Halloran proposes a changing of the guard, effective immediately.
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Klinsmann’s sunny optimism was reflected by his players, who have a chance to end a summer skid with a sweet victory over a Mexican team bouncing back from a rocky summer under steady interim manager Ricardo Ferretti. And Klinsmann the Technical Director saw the U.S. Under-23 team take a brutal (and deserved) 2-0 loss on home soil to Honduras with a berth in the 2016 Olympics on the line.
Amid this gorgeous backdrop, an global spectacle that has recently flourished in intensity and attention played out in riveting acts before Mexico prevailed, 3-2, on Paul Aguilar’s sensational goal in the 118th minute of the CONCACAF Cup. Earlier Saturday, the Mexican Football Federation confirmed that Colombia’s Juan Carlos Osorio has been hired as its new head coach. After that, World Cup qualifiers start in November, and the USA looked nothing like a Hex dominator on Saturday. The goal was Chicharito’s 42nd for Mexico, the second-most in team history, yet his first against the U.S.
“The pyramid is upside-down”, was his money quote, a direct shot at the way the USA develops its young players.
It was more of the same early in the second half as Mexico settled quickest.
No matter what happens next, the coach will continue to be a lightning rod among fans and the media. Chris Wondolowski, Graham Zusi, and Brad Evans should be dropped entirely to make room for younger call-ups. Midfielder Michael Bradley sent a free kick from the left side into the area. Johnson also was helpful on the few occasions he got forward, such as when his run opened space for Wood to strike. Substitute Bobby Wood restored parity in the 107th.
Yet Klinsmann has found himself outfoxed as tactician, time and again. And it’s troubling to see the lack of forethought that goes into many of his decisions.
The US and Mexico played overtime for just the second time in the rivalry’s 65-game history.
That the US was still in the game at that point was credit to Klinsmann’s substitutions.
Mexico set the US on their heels in the tenth minute of the match, pulling the defense out of shape and mounting a 2v1 break on Guzan. “On any given day Clint Dempsey or Jozy Altidore can do something like that”.
Bradley almost put the US twice later in the opening half.
It’s not the exciting, inventive soccer promised by Klinsmann when he took over.
If Klinsmann had done a better job since the World Cup of getting his team to play consistently well, and produce results more regularly, then maybe Saturday’s loss wouldn’t have triggered so much angst. Klinsmann may not lose his job (as in, he definitely won’t), but that doesn’t mean this year of failure will be without repercussions. Mexican fans played pickup soccer in the parking lot, diving to the ground after a goal as if they’d just scored a game victor against the United States.
In fact, this loss feels a lot like the loss that got Bob Bradley canned, the 4-2-fall-from-ahead Gold Cup final loss to Mexico, and Bradley had a heck of a lot on his USA resume.
Last week, Klinsmann seemed to be everywhere. That may be the case, but coming up with ideas and implementing them are two different skill sets.
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In the past, Klinsmann has explicitly listed winning the Gold Cup and qualifying for the Confederations Cup as goals for his senior team. He could have had Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron be his starters at the Gold Cup, which might have helped the Americans win a tournament that was there for the taking.
