Red, White and Blue Review: USA vs Netherlands and Germany

The USMNT travelled across the Atlantic as the European season was coming to a close and faced two of the world’s best sides in the Netherlands and Germany.

Netherlands have struggled in Euro 2016 qualification but did finish third at last year’s World Cup and the USA recorded a 4-3 win in a brilliant game.

Then they crossed the border in manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s country of birth to take on the world’s number one side and again they secured a historic 2-1 victory.

Although the European giants had their respective upcoming qualifiers in mind, the USA put in two highly impressive displays to secure back-to-back wins. 

Klinsmann masterminded both wins

Stat Attack:

• The win against Germany is the first time the USA have beaten FIFA’s number one ranked nation
• Before the victory against the Netherlands the last time the USMNT had scored four goals in a match was in August 2013, 26 games ago
• The USMNT’s cumulative second half scores since the 2014 World Cup stands at a positive 15-3
• Klinsmann’s side have conceded more than two goals in four of their last eight matches

Working Well:

Game plan

In both matches the USA were content to sit back and soak up pressure, conceding possession of the ball to remain organised and difficult to break down.

This is a tactic Klinsmann can rarely afford to implement outside of tournaments because the US often head into matches as the favourites.

But when up against two of the best international outfits it worked to a tee and the manager will be delighted with the concentration of his charges.

To underline the point, the last time a team beat Germany and Netherlands in the space of a week was Spain on their way to winning the 2010 World Cup.

Bobby Wood

Wood netted the winner in both games

The 22-year-old striker had made only six international appearances before the European visit but after scoring the winner in both matches he should win a few more.

Wood is another of Klinsmann’s German-based contingent and has spent the season on loan from 1860 Munich with Erzgebirge Aue who have been relegated to the third tier.

But his international manager clearly sees something in the Hawaiian-born forward and the blockbuster nature of both goals would suggest he could be onto something.

The question for Wood now is firstly can he establish himself at club level and if so, can he consistently replicate these performances for the national side.

Must Do Better:

Defensive concentration

Despite praising the tactics the team employed in both matches, the four goals conceded were often the result of individual lapses in concentration.

While these mistakes may go unpunished in MLS and even at club level for the European-based players, at international level the case is very different.

The overriding memory of the World Cup which took place exactly 12 months ago is the superb display by Tim Howard in denying Belgium time and again.

Those defensive frailties were again on show in both matches and if the USA are to become an elite soccer nation, the mental side is what needs to improve.

Bradley was superb against Germany

Midseason fitness advantage tells

A win is a win, but both victories came in the dying minutes against sides containing players that are at the end of a long domestic season.

It is also true for a number of the US players, but the stand-out players in the Germany game for example are all MLS based.

The man-of-the-match was Toronto star Michael Bradley, Mix Diskerud of New York City and Kyle Beckerman of Real Salt Lake were also dynamic in their play. 

Now the old saying goes, ‘you can only beat the team in front of you’ and while that is true, these results do need to be kept in perspective.

Looking Ahead:

It’s an exciting time for US soccer with a number of young players coming to the fore and it would seem Klinsmann is keen to give them a chance.

Alongside the likes of Wood, 20-year-old Jordan Morris who is still playing college soccer for Stanford University and LA Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes made an impression.

They have a month to prepare for their Gold Cup defence and if they can replicate these attacking performances they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Teams will set-up very differently against them and they will not be able to counter-attack as frequently as this but it will be a challenge they should relish.

Images courtesy of Bongarts, with thanks.