USA vs Mexico: 10 Things Jurgen Klinnsman Got Right

Soccer has always taken a backseat to the likes of American football, basketball and baseball in this country, but Jurgen Klinsmann's hire for the U.S. men's national team could provide a much needed injection for the sport, and it could take it to places that we haven't seen.

Although the match was a friendly, it is USA-Mexico, a pairing that will always draw rave reviews and criticisms. But as it was Klinsmann's debut match as head coach, we must look at his approach and tactics.

Didn't Lose the Match

This slideshow may have been entirely different had Klinsmann's side dropped the match against Mexico.

There is much that can be said about a win, there is also much that can be said about a loss. But given that it's Klinnsman's first crack as the boss of the U.S. selection, a loss would have thrown a wrench into an engine that is already struggling.

Claiming a victory would have been the best result, obviously. The next best thing was a draw, keeping that critics at bay for another day.

Playing the Unknowns

As any new manager would, Klinsmann started who he thought needed the experience and platform to potentially inspire the rest.

To build a winning tradition, it starts with youth. And what better way to uncover talented youth than by playing them.

Brek Shea, Michael Orozco Fiscal and Edgar Castillo are all virtual unknowns to casual followers of the USMNT, but they are all part of the future of the federation.

It has to start somewhere.

In-Game Adjustments

Simply examine the flow of the match.

The US actually played well enough to win the game, which comes almost as a surprise gauging from the first half.

Going down a goal in that manner is hardly blamable, but to have the ability to make the proper adjustments allowed the US to both keep Mexico at bay with its lone goal and gradually increase the pace of play to notch the equalizer.

Substitutions

Everyone should know this by now, but the three players who combined to equalize for the US—Juan Agudelo, Brek Shea and Robbie Rogers (the goal-scorer)—all came off the bench.

Granted, it was one well-executed play from a throw-in, but Shea's size, strength and impressive ball control was a great counter to Mexico's back line.

Agudelo has increasingly impressed in his appearances for the senior selection.

Rogers has always been on the fence, but Klinsmann showed faith, or maybe just an opportunity for the skilled Rogers to show his product. And it was Rogers who drew the controversial booking that should have produced a red card.

At any rate, Klinsmann did a fine job, to say the least, in selecting the right bench players to really impact the match.

Freeing Michael Bradley

Many will make a semi-big deal about how to utilize Michael Bradley.

Under the previous coaching regime, Bradley was a defensive midfielder who would often venture forward to support the attack.

Tonight, however, Klinsmann put Bradley in an attacking midfield position, capitalizing on his distribution and holding abilities.

To be fair, Bradley didn't have an outstanding game, but he performed well enough to merit more opportunities at the position.

Good Direction

Let's face it. The Mexican selection that we saw on Wednesday evening was better than the U.S. selection on most levels, in quality of play and quantity in possession.

Although Klinsmann's side was able to equalize, there were few negatives to attach to the U.S. performance.

The federation underwent a huge change from the top, and with expectations very high, the US scoring for a draw was a step in the right direction against a squad that ultimately was better.

Tailoring to American Culture

There are limited positives to take away from a 1-1 draw for a coach's debut match for a federation that will have limited expectation of its selection.

Nevertheless, Klinsmann, in a pre-match interview, aligned his strategies to what American culture is all about: hard work, which probably resonated with many audience members at home.

Bringing a lunch pail attitude to the USMNT is what is needed to bring this country's soccer to new heights.

Keeping Carlos Bocanegra as Captain

Klinsmann could have wiped the slate entirely clean by appointing a new captain, but the right decision was keeping the status quo.

There are few other options for the captain's armband—Landon Donovan and Tim Howard immediately come to mind—but with Carlos Bocanegra having claimed captaincy since the summer of 2007, there had to have been some form of stability when Klinsmann arrived. Moreover, Bocanegra has done little to demonstrate that he doesn't deserve the armband.

It's like the saying "no news is good news." In this case, no change is a good thing.

A Strong Defense

With whatever combination Klinnsman could have put forward in the defensive third, he did well in placing Bocanegra central.

It was organized. It was effective—most of the time.

Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman did well in their defensive midfield positions and covered some opposing runs nicely. Jones, however, is more suited in a holding midfield position and lacks the pace to mark inside and angled runs by opposing midfielders and forwards.

Nevertheless, the U.S. defense is what kept the squad in the game until the equalizer.

Approach

Everything that Klinsmann has done from the time he was hired to the final blow of the whistle against Mexico has been carefully situated, or at least it seems that way.

His coaching staff will have always been selected with praise, his tactics before and during the match were quality, his sell to the American soccer fans was timely and proper, and his decision to remove the names from the back of the jersey was critical in attaining beliefs of hire goals.

It is a fresh start in American soccer, and Klinsmann is guiding the ship on the right course for now.