Misery often loves company but when it is the same company the same issue there is no love to be found. That is the spot that U.S. Soccer finds themselves in today after two of the biggest losses in their organization’s history. With a loss against Honduras during Olympic qualification and last minute loss to Mexico at the CONCACAF Cup U.S. Soccer and in particular the U.S. Men’s National Team had one of its darkest days.
Now, this is not the end of the United States Men’s National Team or U.S. Soccer. Those preaching the end of days and the return of the game back to tape delay status here in the United States are wrong. The game has gained a foothold here in the United States and that will not go away.
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But it is a dark day for U.S. Soccer and for Technical Director Jurgen Klinsmann. For years Klinsmann has preached patience and that he can be the one who can bring the United States to the top of the footballing world. Despite the protestation of players, coaches, media members, and a very loud vocal segment of American soccer supporters Klinsmann never wavered on his policies or positions.
Saturday was a wake up call to Klinsmann and U.S. Soccer though. In two matches the flaws of the Klinsmann system were exposed. In the first match, a 2-0 loss to Honduras in Olympic qualifying, the future of U.S. Soccer failed to register more than a handful of shot opportunities on the attacking half. Their defending looked disorganized, out of focus, and without a plan. The lack of discipline was both apparent on and off of the pitch with coach Andi Herzog (a Klinsmann appointee) being ejected and the players engaging in a shoving match with the Honduran players.
If the match against Honduras was an indictment against the Klinsmann system the Mexico match was the verdict. The problems that existed in the Honduras match were the same in the CONCACAF Cup: a lack of organization in the defensive half and very little attacking opportunities on the attacking end. While Klinsmann supporters could point to the addition of Bobby Wood as something that he did right tactically it should also be noted that Jurgen’s constant inclusion of an out of form Jozy Altidore has been to the detriment of U.S. Soccer.
While Saturday’s matches certainly point out the flaws of U.S. Soccer it is not the end of the world. The under-23 side still has a chance to qualify for the Olympics through the third-place game and possibly a friendly against Colombia. Meanwhile for the senior side World Cup Qualifying is just around the corner, leaving the door open for chances to bring in newer players and new ideas.
But the long-term picture of U.S. Soccer is now less certain. What is certain is that the current system is not working and that adjustments have to be made. U.S. Soccer still seems committed to Klinsmann and given the amount of resources and relative success that he has had that is understandable.
That being said Jurgen needs to adapt and if he is not willing to then U.S. Soccer has to make a change. The spotlight has never been brighter on the game here in the United States and while poor showings from time to time are understood, sustained periods of poor performance at all levels is not. Soccer’s possibilities in this country are endless but the status quo will not lead to improved performance. Saturday’s defeats proved that.