Jurgen Klinsmann wants the USA team to play soccer the “American way”, to dictate and impose their style on the game rather than let other teams bring the game to them. In their opening game against Ghana, they certainly pressured and harried the Ghanaians into discomfort.
But make no mistake, the Americans were not the clearly, if at all, better team on the day. That win was delivered from tremendous team effort and belief. The trademark “I Believe That We Will Win” chant ringing through the American crowd was a war cry that showcased the clear belief of the players in their own team and their understanding of the importance of the game against Ghana (Jurgen Klinsmann called the opening match a “final of sorts”). Post-game quotes, and the attitude of the players after the Ghana equalizer, demonstrated that they truly believed they were going to win that game the whole time.
So how did the USA win against a team that pushed the German powerhouse to the brink? Obviously a game is much easier when you can get an early goal while the other team is still asleep, although the game would have likely played out similarly no matter what.
The clear strategy was to hound Ghana as soon as they got the ball, compact the defensive end, especially in the middle, keep them outside of the box and hit them on the counter. Most of Ghana’s 21 shots came from the outside and barely bothered Tim Howard. The US did an excellent job of limiting close-range chances, and the effectiveness of that strategy is highlighted by the fact that it was one of the few times that Ghana actually got 1 on 1 in the box (really a 2 on 2) in which they made a nice move to score. The US always tried to have numbers, and there were multiple times when one Ghanaian was squeezed on the sideline by two US defenders.
USA:
Look for most of the defensive pressure to continue against the Portugal team and perhaps the most important x-factor in the effectiveness of that strategy might be the weather. Right now the weather is looking at a heat index of almost 100. The question is whether the US will be able to keep up the intensity for 90 minutes six days after a mentally and physically draining full shift and watching more than one player fall to injury.
A win puts the USA in pole position in Group G and whoever wins the group will likely play one of the eminently beatable South Korea, Russia or Algeria instead of the World Cup darkhorse Belgium. You know every American player just watched Ghana tie Germany and is asking “Why not us?” and Klinsmann certainly has an eye on avoiding Belgium in the next round, even if he would never say otherwise.
Losing Jozy Altidore was uniquely devastating, not so much for the center forward’s goal-scoring ability (which is lacking) but his hold-up play. His physicality would have allowed him to ‘post up’ Ghanaian defenders and not only provide the US defenders some rest, but also allow Clint Dempsey to play off of him instead of making him the US star the only focal point of the offense.
Aron Johannsson never seemed to get up to the pace of the game and it will be interesting to see whether Klinsmanns opts for Johannsson again or turns to Chris Wondolowski, who is a more of a poacher than the more skilled Johannsson. I would opt to start with Johannsson, see if he can break down the defense early, and then send Wondolowski on later to take advantage of a more tired Portugal team (lacking the cohesion of the starting defense) with his movement.
Beckerman and Jermaine Jones did an excellent job shepherding and positioning themselves to break up attacks in the middle of the field, and while Michael Bradley was poor going forward, his energy was tremendous for the defense and especially late in the game when it was clear both teams were tired. Bradley will need to step up his game to the levels we’ve seen for the US to win going forward, but what Beckerman and Jones did in that first game was immense, and made life much easier for their center backs. All three will have to make sure to never leave Ronaldo on an island against any US defender and do whatever they can (including picking up cards) to keep him from running at Fabian Johnson on the wing.
Defensively, after seeing the way Ghana was able to take advantage of this space against Germany, it’s clear that the US did an excellent job of closing up the gaps, turning the pressure on against Ghana. If they can disrupt an on-the-edge Portugal team and create some self-doubt, it will go a long way to helping the US win the game. Offensively, the US will have to keep the ball much better in this game and not lose the ball cheaply on the counter. Portugal will likely be more clinical than Ghana and giving Ronaldo multiple opportunities off a misplaced pass is playing with fire.
Portugal:
Portugal will likely show up in a 4-3-3, similar to the one they deployed against Germany so ineffectively. Losing 4-0 always puts a dent in your psyche, and this Portugal team does seem to be in disarray. Still, they know what’s at stake and I’m sure the “weakened” Portugal squad will more than make up for the missing players with the knowledge that their World Cup is on the line with a loss. Portugal will be ferocious, and even a hampered Ronaldo will be far and away the best player on the pitch.
Of course, all eyes will be on the star from Real Madrid and it will be up to the US to commit the numbers to stop Ronaldo without letting other players beat them 1 on 1 (or even losing them entirely). It will be interesting to see if Klinsmann man marks Ronaldo, and to whom he gives the honor (or more aptly put, the unfortunate assignment). I would bet on Bedoya or Zusi, depending on whose playing. Ronaldo has been missing in training, taking time to ice his knee, and it’s clear Real Madrid’s extended Champions League run is taking it’s toll on Ronaldo’s body. But I would be surprised to see him be ineffective when the whistle blows.
Half of the normal starting defense in Pepe and Fabio Coentrao will both be missing, and while Bruno Alves is physically imposing, losing the speed of Fabio Coentrao and Pepe next to him will leave him vulnerable, and Clint Dempsey is hardly going to be intimidated by Alves’ size. Ricardo Costa, Pepe’s likely replacement, is not as agile as Pepe, and it’s possible that Dempsey and whoever the US play up top will be able to use their speed to their advantage.
The midfield will likely stay the same, but it will be interesting to see if the William Carvalho, the hot prospect and young defensive midfielder from Sporting Lisbon, replaces Miguel Veloso, who was pulled at halftime after Pepe’s red card. Joao Moutinho will be the man in the middle of everything non-Ronaldo related for Portugal, and keeping him quiet will go a long way for the United States defense.
Up front, Hugo Almeida will also be missing, but the striker has hardly been a position of stability and production in the Ronaldo years, and normal starter Helder Postiga should not miss a beat.
Prediction:
The US was placed in the Group of Death, but they’ve been anything but cowed. I’m a hopeless optimist who will always predict the victory for the United States, but any result wouldn’t surprise me. The US just need points, because they don’t want to go into the Germany game needing to win or hoping for help. Portugal needs points to avoid elimination. It will be two desperate teams going at it in the heat in Manaus, and it will certainly be a fun game for the neutrals.
USA 3 – Portugal 2
[Photo: AP]Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
