What a difference a week makes.
After dropping their 2016 Copa America Centenario opening game against Colombia on Friday last week, Jürgen Klinsmann’s team needed to do a much better job to avoid an early exit in the tournament. Even the team’s captain Clint Dempsey said the game was “a must-win” contest, but the players needed to respond to show they are still committed to the project led by the German tactician.
Based on what they did this Tuesday against Costa Rica, it’s safe to say the USMNT still has a lot to say in the Copa America. Even though the game started sloppy for the hosts, a dominant effort carried by Clint Dempsey led the US to a 4-0 win that not only puts them on the right track to reach the next round, it also means they depend on themselves to reach the knockout stages.
Clint Dempsey was the star of the Stars & Stripes in this game. The Seattle Sounders icon scored the first goal with a well-taken penalty, and he was an unstoppable force from a hybrid role on the attacking line: he wasn’t an attacking midfielder, but he didn’t play as a center forward either. He operated as a type of “False 9” – similar to what Lionel Messi used to do at FC Barcelona – and he was the main threat for the US in the final third.
Dempsey, in fact, assisted on Jermaine Jones’ goal – a rocket from outside the box that sneaked into the far post – and on Bobby Wood’s strike – a well-placed shot after a quick movement from the former Union Berlin striker – so he was directly involved in the team’s three first goals.
Dempsey, however, wasn’t the only player that separated himself from the rest in Tuesday’s win. Michael Bradley returned to a deep-lying playmaker role in midfield – the position that made him famous playing in Europe – and he thrived behind Jones and Alejandro Bedoya. Jones also looked far more comfortable with a bit more freedom to move forward, and the veteran midfielder capped his performance with a goal.
The defensive line looked quite sharp, too. The center-back pairing of John Brooks and Geoff Cameron neutralized the opposing attackers quite well, the fullbacks looked composed, and Brad Guzan responded every time he was needed. It was a total team effort in which even the substitutes got involved, as Graham Zusi came off the bench to score the fourth goal late in the second half.
Sure, the USMNT looked pretty good in this game. But did they turn a corner? That might not be the case, unfortunately. The opposition is also a factor in the team’s performance, and Costa Rica was sloppy and sluggish. It’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which the US can be as consistent and as dominant as they were during Tuesday’s game.
What can’t be denied, however, is the fact that the team made a big step in the right direction. It will be up for the players and the coaching staff to make this type of performance the norm, and not an anomaly.