FIFA World Cup: U.S. Will Advance if They Can Stop Teams Shopping in 'the Gap'

In America’s second game, their weakness was exploited by an opponent who wasn't as inexplicably docile as England. Through characteristic heart and hustle, Bob Bradley’s team overcame what appeared to be an insurmountable deficit.

America's first half display was a blueprint for any future team to defeat the Stars and Stripes.

During the course of any game, a deadly space opens between the center of the American midfield and its defense. Nothing exemplified the horrible consequences of this better than Slovenia’s first goal.

Valter Birsa, Slovenia’s right midfielder, ghosted inside and found “the gap” with all-too-predictable results.

Spaces like this do not go unnoticed by the opposition.

Pele’s famous reference to a right-sided hole in Italy’s 1970 defense as “the avenue” springs to mind. Carlos Alberto’s iconic goal against the Italians in the final was a classic exploitation of that area.

With this in mind, I’m sure it was no accident that Birsa crept into “the gap” as perfectly as he did.

Even more striking is that Bob Bradley acknowledged this in his postgame remarks . “Birsa slipped in the gap,” said the American manager.

Shit, he even used my vocab.

I don’t get it. If he’s seeing the same thing that everyone else is, why not change?

One encouraging sign was the entrance of Maurice Edu into the center of the midfield at halftime. The Glasgow Rangers man was immediately more effective in closing down “the gap” than Jose Torres had been.

It appeared that with Edu entering the game, America switched for periods of time from a flat two-man central midfield to a stacked one. In other words, Edu sat back in front of the back four in “the gap” and Bradley was free to scurry all over the field in the style that he is so effective in.

This saved the U.S. defensively, as Edu’s positioning was spot on a number of times. Though Edu's on the ball ability is still questionable, this allowed Bradley to charge forward for the tying goal, an impressive run and finish.

The second half also showed why the U.S. can play an effective 4-3-3. Bennie Fielhaber’s role was a much narrower one than Clint Dempsey had been playing previously on the left.

This gave America a constant numerical advantage in the middle of the field. It allowed Donovan to drift forward at will, safe in the knowledge that there was sufficient cover behind him, which lead to his run on the first goal.

I hope Bob Bradley realizes a 4-3-3 not only makes them sounder defensively, but allows them to retain possession easier. If not, our shaky defense could sink very quickly.