And so we enter the Quarter Finals with some mouth-watering, but probably tedious encounters if any of the performances by the more favored nations are to go by. First up, though, let’s talk about COPA America and the US national team.
Team USA played Uruguay on Monday night in a must- win (or draw depending on the Panama V Bolivia result) game that would see them into the knockout stages of the competition. A tall ask considering the form of Uruguay, who are fast becoming a neutrals favorite, scoring goals for fun with a combination of flair, speed and toughness in the tackle. Coached by the living legend that is Marcelo Bielsa, who was suspended for this match, they still had more than enough to beat the US quite easily. The US players and fans will complain about the dodgy referee who was shocking on the night, but the reality is the USMNT never really came close to scoring a goal. So as the US crash out of the tournament that was designed as a precursor to the World Cup. (Way to go, guys!) What went wrong?
1. The Golden Generation
I’ve heard this term thrown around for this group of players (mainly on FOX Sports) but I’m not sure what is Golden about this team. Pulisic may get into a top 100 players in the world but that’s about it. Are they more talented than previous generations? Maybe, but the game has moved on significantly in the past 10-15 years. Training methods and sports science have taken the game to whole other level. So yes these players are more skillful and fitter than previous generations, but so is every other nation. And the US is always playing catch up due to the pay to play and collegiate system it has in place that discourages large swathes of the population from accessing the sport and not fast-tracking those talents that are found quickly enough.
2. Lack of Strikers
When you’re bringing on Joshua Sargent (see above Golden Generation) to try and win you the game in the last 30 minutes then you know you are desperate.
A lack of fire power seems to be one of the most obvious issues facing the US, with an over-reliance on Christian Pulisic to provide assists and goals.
3. CONCACAF
The US are part of CONCACAF which is limiting their opportunities to play higher ranked and more competitive matches on a regular bases. Constantly playing Jamaica, Mexico, Canada (no offense, friends) and co isn’t helping push the team to compete at a higher level. So when they come up against a decent team in a major competition they really struggling.
4. The Coach
I’m sure that Gregg Berhalter is a nice guy and all. But nice to guys don't win shit. See Gareth Southgate. Time for a changing of the guard. International football is massively different from club football, where philosophies and patterns of play are developed on the training ground and in meetings and corporate off-sites.
In international football, you have a couple of days to prep a group of players who are all playing completely different styles for different clubs all over the world.
So what would I suggest? The US needs a vibes manager, yeah bro! Give it to big Sam!
Euro 24 Round up
England, Spain and France are all playing like a …….. but are through to the quarter finals.
Georgia, Austria and Romania were all super fun to watch but ultimately they failed to advance. The top teams and coaches know how to approach knockout tournaments, and so maybe we should all back off and let them get on with it. Hell! If England win this thing playing the worst football i have ever witnessed who cares right?!
England
Where to begin? Copy and paste previous post! It seems like the whole world can see the issue with England, yet Gareth Southgate keeps on playing the same team in the same formation expecting different results. It’s clear that he has a formation that he thinks will win the World Cup and a first choice 10-13 players who he strung to fit into this system. Square pegs, rounds holes, cliche klaxon!
Despite Jude Bellingham’s wondergoal, he’s been poor and seems to be occupying the space of other players. But let’s not just focus on the lack of creativity in attack, it all stems from the back and the lack of shape and cohesion.
Problem #1 Left back
England need to play with a left footed left back, plain and simple. Just watch how the opposition show Trippier the outside space but he ultimately plays the ball back in side, making it so easy for the opposition to keep their shape and defend high up the pitch.
Problem #2 Central Midfield.
England just wasted 3-4 games experimenting with various midfield combinations instead of bedding in the naturally more gifted Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton, players who play that role week in week out for their clubs, despite being young. Southgate wont drop Declan Rice but I think he’s been poor, maybe because he’s not had the right players next to or in front of him, but he looks slow and ponderous on the ball, taking too many touches and not releasing the ball fast enough. Compare him to Mainoo who looks comfortable on the ball and has the quickness of thought to play the pass in transition.
Problem #3 Formation
Phoden, Bellingham and Kane are all in each others space. This 4-2-3-1 isn’t working. Either change the formation or change the players to fit the formation.
Realistically Southgate isn’t going to drop Rice, Bellingham or Kane so based on that assumption this is what I would suggest he do to make things click a little better. Play a more fluid 4-3-3.
Pickford
Walker Stones Dunk Saka
Bellingham Mainoo Rice
Palmer Kane Eze
Dunk has to come in for Guehi who is suspended
Saka instead of Trippier who has been poor. Saka has played that position before and is a naturally left footed player and gives us more attacking options down that side.
Stack the midfield.
Bring in the most inform players in Palmer and Eze as part of a 3 man attack with Kane. Maybe bring on Gordon at 60 mins for some fresh legs.
Sorted!
In all seriousness though the Swiss look like one of the best teams at the Tournament. They absolutely schooled Italy and will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing another ponderous team like England.