France vs. USA: 10 Things Jurgen Klinsmann Learned

With about 15 minutes left in Friday's international friendly between the United States and France, the commentator on the American television feed came up with the most intelligent thing anyone said about Team USA all day.

Well, maybe not. Maybe it was just so obvious it sounded like genius.

"Jurgen Klinsmann's USA," he said, "are making a nasty habit out of 1-0 losses."

Indeed, Ian Darke, indeed. There is something lurking beneath that Bilbo Baggins exterior, isn't there?

Sorry. If I'm sounding a bit bitter, there's good reason. Like the rest of you, I'm getting frustrated.

We've had six matches now with our dream-date head coach, and so far, all we've gotten out of the Jurgen Klinsmann era is one win, one draw, two goals—two flippin' goals!—and four 1-0 defeats.

It's not all bad, and I've said as much elsewhere. Losing 1-0 to France in the Stade de France isn't exactly like losing to Snooki in a temperance contest.

The defense played pretty well, Tim Howard was his normal beast of a self and if not for Clarence Goodson's elementary mistake, it could have been a draw.

But like the game itself, that doesn't really mean all that much. What matters is that the US still can't generate offense, still can't put together 90 minutes of good soccer and still can't get results.

Thankfully, Friday was just a friendly. But World Cup qualifying isn't that far away.

Get to work, Klinsi.

The Offense Has Big Problems

Jozy Altidore nearly earned a penalty in the first half after showing off some nice moves in the French box.

That might have been the best chance the US created all night.

A few shots flew in from long distance and Altidore himself created another chance that he shot wide, but the US never truly threatened France's goal.

It's kinda understandable. France is a top-tier European team (the poor showing at last year's World Cup aside), and the Stade de France is a tough place to play.

But France played a youngish, inexperienced squad. The US should have been able to create a few opportunities.

The most telling moment might have come in second-half stoppage time, when the US poured several extra players into the attack in search of an equalizer. For all the extra American bodies in the attack, though, France still dominated possession like it had all night.

Landon Donovan Would Have Helped

Klinsmann included Donovan in his 23-man squad. Donovan opted out to concentrate on next weekend's MLS Cup final.

That's his choice. Klinsmann might disagree, but he can't dispute the fact that the US needs Donovan to play its best.

France dominated possession, but its defense had holes. Edson Buddle demonstrated what a skillful attacker could do when he juked a couple of defenders late in the second half.

Imagine what Donovan could have done.

Same for Jose Torres

You remember Jose Torres, right?

He's the guy who pulled the strings in central midfield in Klinsmann's first few games in charge.

He played superb soccer, spraying passes across the pitch and providing the kind of creative play that has been absent in the US team for so long.

So where is he?

He's been out with a foot injury. He won't be back until December.

That's bad news for now. But it could be good news if he returns in time for World Cup qualifying.

But Jozy Can Be a Threat

Jozy Altidore has struggled to translate his form from the club level to the international.

On Friday, though, he was America's best field player.

Altidore has been tearing it up in Holland with AZ Alkmaar, and he gave a sneak peak of that Friday. He showed his superior strength with his hold-up play and probably should have earned a first-half penalty.

He worked hard, and though his touch consistently (and as usual) let him down, he did everything except score for the US.

If he can improve his touch and get better service from the midfield, Jozy can be a big weapon on the international stage.

Chandler Is the Answer at Left Back

It's fun to watch Timmy Chandler play.

He gives full commitment every second he's on the field. He works hard to get into the attack and plays pretty good defense too.

John Harkes correctly pointed out that Chandler's attacking still needs work, but Chandler is clearly the answer at left back.

Kudos to Klinsmann for bringing him in. Let's hope the boss has a few more diamonds in the rough.

Tim Howard Is a Beast

Just in case Klinsi wasn't sure, he must be now.

There isn't another conclusion to draw from Tim Howard's second-half save from Karim Benzema's wicked free kick.

Benzema bent the ball around the wall and placed it at the far post. To save it, Howard had to fling his body behind the line and push it out.

But he did it. And it was breathtaking.

It Might Be Time to Rethink the Kyle Beckerman Experiment

Kyle Beckerman was a fringe international when Bob Bradley coached the US.

Under Klinsmann, he's become an automatic first-teamer.

But as Friday showed, that might not be a good thing.

Playing his customary holding role perched just above the back four, Beckerman found himself in constant trouble against France. He dropped too far into the defense and often got caught ball watching.

In his absence, the already stretched midfield lost its shape entirely. France, of course, gleefully ran riot in all the space.

As the first 1 in a 4-1-4-1, Beckerman's role is neither completely midfielder nor defender. He needs to adjust his positioning accordingly.

Klinsmann and the US need a midfield destroyer, not a fifth defender.

Danny Williams Is Not Suited to the Wing

Danny Williams turned in a so-so performance playing a wide midfield role.

That's on Klinsmann. Williams is more comfortable in a central role.

This goes back to an age-old sports question, of course. Do you fit your team to your formation? Or do you adjust your formation for your players?

Klinsmann needs to decide before World Cup qualifying starts.

Our Defenders Can Be Beaten with a Single Pass

It's a shame, really.

The US defense played well for 89 minutes. But they needed all 90 to get the draw.

Clarence Goodson was beaten with a simple long ball over the top. His positioning was poor.

Then, he was beaten physically by Loic Remy.

The winning goal came out of nowhere, and it took mere seconds.

And that was the game.

Distressingly, the issue had come up only moments before. Both center backs allowed the ball to bounce and France got a 1-on-1 with Howard out of it.

Howard saved, but he couldn't save Remy's shot.

The lesson for opposing teams is that the US defense can be beaten with passes over the top.

It's Not Time to Panic … Yet

It’s not quite time to start thinking about maybe, kinda, sorta getting a little bit worried.

But it’s getting close.

Klinsmann now boasts a record of one win, one draw and four defeats as US boss. His team has scored two goals.

The team's performances, however, have been decent. But they've also been incomplete.

Under Bob Bradley, the US often started games poorly. Under Klinsi, they keep giving up second-half goals.

So apparently this is not a second-half team. But the problem is that it's not a first-half team either.

When World Cup qualifying starts next year, it needs to become both.