USMNT's Copa Run Leaves a Few Important Questions About Program Moving Forward
The more we want things to change, the more they stay the same.
Instead of trotting out an experimental side in the third-place game of the Copa America Centenario, United States men's national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann opted for a veteran-laden starting XI that produced few positives in a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Klinsmann, who caught criticism for using Kyle Beckerman, Chris Wondolowski and Graham Zusi in the 4-0 semifinal loss to Argentina, baffled us once again. He played Michael Orozco at left back and started just three players who will be under 30 by the time the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia rolls around.
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To make matters worse, the USMNT boss waited until the 74th and 79th minutes to bring on potential impact substitutions Christian Pulisic and Darlington Nagbe. The dynamic duo, who were expected to be key players off the bench throughout the competition, failed to get in a rhythm before the final whistle sounded.
Because of the rough end at the Copa that featured two shots on goal in 180 minutes and a lack of youth in the starting lineups, the Yanks have plenty of questions to answer with the conclusion of the fourth round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying approaching in September.
The biggest concern the U.S. has is the failure to infuse youth into the lineup consistently. DeAndre Yedlin (22), John Brooks (23), Bobby Wood (23) and Gyasi Zardes (24) are the only players under 25 who seem to have earned Klinsmann's full trust. Each member of the quartet made strides at the Copa, but who else in their age group follows them into the starting XI remains to be seen.
The problem with handing Nagbe and Pulisic consistent playing time is they would have to replace established veterans in the lineup. Nagbe, 25, would come into the side for Jermaine Jones, while Pulisic, 17, would take Alejandro Bedoya's role.
Jones and Bedoya proved throughout the Copa that they are valuable to the USMNT's success on the biggest stage. But to have a seamless transition when the two are ready to give up their starting spots, Klinsmann needs to work the younger players into the squad more.
Klinsmann could have the perfect opportunity to do just that at the start of September against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Barring a performance of epic proportions from Saint Vincent on September 2, the Yanks should lock up a spot in the hexagonal round of qualifying on the road.
If Klinsmann doesn't use his younger players in that contest, he could insert them into the September 6 qualifier at home against Trinidad and Tobago. Playing at home against a tougher CONCACAF side would hand Nagbe, Pulisic and potentially a few others a chance to impress in a game that shouldn't matter much.
That is, as long as the Yanks and Soca Warriors take care of business four days prior to their meeting in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Yanks will need Nagbe, Pulisic, Steve Birnbaum, Kellyn Acosta, Matt Miazga, Jordan Morris and a few others during the hexagonal round because of potential injuries, suspensions and matchups. But since Klinsmann failed to hand consistent playing time at the Copa to the future stars of the squad, he now has to do it before the end of the year and the start of the Hex.
However, not all of Klinsmann's problems are bad ones. He has great depth at forward after Wood and Zardes' exploits over the last month. Wood, who transferred to Hamburg before the Copa, made a lot of people forget about the injured Jozy Altidore (hamstring) with his hold-up play, speed and confidence while leading the line.
How Klinsmann approaches the Altidore situation in September will be interesting to watch. Altidore is no longer the only qualified option at the position. Klinsmann should force him to work his way back into the squad and take the starting job from Wood. Once Altidore slides into the starting XI, the coach will have a decision to make in terms of formation.
Klinsmann could stick to the 4-4-2, but one of Wood, Altidore or Clint Dempsey would be left out of the side. In a 4-3-3, Klinsmann could start all three attackers, but he'd sacrifice defensive help on the wings.
A 4-2-3-1 could work if Wood is willing to play on the wing, but he wasn't effective at the Copa until he moved into his natural position. Whatever formation Klinsmann chooses, he has to include at least two of the three forwards, assuming Zardes remains on the wing.
The final conundrum Klinsmann could face in the coming months is the positioning of Fabian Johnson. The 28-year-old started at left back and right back during the Copa, but he plays on the left wing at the club level with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Since there appears to be no one else worthy of trusting at left back, Johnson may be stuck there when he plays on the international level. As much as fans would love to see Johnson in a more forward position, he is too valuable in defense. There is also plenty of depth in midfield right now.
However, if Johnson can't play, the Yanks appear to be in a bind.
No one has been able to replace DaMarcus Beasley at the position other than Johnson since the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Most of the players Klinsmann would consider for the position aren't true left backs. The lack of strength on the left flank of defense behind Johnson has to be fixed as the World Cup moves closer.
Despite their frustrating finish at the Copa, the Yanks showed positive signs for the future. The biggest takeaways from the tournament include Yedlin, Brooks, Wood and Zardes' continued development. The chemistry at center back between Brooks and Geoff Cameron was also a plus.
However, the USMNT missed a golden opportunity to assimilate new talent into the squad during an important competition on home soil. The chance to do that is not lost, but we'll have to wait until September to see if Klinsmann learned from his failed experiments at the end of the Copa.
Joe Tansey covers U.S. Soccer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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