Klinsmann with Gold Cup Decisions for USA After Mixed Performances vs Guatemala

Jurgen Klinsmann's United States men's national team picked up a straightforward 4-0 win over Guatemala in their final warm-up game before the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Friday night, giving the team confidence as they head into the tournament.

For the manager, his decision to change captain from Clint Dempsey to Michael Bradley wasn't the biggest issue of the day—instead, it was how some of his squad members fared after being given a starting role for the match.

Despite the win, too many of them perhaps failed to really grasp the chance which came their way, and fans of the USMNT can expect a few alterations once the Gold Cup gets underway.

Zusi and Chandler

Perhaps the two most obvious "final chances" handed out went to midfielder Graham Zusi, who started left side, and right-back Timothy Chandler. At half-time, there were certainly reasons enough to hook both, but Chandler remained on the pitch and turned his game around, to his credit.

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

Zusi was out of the game and unable to really help link play from his wide starting point, with Fabian Johnson initially doing well overlapping at pace, but the two couldn't combine to create any chances in the final third, and Zusi really just crowded out the likes of Bradley, Dempsey and Johnson at times. His departure was not unexpected, and he probably isn't going to be involved come the start of the game against Honduras on July 7—especially after the impressive impact of his replacement, Gyasi Zardes. The LA Galaxy man was faster, more direct with his running, created the final two goals and generally looked a better fit for what was by and large a fairly fluid US midfield.

"

Zardes just brings so much more quality in the final third than Zusi does.

— Garrett Cleverly (@GarrettCleverly) July 4, 2015"

While Chandler was poor in the first half, he made two big early impacts going forward after the break, and that seemed to lift his confidence. Firstly, a tremendous cross sought out Dempsey in the area, who should have scored; then, he rattled in his own first goal on the international stage from range.

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WATCH: Timmy Chandler snipes his first #USMNT goal to make it 2-0 in the 58th minute: http://t.co/3axWqfDbkP #USAvGUA

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) July 4, 2015"

Thereafter, Chandler attacked at will and was involved in plenty of buildup, giving his team an outlet on the counter and penetration in the box.

Mix Up Midfield

One notable change in the centre of the park was to slot Mix Diskerud in at the base of what was initially labelled a diamond midfield, but the start of the fixture saw him and Bradley almost side-by-side in the middle. Both alternated in sliding forward to occupy spaces when in possession, while later on as the US began to dominate, it was more frequently Bradley who roved freely and looked to link play.

For Diskerud—competing with Kyle Beckerman for that holding role—it was a satisfactory night's work.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

He passed intelligently and swiftly, imperative in that controlling position in midfield, and he was constantly available for his back four to find him as the initial out-ball. In terms of protecting that defence, though, he perhaps didn't score quite so highly. Not as combative and all-action as Beckerman can be, Diskerud was bypassed with Guatemala's tendency to go long or directly wide from deep, and he didn't always track the right man into the box.

Beckerman will no doubt be first choice, but much of this role's selection will come down to what Klinsmann wants from the player who occupies it. If it's win the ball back at all costs, Beckerman will take centre stage, but if—especially against the likes of Haiti, perhaps—the German head coach values ball retention and ingenuity more highly, then it is possible that Diskerud showed enough against Guatemala to come into the reckoning.

"Safe" Established Names?

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

Much of the rest of the USMNT starting XI could probably be predicted, at least for the start of the tournament. Bradley will play in behind the front two of Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, Omar Gonzalez and John Brooks will partner up in defence and Brad Guzan will take his place in goal.

There should, though, be an element of caution for one or two of those names. Established and proven or not, form is everything in the short and brutal nature of tournament football, and USA cannot afford to carry passengers. 

Guzan was unconvincing indeed against Guatemala, fumbling a routine free-kick collection, not coming off his line quickly enough and lucky to keep a clean sheet. In fact, that last owed almost everything to the lack of composure and finishing ability of Jose Contreras—and Guzan also recently lost his place at club level. At the other end of the pitch, Altidore's missed penalty, his general lack of effectiveness (and USA's lowered reliance on his physical prowess) and the scoring impact off the bench of Chris Wondolowski also mean that the strike duo could still be altered.

For Klinsmann, the result and the overall performance will have been pleasing enough, and USA will head into the Gold Cup confident about their chances of retaining the trophy. There are still positions to fill though, and a few of the players in the squad might be heading home tonight thinking they could—and probably should—have done more to ensure they were in the starting XI when Honduras roll into town.

Follow @karlmatchett.