That just happened. They just did that. We—you—just did that! The United States lost today to Germany in their final group stage match. But they only lost 1-0, while Portugal beat Ghana 2-1, which means that the USMNT have pulled off what many thought to be the impossible: They entered the Group of Death, took on all comers, made it through pretty scathed but whole, and are now moving on to the Round of 16. And now that they're safely through, it's finally kosher to state what we all, deep in our hearts, know to be true. They backed into the knockout rounds. Ghana trounced the USMNT, beating them in every way but one, thanks to a late John Brooks header. Next were Portugal, in the rainforest. USA rolled them. The Americans dominated most of the match in possibly their greatest performance against elite competition since like 1950, maybe, and deserved all three points. But two lapses—one at start of the match, and one at its death—saw two Portugal goals, and the game ended in a draw. Instead of qualifying for the knockout stage of the tournament right then, the USMNT went into the Germany needing, basically, to not get blown out. They didn't! This was partly because of a pretty gnarly flood in Recife that flooded the city streets and soaked the pitch, turning the match into an ugly mudwrestling bout, with bodies flying everywhere, the Germans surging forward and the Americans holding onto their opponent's leg for dear life with one eye on the Portugal-Ghana scoreboard. The Americans didn't create a real chance until the end of the game, while Germany, likely the best team in the world, missed chance after chance save one, denied by a stupendous performance from keeper Tim Howard, and the very elements themselves. Midway through the second half, it started to feel like this shit was meant to be. They survived, which was all they had to do, but it was an objectively terrible performance. It was concerning. In fact, this whole tournament has been concerning. And USMNT fans should all be pretty pumped about that! The Americans have failed to put in a complete performance in Brazil yet. Our best player, center midfielder Michael Bradley, looks like the greatest soccer player to ever put on an American jersey when he looks good. At this year's World Cup, however, he was dominated in the first match, gravely erred in the second, and today, looked to be playing in galoshes. His first touch was worse, probably, than yours, and while he provided defensive support, he struggled to get up the pitch to link with Dempsey, who was too often left on an island, holding the ball up with no one to play it to. As hilarious as it is that Brad Davis is at the World Cup, it wasn't all that awesome to see him starting today. Because yes, relatively speaking, he sucks. His replacement Alejandro Bedoya came on with a half-hour to play, and he sucked too. It doesn't feel like manager Jürgen Klinsmann has quite found his best lineup yet, or even his best formation. Even so, there are bright spots. Some people are whispering or screaming that Klinsmann should look into benching Bradley. This is dumb. But it would be accurate to say the Americans were able to advance in spite of Bradley. They were able to do so, more than anything else, because Jermaine Jones turned, seemingly overnight into Michael Bradley. Jones has always gotten a bad rap with American fans, and though he was never dope, per se, the harsh criticism was a little unfair to his skill and tenacity as an all-action midfielder. Still, this tournament, Jones has made an Aaron Ramsey-like transformation, and has comfortably been the Americans' best player in each of the first three matches. Remember this? And if Jones is our best, then his complement in the defensive midfield, Kyle Beckerman, is the USMNT's most consistent. He's a calming influence, seemingly invisible at times, but always there, always clean and tidy when the ball's at his feet, and stepping into passing lanes when it's not. There is nothing sexy about wide midfielder Graham Zusi's game, but when he's in, he affects the match. He came on as a sub against Ghana and had the winning assist to Brooks. He started against Portugal and hooked up Dempsey for the go-ahead goal nine minutes from time. Today against Germany, he got the nod and nearly scored a great goal from outside the box. Center back Besler is a stud, but there's a question as to whether Geoff Cameron or Omar Gonzalez slots in better next to him. Cameron is the better player, but f ucked up against Portugal for their first goal. Gonzalez (who was looked over for substitute Brooks in the first match) started today against Germany and didn't make a mistake all game…which probably means he's due. Klinsmann has a tough choice to make, but the play of Fabian Johnson and, shockingly, old man DaMarcus Beasley on the right and left flanks have more than acquitted themselves against Cristiano Ronaldo and Germany's murderer's row of midfielders. (Ghana…not so much, but let's forget about that.) So, the USMNT have some flaws, but what matters is that they grit and ground and lucked through Group of Death, and now Bradley is presumably going to revert to form, and anyway Klinsmann has a chance to make it right. Luckily, we here at Deadspin have partnered with the good folks at Howler, and we put our heads together to come up with a plan going forward for the knockout stages. Without Jozy Altidore, a 4-1-2-1-2 doesn't make much sense, and besides, the Americans don't have the players for it. But a 4-2-3-1 is also worrisome for a number of reasons. Jones, weirdly, seems like a more viable attacking option behind the striker than Bradley, but it's probably better to give him the option of going forward instead of number 10 responsibilities. And though Bradley remains a must-start, as well as Jones, Beckerman, and Zusi, a fifth midfielder hasn't appeared who could play on the left. There are, however, some good attacking options on the bench, the best of whom is probably Aron Jóhansson. The Iceman is too slight to hold down the center forward position on his own, and besides, playing with his back to goal, shrugging off towering center backs ain't his game. At his club, Dutch side AZ, however, he scored 26 goals in all competitions last season, and he was a terror cutting in from the left onto his right to create havoc. So let's play him there, on the left wing, and see what he can do. It might behoove Klinsmann to switch to a 4-3-3 and see what comes of it. Dempsey could lead the front line, with Zusi whipping in crosses from a deeper position. Jones and Bradley can hold down the center of the midfield, allowing both Bradley and Jones to get forward at times, and Beckerman would shield the back four of Beasley, Besler, Cameron, and Johnson. Of course, Howard stays in goal. Whatever Klinsmann decides, it's obvious he'll have to make some changes. The Americans are a flawed group who have yet to put in a great performance at the World Cup. And yet here we are, safely out of the Group of Death, talking Round of 16 tactics. Let's do this. Screamer is Deadspin's soccer site. We're @ScreamerDS on Twitter. We'll be partnering with our friends at Howler Magazine throughout the World Cup. Follow them on Twitter, @whatahowler. Photo Credit: Getty
Related Posts
Clement Lenglet is yet to make a decision regarding his future despite appearing on the verge of completing a move to Barcelona, his agent has said.
Defender Lenglet has gained many admirers since joining Sevilla from Nancy in January 2017, quickly securing a first-team role under Jorge Sampaoli and remaining a key figure this season, playing 35 times – more than any of his team-mates – in LaLiga.
Reports of Barca s interest were prominent for much of the campaign and there have even been claims the club already have an agreement with Lenglet.
Sevilla said they were in contract talks with Lenglet last month as they attempted to fend off any interest from Barca.
His exit has long since appeared almost certain, but agent Gregory Dakad told ABC…
Tottenham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo insisted Harry Kane is committed to Spurs and has nothing to prove after failing to secure a move away from the Premier League club.
After confirming he will not be leaving Tottenham this month, Kane marked his first start of the season with a brace as Spurs overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit by topping Pacos de Ferreira 3-0 en route to the inaugural Europa Conference League group stage.
Kane – under contract until June 2024 – had been tipped to join Premier League champions Manchester City, however, a transfer did not materialise.
Following his two-goal haul in London on Thursday, Nuno praised the star England international forward.
He s one of our own
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
…
Market: Lazio win
Odds: 10/11 @
Looking to make it back-to-back Europa League victories on Thursday evening, Lazio will make the trip to Denmark when they meet Midtjylland.
Starting with the hosts, while Midtjylland might have managed to secure themselves another European tour this season, the Wolves are in the midst of what has been a nightmare run of form. Opening up this year s Europa League campaign with a sluggish 1-0 loss away at Sturm Graz, it appears there is growing pressure on Albert Capellas shoulders. Mustering just 10 points from their opening nine Superliga showdowns, the Danish giants are some way off the pace. Failing to pick up any momentum over the weekend as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Nordsjælland, FCM have remarkably managed t…
Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay admires derby-day hero Steven Caulker for opting to move from Tottenham to further his career.
The England international defender scored the only goal of the game on Sunday as Cardiff prevailed 1-0 against Swansea City in the first South Wales derby to take place in the top flight.
Caulker rose highest to nod home Craig Bellamy s corner in the 62nd minute, but there were no wild celebrations from the 21-year-old out of respect for a club that he spent a season on loan with in 2011-12.
Mackay has praised Caulker for deciding to leave London club Tottenham in July in search of regular first-team football at Cardiff, who are 12th in the Premier League following victory over Swansea.
I couldn t believe we actually got him, not for t…
Corinthians have raised their asking price for Alexandre Pato to €25million following his impressive displays on loan at Sao Paulo.
The Brazilian giants repatriated the striker who has scored 10 goals in 27 appearances for the national team from AC Milan in 2013 for a fee of €15m.
However, Pato struggled to make a positive impact at Corinthians and was sent on loan to rivals Sao Paulo in 2014 until the end of the following year, subsequently delivering a string of positive performances.
Corinthians are currently in financial turmoil and had previously been looking for a fee in the region of €10m for the striker, but the club s the deputy director of football, Eduardo Ferreira, has now raised the price.
At the moment there are only enquiries.…
Gareth Southgate hopes Mason Mount and James Maddison will inject midfield creativity into his England squad.
Mount, 20, and Maddison have impressed for Chelsea and Leicester City during the opening weeks of this season and account for half of the uncapped players selected for the Three Lions Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo, along with Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings.
Southgate helmed England s run to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the Nations League Finals, an impressive feat undermined by his side lacking some cutting edge at the business end of the competitions.
Mount who has scored two in three matches for Chelsea on the back of impressive loan spells at Vitesse and Derby Coun…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not concerned by Bruno Fernandes waning impact in Manchester United s attack, believing his team-mates can profit from the midfielder s mere presence.
Fernandes has not provided a goal or an assist in his past three appearances in all competitions, each of which have seen United held to goalless draws.
Prior to his mini barren run, the Portugal international had averaged 3.8 shots and 2.9 chances created per 90 minutes, enjoying 83.4 touches, including 3.6 in the opposition box.
Over the three games since scoring and assisting against Newcastle United, he has averaged two shots and 2.8 chances per 90, touching the ball in the area at the same rate but seeing his overall involvement drop to 72.4 touches.
It is only a slight drop-of…
I wish he hadn’t become a manager
I always hesitate to criticise Diego Maradona because he was probably the best footballer I have seen in my lifetime. For that very reason he is a hero of mine and millions of others.
Flawed
Despite that, he is, at best, a flawed genius. We all know about his drug taking past and we have all wondered about his health both physical and mental. Since he was given the job of managing the Argentina national team he has done little to remove those worries.
The fact is that he has taken Argentina to the World Cup and has therefore achieved all that it has been possible for him to do. The reality is that he has not appeared to be up to the job and he is almost certainly not the right man to lead them in the finals.
Furiou…
West Brom defender Steven Reid has faced his hardest pre-season yet but is excited for his 11th successive Premier League campaign.
The former Republic of Ireland international has been with the club since 2010 and is viewed as a senior member in the club s squad due to his experience.
At 32, Reid is a seasoned professional used to the rigours of getting in shape ahead of a new season, although he has confessed that the years are catching up with him.
As you get on a little bit in years pre-season becomes tougher, said Reid.
This is the 17th full-time one I’ve done and it does become harder as the years go on.
For a lot of the older lads in the modern game you sort of tailor your pre-season a little bit.
Reid joined West Brom after spending seven …
Cesare Prandelli has a tough task to turn Valencia s fortunes around.
Valencia suffered defeat away to Sevilla in Saturday’s Spanish La Liga clash to end the weekend just two places and two points above the relegation zone.
Once again, Los Che find themselves struggling in the lower reaches in the table, having already changed managers early into the season, and many believe their top-flight status is genuinely at risk.
Valencia’s decline over the last 18 months
Valencia’s problems started after the 2014/15 season. The club had been selling their best players as a result of financial difficulties and things finally came to a head in 2015. The preceding years saw Valencia selling players such as David Villa, Juan Mata, David Silva, Jordi Alba, Rober…