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USMNT feeling confident ahead of match against ‘beatable’ Colombia

Photo by Steve Flynn/USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Steve Flynn/USA TODAY Sports

Entering Friday’s Copa America kickoff, Colombia enters as one of the competition’s favorites. Los Cafateros enter the tournament ranked third in the world, and are pegged my many to emerge as the top team in Group A.

Set to face Colombia on Friday, the U.S. Men’s National Team knows the caliber of opponent in front of them, but they are also fully confident in their ability to step onto the field and beat them straight up.

The USMNT’s road through the group stages begins on Friday night at Levi’s Stadium with one of the most difficult opponents in the tournament. In Colombia, the USMNT faces a team full of attacking talent like James Rodriguez and Carlos Bacca. As evidenced by their performances at the 2014 World Cup, Los Cafateros are deservedly among the world’s elite, a position the USMNT hopes to someday occupy.

The path towards that recognition begins with the Copa America opener, the start of a tournament that head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has repeatedly called a once-in-a-lifetime event. On Friday, the USMNT expects to be much more than fodder for another deep Colombia run. Rather, they expect to step right up to show that they are just as good, if not better, than any team in the tournament.

“Obviously, when you face a team with their talent, with what they have up front, with James, with Bacca, with (Juan) Cuadrado, with (Edwin) Cardona, they’re all players that are all difference makers,” Klinsmann said. “They’re also beatable. Every team as its strength and weaknesses. All of the teams out there have that. I think we learned a lot over the past couple of years with playing big teams and to come up with solutions against big teams, whether it’s overseas in Europe or somewhere else. We manage to get very, very good results. We respect them a lot.”

“It’s a very good team,” added captain Michael Bradley. “It’s an interesting blend of guys who are good with the ball and talented technically, but also athletically and physically very strong. We know the first game of every tournament is so important in terms of finding a way to come away with points. We’ll approach this game as if it were the only game we’re playing this tournament and be ready to do everything we can to come away with a positive result.”

The USMNT’s self-belief stems from their own performances. Entering the Copa America, the USMNT toppled three straight teams in a series of confidence-boosting friendlies, including fellow participants Ecuador and Bolivia. New faces shined, while old faces found form ahead of the summer tournament, offering plenty of positives before embarking on the Copa America adventure.

Also adding to the USMNT’s confidence is a matchup played over a year-and-a-half ago, a friendly that saw the U.S. downed, 2-1, by Colombia in England in November 2014.

That friendly was a learning experience for the USMNT. Bobby Wood, a striker who is now a key member of the USMNT roster, missed several chances on the day. A defense that was handed a one-goal lead collapsed allowing two second half goals. In total, eight players on the USMNT roster took part in that friendly, which to many of them will likely seem lifetime ago.

“We take the fact that they’re beatable,” said defender Geoff Cameron. “You don’t let them get in their rhythm. You step on their toes a little bit, make them feel uncomfortable and take them away from their game. You don’t let them dictate the pace of the game. There will be times where we have to weather the storm and where they’re going to have possession and that’s when we drop back, get our defensive shape, wait for it, and then go. It’s going to be a difficult match, but we’re excited.

“They’re a physical team. They get rough. They get nasty. We know that, we’ve seen it and we’ve played against them,” Cameron said. “It’s not going to be a nice little friendly game. It’s not a warm-up. It’s a tournament game. They want to win but so do we. I’m sure it will be physical with fouls and this and that, but it’s professional as always. We’ve shown we can step up and rise to this occasion and we will.”

Several players will need to rise up if the USMNT is to start the tournament on the right foot.

Cameron and John Brooks will almost certainly be playing just their third game as a partnership, while Fabian Johnson is expected to shift back into the defense to deal with Cuadrado. DeAndre Yedlin will look to continue to emerge as an international-level fullback, while Wood looks to validate the beliefs that he has what it takes to be a USMNT star. Add in fresh faces like Darlington Nagbe and 17-year-old Christian Pulisic, and the new-look USMNT is certainly capable of holding their own at this summer’s premier tournament.

The task now lies in actually doing it, while living up the expectations laid in front of them. At the 2014 World Cup, the USMNT was expected to be pummeled in what was the group of death, but emerged into the knockout rounds. At the Gold Cup, the USMNT was pegged as favorites, but crashed out in historic fashion before dropping the CONCACAF Cup to Mexico.

Now, expectations are somewhere in the middle. Klinsmann says the team’s goals remain to emerge from the group before taking it from there. Reaching the knockout rounds is key, Klinsmann says, for a team still learning how to win one-off games where it really counts.

The pursuit of that knockout round berth begins Friday with the biggest test the USMNT will face before they hope to enter the tournament’s next stage. That gives the USMNT’s clash with Colombia extra importance as the U.S. looks to start their Copa America run with a result against one of the world’s most formidable teams.

“Are we capable of competing with them, eye to eye, to beat them and make it far in this tournament? I think we are. I think we have the capability,” Klinsmann said. “We have the qualities, we have the drive, we have the talent, but you have to prove it. It’s the same for the coach as well. You want these  opportunities. You’d love to play a Copa America every three months and a World Cup every six months if possible, but it is the way it is.

“They deserve a lot of respect, but on the other side, we have no fear,” the USMNT head coach added. “We have a team that is very hungry. We have players that can match-up with those players. This is the big stage for Michael Bradley. This is the big stage for Clint Dempsey. This is the big stage for Jermaine Jones. That’s what they want to play. You have the opportunity now. Go out and play in that stage.”

Comments

    • I should have clarified. If you move here and live here for soccer reasons, then of course that doesn’t apply. Otherwise anyone that came here to play in MLS could play for the USMNT. That’s not the point of international football of course, it isn’t league all-star teams playing each other. So no, Costa playing for Spain is a complete joke. Like Eduardo playing for Croatia years ago.

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    • I had no idea who this was before Googling. Multiple websites are saying he was pursued and opted instead to play for the German’s U-21’s when they played in the U-21 Euro’s last summer.

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      • Actually, he is American and German, but grew up in Germany. It blows my mind that you seem to want to exclude people based on your own contrived, neo-nativist view of “American”. Especially since because you seem willing to accept a kid who was not American (Gideon) and did not have a passport but had only lived there for 5 years. My initial response was to get on here and insult you, but now I just think it is pathetic that a grown man with children ( I know you have girls) thinks in this manner.

      • So your initial response was to insult me and that’s just what you did. I’m glad you indulged yourself, although mentioning my family seems rather bizarre and pointless.

        Yes, I do think that people should have a connection to the country they are representing (i.e. lived here for some time). And no I don’t think most of the Germericans qualify in my book. That’s my view and it’s not xenophobic or “neo-nativist” (whatever that is). It’s the majority view on this issue around the world and would probably be here too except that US soccer fans still believe that people born and raised here aren’t good enough so we need ringers. It’s nothing under Toljan, if he’d actually lived here like Gideon, I’d be all for him playing for the USMNT. I also think guys like Najar, Rossi and Fagundez should have played for us. None of those guys were born here so how is my view “nativist”?

        Anyway, why do people care so much about what I think and so bothered by my opinion? My view isn’t the current rule and obviously JK doesn’t share my philosophy so at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter, does it?

      • DLOA – I can understand that you don’t agree but what’s hypocritical about it? If you have lived here for a reasonable amount of time then you should play for us. If you haven’t then you shouldn’t. It’s pretty simple.

        So: Gideon Zelalem lived here for five years and learned the game here so he’s in, Ashton Gotz visited here twice in his life so he’s out.

      • It blows my mind that you seem to want to exclude people based on your own contrived, neo-nativist view of “American”.

        Slow got absolutely embarrassed in the Giuseppe Rossi thread to the point where I almost feel bad for him. I’m going to try to simply ignore him on the topic going forward.

        He’s equivalent to a child crying at the top of his lungs in the middle of shopping center. At first, it’s like: “What the hell is wrong with that kid?” and then becomes “Would someone please take care of that child?” to finally “Something is genuinely wrong with him. Let’s not be rude and stare.”

      • Slow- as for why it matters to people? My guess it’s your statements are indirectly insulting to actual Americans.
        I’ve used this example before (to which you never have a response):

        Let’s say I am “full” American I fight in the armed forces and after my tour I stay in that country I was stationed in. I meet a beautiful young lady and end up marrying her. We have a son. We raise him there but I tell him all about America and perhaps take some vacations there.

        So in this example, if my son was in the NT you would say he’s not American enough for you because he never lived here? You would look me, a “full” American, in the eye and say ‘thanks for your service to our country but your son is not American enough for me’…..?

      • Embarrassed how? Because I hadn’t researched Manneh’s reasons for coming to the US? Personally, I felt bad for you when I realized you had looked through weeks old SBI postings in an attempt to show that some strange on the internet had made a previously inconsistent statement.

      • DLOA – that’s a heart rendering story but that isn’t what happened with any of the Germericans as far as I know. Most of them don’t even know their fathers. And yes I would say that you should have lived here for some time to represent us. If you’re insulted by that then I think you need thicker skin.

      • Also, all of these dudes only play for us because they know they won’t get in the Germany team. I’m not that excited about someone settling for what should be an honor. Toljan potentially still could so he’s rebuffed JK’s recruiting efforts.

      • Seriously you guys – I make one four word comment stating that a German person is German and all of these people have to post these overwraught moralist posts rebutting what I said so that they feel good about themselves. Accept that someone has a different opinion than you and move on. What’s the big deal?

      • “f you have lived here for a reasonable amount of time then you should play for us. If you haven’t then you shouldn’t. It’s pretty simple.”

        So manner has lived here 4 years right? And you’re excited to have him play for the US right? How about Bradley Wright Philips? He’s been here 4 years, you cool with him playing now for us? You’re cool with getting 15 year old kids from other countries, having them live here then play for us? But your not cool with a US servicemans kid playing for us? Your “rules” or more confusing than MLS transfer rules…..

      • Slow- please show me where I said I was insulted…. lol.

        I said your statements were insensitive to children of servicemen living outside of the country. Your decencies do not make me question my own happyness lol. I just like to point them out for humor.

        And by the way, FJ was actually quotes sayin something similar to this. He said he grew up feeling very American because of his father and loved to visit when they did.

        And to add to my overall point, you mention that maybe you didn’t know all the details about manneh but that’s kind of the point. It’s not up to YOU and TOUR specific personal feelings on the matter. Our fore fathers have set up a country that says ‘if you have a us passport you can play for the NTs’. That’s it. THATS the rule. So by you arguing against ‘germericans’ you’re indirectly saying that the US shouldn’t consider them citizens (or legal aliens etc); which is pretty rude to their US parent….

      • It should make no difference where someone is born, raised, lived, prayed, blah, blah, blah. If a player who has a choice chooses our team and plays as hard as he can and leaves his heart on the field for the red, black, and blue (sorry, I couldn’t help the swipe at NIKE, idiots!) then he is as welcome on the team as anyone else.

        This country was build on the back and hearts of immigrants who came here and believed in America. If that is their choice, they are welcome with open arms. I would love for you to say to Jermaine Jones’ face that he does not deserve to play for us, absolutely absurd!

      • No – I thought Manneh moved here for non-soccer reasons. I didn’t realize he moved here to play soccer. So, no I think it’s silly for him to play for the USMNT. Likewise, BWP or anyone else who came here just to play in MLS shouldn’t be eligible. That would also be silly.

      • Thanks, Jonathan, I’m sure writing that made you feel good about yourself. But when did I ever say immigrants to our country shouldn’t be able to play for the USMNT? I don’t think you need to be born here. In fact, if you ever read anything I posted, you know that isn’t my view.

      • Whoops, I put my response in the wrong line of comments, here it is again:

        You are very welcome, here is what you said:

        “Yes, I do think that people should have a connection to the country they are representing (i.e. lived here for some time). And no I don’t think most of the Germericans qualify in my book.”

        And I say that is bull. Tell Jermaine Jones that he does not deserve to play for us because he grew up in Germany. He has proven he want to play for us with everything he has, as have many, many players who played for us without speaking much english or living in our country for whatever amount you deem acceptable. Its okay for you to have an unpopular opinion, just own what you say my man.

  1. Its a similar sort of anxiety and confidence that was felt leading up to game 1 vs. Ghana in Brazil. Definitely a game that U.S. could win, but would be a major test. This time we do have home filed advantage, but our squad is not what it was heading into Brazil 2 years ago. All things considered, I would expect the U.S to pull out a draw in this one. I most would be happy with that.

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    • I think this squad is better than in Brazil. It’s many of the same players but guys like Yedlin and Brooks are better now than they were then, Wood is playing better than any of our strikers heading into that world cup, we have Nagbe instead of Brad Davis and instead of Julian “fourth division” Green we have a teenager at a big German club who’s actually good!

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      • Attaboy Slow. NEVER EVER miss an opportunity or create one out of thin air, to rip Julian Green. You are nothing, in not consistent.

        That being said, we are better, I agree with you.

      • Just pointing out one way in which we are better than two years ago. Instead of a fake teenage sensation, we have a real one.

      • I happen to agree with you that this squad is better than the 2014 squad. Cameron and Brooks are better now than they were then, and are better than the Besler, Gonzales combo we had then. Bradley, Bedoya, Beckerman, Zusi, JJ, Dempsey are all about the same, if a bit older. But when you move to RB, yedlin is a far superior version of himself, Wood exists (though I think pre-hamstring tear Altidore was looking good too… so I am knocking on Wood, pardon the pun). and then I look at Zardes… I guess he is better than Davis/mix. Pulisic is definitely better than Green was at that point, and Nagbe vs. davis/mix… not sure how that will play out. Still an over all better squad. and a huge opportunity for these guys to show that they belong.

      • You are very welcome, here is what you said:

        “Yes, I do think that people should have a connection to the country they are representing (i.e. lived here for some time). And no I don’t think most of the Germericans qualify in my book.”

        And I say that is bull. Tell Jermaine Jones that he does not deserve to play for us because he grew up in Germany. He has proven he want to play for us with everything he has, as have many, many players who played for us without speaking much english or living in our country for whatever amount you deem acceptable. Its okay for you to have an unpopular opinion, just own what you say my man.

  2. Too much is being made of beating Bolivia, Puerto Rico, and an Ecuador without key players like Ayovi and their goalscorer Felipe Caicedo. It is comparable to the US being beaten while not fielding Dempsey and Bradley.

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