Klinsmann is still experimenting with his line up
Analysis: The problem currently is that the U.S. midfield and attack is far superior to its defense
Lord Nicklas Bendtner sinks USMNT with first international hat trick
by Scott Nicholls
A Nicklas Bendtner hat trick. Seriously, a Nicklas Bendtner hat trick is what the U.S. men’s national team succumbed to in Denmark. Was that something viewers at home should’ve been expecting? Probably not. But it was that kind of night for a US team that never really got into any kind of rhythm.
Denmark started the game squarely on the front foot. Lasse Vibe tested Greg Garza early, and was a continuing source of problems for the US defense.
Here we go again, US fans must have thought — but then, something happened:
Timmy Chandler played a speculative diagonal ball into the path of Jozy Altidore. The outcome seemed simple, with Altidore going up against two Danish defenders and the goalkeeper.
Bizarrely neither Danish defender attempted to make a play on the ball and it fell to Altidore on his left foot. The Toronto FC man powered the volley home giving the United States the lead on 19 minutes.
The US had a great 15 minute spell after this, keeping the ball well, moving it around with purpose, they even created more chances. And then something else happened:
Enter Lord Nicklas Bendtner. Normal service had resumed.
The defending for the Denmark’s first goal was woeful, but then it was for the entire match.
It’s easy to put that down to this match being an “experiment” for Jurgen Klinsmann to see what talent he has available to him for the Gold Cup. But this is umpteenth time since the World Cup that the USMNT has collapsed in the second half.
Garza found Lassa Vibe to be a problem from the beginning
In truth, the US were never really “in” this game. They led twice through Altiodre and then Aron Johannsson, but both goals came well against the run of play. The US tried to play a 4-4-2 vs Denmark but Bradley and Bedoya looked lost up against Kvist, Eriksen and Poulsen.
Klinsmann brought on Alfredo Morales after the break, who promptly gave the ball away twice in two minutes, both times the give-away leading to a dangerous Denmark chance.
The US men’s national team cannot close out games. Period. That has to change. His team are now outscored 11-1 in the second half of matches since the world cup after outscoring their opponents 10-3 in the first half.
Klinsmann tinkers a lot with his team, he likes to see what is available to him at all times. It’s understandable, but it’s also hurting the USMNT in the win-loss column. What was apparent versus Denmark was a disjointedness that, unfortunately, we are beginning to associate with the men’s national team.
The two most glaring errors came for Denmark’s second and third goals. For Bendtner’s second, never mind the inability to clear the ball, what was De Andre Yedlin doing turning his back? For Lord Bendtner’s third goal — the magisterial first touch, and subsequent volley (that seemed to take forever to hit) — John Brooks flinched before Lord Bendtner had even kicked the ball.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
They’re not cowards, they’re not afraid of the ball, they’re just vastly inexperienced. Not even just at international level, at any level. Two more experienced defenders in the same position may well have stood up to both shots, and at least made an attempt to make Bendtner think twice about his finish.
Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez must be feeling pretty darn safe with their places in the team regarding competitive matches.
Bizarrely Klinsmann thought the back-line played well! With the US’s failure to close out a 2-1 lead with 8 minutes to go, I think many a fan — and many a writer — might have to agree to disagree, Jurgen.
Klinsmann has previously blamed the US’s woes since the World Cup on fitness, but certainly he cannot use that excuse any more. The mentality of the side is wrong, and certainly the construction of it is too.
There are positives to come out of the game, though. Aron Johannsson and Jozy Altidore linked up well for the second goal and Michael Bradley ran things when he could for the US from a deeper midfield role. Joey Altidore has now scored 4 goals in his last 6 games for the US. His current form for the national side is one of the most positive things we have seen from the national team since the World Cup.
For those calling for Klinsmann’s head, stop. Sacking Klinsmann would only be like putting a bandage around your finger to treat a terminal disease. The change must come from within the players and US Soccer, and he is the man to do that.
The US faces slightly lesser opposition in Switzerland on the 31st, hopefully they can bounce back with a win.
USMNT
Lineups:
USA: 1-Nick Rimando; 21-Timmy Chandler, 15-Michael Orozco (19-Ventura Alvarado, 80), 6-John Brooks, 3-Greg Garza; 20-Gyasi Zardes (2-DeAndre Yedlin, 67) 11-Alejandro Bedoya (7-Alfredo Morales, 46), 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 23-Fabian Johnson (13-Brek Shea, 46); 17-Jozy Altidore, 9-Aron Johannsson (18-Rubio Rubin, 67)
Subs not used: 5-Tim Ream, 10-Miguel Ibarra, 14-Danny Williams, 16-Julian Green, 22-Williams Yarbrough
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
DEN: 16-Stephan Andersen; 2-Daniel Wass, 3-Simon Kjar, 4-Erik Sviatchenko, 5-Nicolai Bollesen (17-Simon Busk Poulsen, 53); 7-William Kvist (23-Anders Christiansen, 46), 18-Jakob Poulsen (19-Thomas Delaney, 46), 21-Lasse Vibe (8-Martin Braithwaite, 74), 10-Christian Eriksen (capt.); 9-Michael Krohn-Dehli (14-Lasse Schöne, 78), 11-Nicklas Bendtner
Subs not used: 1-Kasper Schmeichel, 6-Las Jacobsen, 12-Mathias Zanka Jorgensen, 13-Kian H. Hansen, 22-Jonas Lössl
Head Coach: Morten Olsen
