a wonder that Jozy was able to do as much as he did.
Actually, he held the ball very well yesterday.
Jozy has scored 8 goals already this season for the best team in Holland. It’s not as if he doesn’t have the ability to score. The entire USMNT is struggling in the attack. The lack of goals is on the whole team, not just Jozy.
You obviously didn’t watch the game. Jozy and Dempsey were the only two players doing anything in the attack. Obviously Jozy didn’t score – he can’t do it all by himself.
————–Altidore——–
Shea——Holden——-Bedoya
——-Bradley—Torres——-
Lichaj–Ream–Gonzalez-Chandler
———–Howard————
donovan was home holden and torres are hurt gomes bedoya adu were not called…
I think the one thing that has been true for all the Klinsi games besides the Mexico game, is that we look soft. We don’t have the talent to beat a team like France playing a free attacking style. We need to develop that fight and the attitude of not being denied. Going hard through the 50/50s and never giving up. I think we need to get Onyewu back to form so we have that intimidation factor in the back. Goodson and Boca don’t strike fear in any opposing player. We need to get back to the heart and desire we had in the Confed Cup in 09. We just plain look soft right now.
Danny Williams did nothing for us. Herculez Gomez needs and deserves a call up.
Kasey Keller retired, remember?
well I don’t know if I’d say never…
um. IT WAS FRANCE. you play counter against any team that has Diarra, Ribery and Benzema on their team whether you want to or not.
I don’t know if it’s sad. US soccer is getting better all the time, even with it still being a “minor sport”.
In the proper context a 1-0 loss to France is an accomplishment. these bellyachers already muling for JK to be fired just don’t have a proper context for USA’s place in the world sport. We had maybe 4 players dress that would get a callup for the les Bleues, and one of them didn’t even see the field.
Dempsey is not a black hole, any opponent with a half a brain knows that the attack will sooner of later be going through him and they did their job in containing him. other folks need to step up. Jones, Holden or LD on the pitch and you see a more effective Deuce.
he got burned on one run and you think he’s lost a step. you’re insane. Once Lichaj gets match fit I’m sure we’ll see a bit of chandler and Williams on the RB side…
I agree with you that if Beckerman is the man that JK is commiting to as a deep lying CDM that there needs to be another player on the pitch that serves as the link between him and the forward line (Dempsey and Altidore. But I would humbly submit that Jones or Bradley could provide the defensive cover AND the linking play, allowing another player to line up. I’d really like to see the following:
I like Beckerman, I just think there are other players who can do what he does plus some.
No.
Esta you are full of sh$t.
twice??
Better to lose 2-0 going for a bit than 1-0 like this. And in any case Bradley is as solid a tackler as Beckerman. Frankly it’s probably Edu who most needs to sit. But why not try Jones-Bradley until Holden recovers?
Well hopefully this is one of the lessons Klinsi learns from testing players and combinations … I am sure that with Holden and Donovan available at least one of them will be on the bench or home watching, if not both.
Best comment on this thread.
I agree. I think Bradley and Jones should have started together given the options that were available.
Disagree with siting Bayern situation. Still had about 6 or 7 games in the table and they were 3rd when they fired him. No grounds to fire a coach there, so it had to be something external of the pitch and locker room.
And as stated above, the 2006 WC year was considered a ‘rebuilding’ year by the German people before the tourney started, and Kilnsy vastly overachieved given the expectations.
I don’t want him out just yet.
But I do agree that we need one less defensive midfielder and maybe even one more forward.
I like this.
If you wait to worry in 2014, you won’t have to worry at all. That’s a cop out.
Either you are satisfied with the progress or you are not. So are you stating that you are satisfied with the results?
I thought Buddle was excellent. It’s nice to see a guy besides Deuce put on a few dribbles. His final ball wasnt great but he created some space and had good control and done productive touches.
+1 Yeah, Altidore was one of the most consistent players out there. He had a very good first touch, held up the ball well, and created some danger in the box (should have been awarded a penalty). I agree that he has a bit of a prima donna complex – but many times he harassed the defense, and pressured the French backs and goalie with intensity. He is not the problem on this team – this team has no CENTER. What a Claudio Reyna brought, what a Jose Francisco Torres or a Freddy Adu bring when they are on, what Holden and Dempsey can do from the midfield when they are on – this team lacks a true 10, the playmaker, the visionary who splits the defense open with surgically delivered through balls and give and gos, the man who says with his play and composure, with his PRESENCE – “come together, right now, OVER ME!” Also, the creativity is lacking collectively – there is not enough movement off of the ball, 90% + of the game is what you do WITHOUT THE BALL, this team quickly regresses into ball watchers, or dead positioned cone heads. Decoy runs, runs to space, coming to the ball, etc. all lacking – classic US telegraphed slow passing with the opposing team’s back anticipating and ripping off the pass, time and time again. WAKE UP! Also the short passing, and the skill for possession necessary to create a short passing game that flows with inspiration and creativity is sorely lacking. Too many errant passes, too much ball watching, and lack of positional tactical awareness.
Overall the defense was pretty solid.
I give Klinsman 9-12 more months to pull some rabbits out of the hat and get this team dancing samba and tango.
Nice well reasoned comment, although I disagree and think the defense last night was a new style that we have not seen before from the USMNT. But, honest to god, I laughed out loud at your last comment (3 goals in 10 matches). Very good. Thanks.
What was up with Donovan not wanting to play? What is his agenda? Is he trying to prove a point to Beckhham that club should come before country? He is getting sideways with Jurgen. I am not screaming at the TV saying “We need Donovan.” He is replacable. We have other players who can bring the effort and enthusiasm that this team needs. We need a fire starter. Bedoya – where are you?
But that’s just the point! He’s not using these friendlies to try new players, but just putting the same old broken lineup out there every time.
And he won’t call up Gonzalez.
We are missing some of our 2 best players though, Donovan and Holden. Need them bad
Did anyone else laugh when Jozy leveled Diarra?
I was at the game last night, and I have to say I’m a bit discouraged. It seems to me that the reason so many top teams play a lone striker is to have 3+ players in central midfield and not get overrun in possession, so I’m concerned that playing a 4-3-3 we conceded so much possession to a France team that rarely possessed the ball so much in Euro qualifying and that played 4-4-2, with M’villa and Diarra in center mid (not the 2 most possession-oriented players!).
Secondly, everyone would admit that Jozy can do a few things quite well: he’s strong, his hold-up play can be excellent, etc. But he simply never has, and likely never will score a lot of goals. He’s our Emile Heskey, which can be great, but nobody would play Heskey as a lone striker. It seems to me that to score goals against good teams, we need a quick attacking player to play off of him, something we haven’t had since Charlie Davies’ accident.
His mistakes were in the attack, his primary responsibility defense, held up well
Pretty confident Gooch would have bodied Remy right off the ball…
You guys are all so dumb. Klinsmann is working to change the way we play. You think it is going to magically happen in four months? And really one month considering he has had about a week in each month.
Do not be so stupid. Hiddink didnt turn South Korea and Russia around in his first four months.
Just give it the full WC cycle before you start making stupid statements like Klinsmann has taken US soccer back 25 years.
Macca was saying this is the same US team I have seen for years. NO JOKE IDIOT. It doesnt change in 4 1 week sessions. It takes a couple years probably to really get going.
Can we please have some sanity in this moronic ensemble of jokesters who think they understand the game.
Never been impressed with Edu. Jones is much better positionally and speed wise. But he is older…
ugh. fine.
JK is 1-4-1 through his first 6 games with 2 goals scored. This is what we signed up for when we hired him.
Bob bradley was not an idiot. If it were possible to immediately make the team better, he would have already done it.
Instead, bradley set up gameplans and chose personnel with the intent of winning the ‘next’ game. And to his credit, he won more than his share of next games.
JK is tasked with a different objective. His job is to break through the quality ceiling that bradley’s approach necessarily entailed. Doing so means taking the current group out of their comfort zone. So they’re going to struggle for a bit.
If bradley had been at the helm for these past six games, we’d probably have a better record with more games scored. But come brazil 2014, we’d be at exactly the same level we’re at now, plus or minus some individual talent.
With JK, the bet is that we’ll surpass that level, but it was always going to take time.