By halftime, the “Fire Klinsmann” banner hanging in Soldier Field’s lower deck was long gone, either confiscated by authorities or pulled by the artists with a change of heart amid the US national soccer team’s 4-0 romp over Costa Rica.
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Clint Dempsey had a goal and two assists for the Americans, who provisionally climbed into a first-place tie in Group A with Colombia.
However, Paraguay knows that they have a shot to advance as well, meaning the Americans can not take this upcoming match lightly.
Wednesday’s win against Costa Rica might have offered Klinsmann another chance of changing his story line.
“I see a team progressing, I see a team that badly wants to prove itself against these caliber teams”, Klinsmann said.
There was no score between the USA and Colombia when Cristian Zapata eluded defender Geoff Cameron and volleyed Edwin Cordona’s corner past goaltender Brad Guzan for a 1-0 lead. “But obviously the result is a 2-0, and especially here in the US that’s all that matters to a lot of people. The team, they know where they stand”.
If Costa Rica and Colombia draw, the USMNT advances to the quarterfinals, finishing second in Group A. We put in a good shift, especially when they had the better of the game.
The loss to Colombia ramped up criticism of Klinsmann, who said last month the team’s Copa goal was at least the semifinals.
Paraguay need to beat the USA in a must-win encounter for both sides on Saturday to have any hope of qualification. Addressing reporters after a 4-0 thrashing of Costa Rica on Tuesday put the Americans back on track, the USA coach revisited Friday’s match.
And it worked – in a big way.
“They thought the job was nearly done and then boom, they scored the one goal”. But with months progressed Klinsmann’s coaching method and attitude towards the footballers in the national team was widely criticized by USA national team’s one of the all-time star, London Donovan who was dropped by Klinsmann befo0re the Brazil World Cup 2014. He also scored his first at the home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears on May 28, 2005, against England.
The outcome means Colombia are the first team to confirm a place in the last 8, while the rest still have all to play for in the last chance saloon this Saturday.
“I think we are right there in the driver’s seat to get through this very, very hard group”. First, though, they must pass another high-stakes test that seemed like a reach just a few days ago after a tournament-opening loss to Colombia.
Dempsey looked down at the ball, started his approach, stutter-stepped and calmly placed a shot with his right foot into the lower right corner as the Costa Rica’s goalkeeper, Patrick Pemberton, dove in the opposite direction.
10 minutes later, however, Ramon Diaz’s La Albirroja were reduced to 10 men when Oscar Romero received a second yellow card for tugging the shirt of Rodriguez and then taking down Guillermo Celis in the centre of the pitch. Bottom of the group at the start of the day’s play, by the end the US was in a strong position to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals. It got better five minutes later with another counter-attacking goal which began when Alejandro Bedoya and Dempsey combined to find Wood on the edge of the penalty area.
Guzan, playing near his hometown of Homer Glen, Ill., clapped as he headed off the field after the halftime whistle, and Costa Rica barely challenged in the second half.
“It confirms the spirit of the group”. The whole bench is jumping up and down.
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Costa Rica is coming off a scoreless draw with Paraguay so they sit just one point ahead of the U.S. With Colombia looming in Costa Rica’s finale, Tuesday’s game is crucial for both sides. Their match against Paraguay to round out their group stage games will be critical to figuring out who ends up advancing to the knockout round.
