Red, White and Blue Review

The United States’ struggles continued in the wake of their eye-catching World Cup performance, as they conceded twice in the last ten minutes in a 3-2 defeat in Denmark.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s side have lost four of their last five and have won just two of eight games since their extra-time defeat to Belgium last summer.

Rimando was exemplary in the US goal against Denmark

Nicklas Bendtner was the destroyer in chief, scoring his first international hat-trick, which included a sublime, volleyed winner that left Nick Rimando with no chance in the US goal.

Results carry less importance in international friendlies but Klinsmann’s side are developing a bad habit of conceding late goals – here we take a look at the positives and negatives from yesterday’s game.

Stat Attack:

v  The USA scored with their only two shots on target.

v  Denmark had twelve shots, three times more than Jurgen Klinsmann’s team.

v  Since last year’s World Cup, USA have lost 11-1 overall in the second half of their nine matches.

v  The US have conceded seven goals after the 80^th minute in their last seven games.

Klinsmann faces hard times

Curious Klinsmann:

Klinsmann experimented in Denmark, and this time it didn’t come off. The US were overrun in midfield, disjointed in attack and nervy at the back.

The decision to play Alejandro Bedoya in central midfield left Michael Bradley isolated in the middle, while Gyasi Zardes struggled in an unfamiliar midfield position.

Aron Johannsson was conspicuous in his absence before tapping into an open net and one can’t help but believe that Zardes would have offered more in his regular position as a striker.

It is difficult to know what the manager thinks is his best team at the moment; with tough fixtures ahead he needs a settled starting XI.

Clocking off early:

They don’t play a competitive game until July but the US are developing a worrying habit of switching off after taking a lead.

Klinsmann’s side have scored first in five of their last six games but only gone on to win one of these.

Ecuador and Honduras both equalised after the 85^th minute, while Colombia and Chile both beat the US having been behind at half-time.

Denmark were 2-1 down with 10 minutes to go in Aarhus before Bendtner struck twice – whether it is a mental problem or a fitness issue, the US most find a way to last the full 90 minutes.

Altidore is the US's 5th highest goalscorer

Looking Good:

1)Jozy Altidore

The Toronto striker notched his 27^th international goal with a sublime left-foot volley from Tim Chandler’s long ball and was comfortably America’s most dangerous player.

He could have scored again but selflessly squared for his strike partner Aron Johannsson to score his first international goal in 2015.

Altidore’s goal came out of the blue and Klinsmann will be pleased to see the striker return to top form after his second failed spell in the English Premier League, this time with Sunderland.

His record of five goals in 80 appearances in England means he probably won’t get a third chance to prove himself but at international level he is quickly writing himself into US football folklore.

2)Nick Rimando

One position where the US do not need to worry is in goal.

Despite Tim Howard’s temporary retirement, Klinsmann has a number of quality to choose between in his absence.

Even when conceding three goals, Rimando was excellent in Denmark and has shown in his 12 caps that he is more than capable at this level.

He only made one save but was quick off his line on a number of occasions and should keep his place in Switzerland next Tuesday.

Work in Progress:

Zardes made his US debut
in February this year

1)Gyasi Zardes

LA Galaxy’s rising star was making just his third international appearance in Aarhus but has a long way to go before he is ready to play right midfield for the USA.

Zardes scored 19 goals playing upfront for the Galaxy last season and Klinsmann should consider keeping him there – the youngster struggled in Denmark both on and off the ball.

Positionally Zardes seemed unsure when to attack and when to defend, and was guilty of recklessly sacrificing possession in dangerous areas on too many occasions.

He should improve at this level, and surely has a long international future ahead of him, but he needs to learn the importance of possession and positioning at the highest level.

2)The Defence

The USA have leaked 12 goals in their past five matches, including a clean sheet against Panama, and have only kept two clean sheets in their last 14 outings.

Admittedly they have scored in all but one of those games, a 1-0 defeat to World Cup winners Germany, but they need to improve if they are to make the next step at international level.

John Brooks and Michael Orozco started in central defence instead of regulars Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler and coped reasonably well under intense pressure for the first 80 minutes.

Dempsey is currently injured

However, after Klinsmann replaced Orozco with debutant Ventura Alvarado with ten minutes to go, the US were cut apart by Denmark, almost at will.

Looking Ahead:

Switzerland, ranked 12 in the FIFA world rankings, are next up for Klinsmann, whose young team continue to gather experience.

Avoiding defeat would be a good result away from home, but of greater importance is the performance.

The US need to improve, quickly. After Switzerland they face top quality opposition in the shape of Mexico, the Netherlands and Germany in their next three matches.

Clint Dempsey, Besler and Gonzalez will surely return for the biggest games, but Klinsmann faces a lot of problems and he will worry that he won’t be able to find answers soon enough.

Images courtesy of Gene Sweeney Jr., Bongarts, seriouslysilly, Victor Decolongon and EDrost88 with thanks.