Despite The Result, Great Day For American Soccer
The idea of the blog will be to be as objective as possible but in ironically enough the first statement in the history of this blog is very personal and subjective.
The game (analysis below) and result were not good for the USMNT but the crowds support in Nashville was impressive! 47,622 made it to the Nissan Stadium and broke the largest soccer match attendance on record in Tennessee. One more major step for football (soccer).
Match: USA 1 vs. Panama 1
Date: July 8, 2017
Competition: 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup; Group B
Venue: Nissan Stadium; Nashville, Tenn.
The USMNT performance was average and lack consistency and flair in the final third. But it is also somewhat expected for a ‘new team’ to suffer in communication and understanding. The team suffered too much every time they lost possession and had to transition to defense.
DEFENDING
The ability to defend after losing the ball was a big problem for the team. A) Unable to stop the counter attacks despite having more numbers around the ball and behind it and B) by not being able to win duels or anticipate the ball in rest defense when sitting close to the half field with lots of meters behind the last defender
When attacking close to the Panama area the Full backs (Zusi & Villafaña) and usually Kellyn Acosta joined the attack, usually leaving Dax (CDM), Gonzalez & Beasler (CBs) on rest defense. As seen on the picture this moment of the game is where/how Panama created its best chances
After losing the ball in Zone 3 the idea was to recover the ball ASAP. Using the 6-8 players in the final 3rd and close to each other at the moment the team lost the ball. Closest player immediately presses the ball with the closest players (2nd defenders) looking to support and pick up the closest opponents.
When losing the ball in Zone 2 the defensive line tends to recover almost to the 18’’ to re organize and give time to the midfielders to join. But like on the picture when nobody pressured the ball to delay, the team suffered and gave time for the panama attackers to join the attack and options to the 1st attacker.
USA did a solid job defending static (except for 15mins around the goal).The usual pattern after losing the ball in Zone 2 is to recover behind the ball to organize the two lines of 4 and defend in static. With Corona and Dwyer staying in front on the line of the ball.
ATTACKING
One of the positives notes of USMNT is all the different variants the team has in positional attack and how many numbers join the attack, as well as having players in the bench attacking players that come in to make an impact.
But lacking tactical communication the team suffered to create clear chances and lack imagination, combinations, and/or individual cleverness when the panama team sat back with an organized shape. The team was only able to create some chances
The team showed a tendency to clean the play and to maintain possession to organize the attack rather than to risk possession and counter.
The usual patterns up front involve having the full backs join the attack usually in wide positions, and Bedoya and Rowe tucked in the center to create space for FB. CMs and Corona on the ball finding a penetrating pass and Dwyer stretching their back line and showing as a possible receiver /finisher.
USA appear as a team that prefers to get the ball wide to Outside Mid to create space in the center to combine with Striker (see picture where Rowe combines with Dwyer who pivots back to Rowe with space or look to find a combination wide with full back and outside mid to finish with play with cross, just like on the goal.
INDIVIDUALITIES
Special mention to Rowe who looked like the more active attacking player creating chances by shooting from outside, finding space to finish crosses, and assisting the goal. Dwyer is also taking advantage of his cap. Despite looking to alone when Corona was on the field he got on the score sheet in one of the two only chances he had. He is a player that uses his strength and body in the area to create space like on the goal. And he does a great job of checking in and out to pivot with his back to goal and b) to show and able hold the ball to get the team out of defending areas.
