Shorthanded USMNT attack looks to step up against Argentina

Photo by Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the Copa America, the U.S. Men’s National Team attack has been quietly efficient, but, in the absence of several regulars, the U.S. will need a standout performance to have any hope in Tuesday night’s semifinal.

Starters Bobby Wood, Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya will miss out on Tuesday’s clash due to suspension, and each player’s absence will rob the USMNT of a vital piece. In Wood, the USMNT have a true hold-up striker with pace and goalscoring ability, while the absences of Jones and Bedoya will take away two of the USMNT’s most hard-working midfield option ahead of a match against a world power in Argentina.

In the trio’s absence, players will need to step up. Clint Dempsey will all but certainly be up top to lead the line, but the veteran will need help if the U.S. is to breakdown Argentina. Widely regarded as one of the top team’s in the world, the U.S. will need to move the ball in front of goal and capitalize on each and every look afforded to them, as chances will not come often against a vicious Argentina team.

“Everybody is going to have to be together, working hard to make it difficult on them,” Dempsey said. “We’re going to have to be sharp in front of goal to give ourselves a chance to win the game. It’s just going to have to be our best effort and, as the tournament has gone on, I feel we have grown in confidence and grown as a team, and hopefully we can use that to help push is forward.

“For Clint, for Gyasi (Zardes), for Chris Wondolowski, for our attackers, they need to play their own game because we need them to be dangerous and to score goals,” said Michael Bradley, who will look to balance a midfield without his two main partners. “A big part of my game is also defending, making the game hard for the other team, no matter who you play against. So it’s always about trying to find that balance between attack and defense, between playing well myself, but also making sure they don’t play well.”

The Copa America has proven a bit of an up-and-down ride for the U.S., despite all of their successes in reaching the semifinal.

After being blanked against Colombia, the U.S. broke out in a big way with a 4-0 win over CONCACAF rivals Costa Rica in a performance that has turned out to be a major outlier. Just three goals have followed in the ensuing two games, but the U.S. has overcome red cards in each to topple both Paraguay and Ecuador en route to Tuesday’s match.

The loss of Wood in particular will be a difficult one. Played both out wide and centrally throughout the tournament, Wood has proven a valuable asset in the attack. His speed and creativity have helped the U.S. unlock defenses and find space in the final third, while his finish against Costa Rica showed just how talented he is with the ball at his feet.

In replacing Wood, the U.S. has several options. Zardes can be pushed inside into a striker role, giving the U.S. an elite athlete to hassle the Argentina defense alongside the technique and guile of Dempsey. Klinsmann could opt to go with the experience of Wondolowski, a player yearning for another chance on the big stage. Or, Klinsmann can deploy Dempsey alone and focus on exploiting the wings alongside of him, attacking an Argentinian fullback unit that is likely the team’s weak-link in the back.

“Bobby’s a phenomenal player. You can see by the previous games his work rate was through the roof,” Zardes said. “I’m just curious what the coaching staff has prepared. We don’t know anything yet… If I’m in that position that Bobby plays, in that role, I’ll look to be an attacking threat and also help out defensively. I’ve watched various clips of Bobby and his work rate is phenomenal. If I’m chosen to play that role up top I’ll try to do the same: work extremely hard and just try to be an outlet for my teammates.

“Although they create numerous opportunities, they also give up a handful of opportunities,” Zardes added, “and if you bury those opportunities the game can be different.”

The midfield puzzle is a different one altogether. Bradley is all but penciled in to start, but Klinsmann has several other options to play alongside of him, depending on how much, or how little, he wants to attack the match. Kyle Beckerman can provide a valuable destroyer in front of the defense, one that will look to limit Argentina’s playmakers before they emerge in dangerous situations. Darlington Nagbe provides a more attacking, technical threat, but his inexperience on the international level could make Klinsmann weary to throw him into the wolves.

No matter who he opts to utilize, Klinsmann believes in his roster, even in the face of absences that will certainly require major shuffling against elite opposition.

“Anything is possible, because if you look at the South American qualifying group it’s not that they win every game,” Klinsmann said. “They lose games as well. And when they lose games, they make mistakes.

“It goes both ways. I’m sure they’re alert about our forwards as well, our players as well. They can hurt them in a split second as well. It will be a fascinating game. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our players to show themselves.”

CREDIT TO:http://sbisoccer.com/2016/06/shorthanded-usmnt-attack-looks-to-step-up-against-argentina