DeAndre Yedlin: America's breakout star in Brazil

Photo: AP/Matt Dunham

DeAndre Yedlin played a pivotal role for the USMNT in Brazil. He provided speed, width, defensive cover, and adaptability versus some of the world's top teams. Here's a look at what makes him special and why he should be at a top club in Europe.

On a humid Manaus night on 22 June, the US vs Portugal match was tied 1-1 after Jermaine Jones' golazo. Bento, Portugal's coach, knew that he needed a game-changer in order to win the match. In came Varela. Klinsmann saw this as a highly offensive-minded move and knew he needed some speed to help Fabian Johnson. He inserted DeAndre Yedlin, the 20-year old Seattle Sounder, for Alejandro Bedoya.

1. Speed
Yedlin's impact versus Portugal was immediate. Portugal's left flank was covered. Further, Yedlin opened up spaces, ran around the defense and provided the initial setup for Dempsey's go-ahead goal. He also covered well for Fabian Johnson's absence versus Belgium and set up quality opportunities when he had the chance. This is a key factor for European suitors.

2. Width
Along with speed, Yedlin's ability to hug the line while he sprints and to push the ball ahead and still be able to recover adds an extra dimension to any team. This was seen in MLS during a Seattle-Portland match, where he tracked all the way into the Timbers' 18-yard box and drew a penalty.

3. Defensive duties

Yedlin is a right back. He's a modern winger. He is fast enough to be able to launch into the attack while at the same time covering his flank. He proved this versus both Belgium and Portugal. He repeatedly made life difficult for Varela, Postiga, Almeida and even Ronaldo.

4. Adaptability
DeAndre is a defender. He had never trained as a midfielder for the USMNT, but when he took the field versus Portugal he was inserted into the right midfield position. And he excelled. Klinsmann has never been shy to deploy players in very different roles (Brad Evans from defensive mid to right back) and his gamble payed off. This will be key if Yedlin were to transfer abroad, say Roma or Liverpool.

The loss of Altidore cost the USMNT the World Cup

Photo: Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports

Let's admit it. When we saw Jozy Altidore reach for his hamstring 21 minutes into the first half of the US-Ghana match we all knew it was over. Of course, we were wrong. Dempsey filled in for Jozy for the rest of the tournament and the young guns, Brooks, Yedlin and Green, rounded out an acceptable performance for the USMNT at the World Cup. 

And yet, playing Monday morning center back, the realities and frailties of the national team and of Klinsmann's approach were apparent. Altidore was always the key for the possession/attack team we wanted to see and the manager had no backup plan. Here's why:

1. Michael Bradley

You will recall that Bradley, usually a defensive midfielder, was pushed higher up the pitch against Nigeria in a World Cup tune-up. The team flowed, Altidore scored, we all believed. Take away Jozy and Bradley has no outlet. Dempsey isn't a target forward and he tends to retreat to find the ball. This puts Bradley in limbo and we lose our playmaker as he dissolves into defensive duties.

2. Possession

Along with Michael Bradley losing the ball, and Dempsey's retreat to midfield, the ball is no longer in the opposing team's half. Altidore does more than score. He can hold the ball and defends higher up the field. Without an outlet down the middle for Bradley, Zusi and Bedoya are left to do all the work along the flanks. There, they found quality opposition and their weaknesses were exposed.

You can argue that Yedlin+Johnson would have been a good combination. However, Johnson succumbed to yet another hamstring injury. Had Donovan been available, things may have been brighter on the flanks.

3. Defending the middle
Things became so cluttered at times in the midfield for the US that we gave up balls around the middle of the pitch. The two center mids format with Jones and Beckermann works only if Bradley is allowed to play offense. Without Jozy and a retreating Dempsey, the field of play is shortened. Note that major goals were allowed down the middle, especially Nani's and Belgium's first.

4. The second forward
Clint Dempsey is better as an advanced midfielder role, or, better put, a hovering number 11. He's better when he gets service that he can then bounce off of a fellow attacker, i.e. Altidore. Johannsson was largely missing versus Ghana, and Wondolowski was ineffective in his cameos. He's not particularly fast and isn't a prodigious passer either. He's a poacher and there weren't enough chances created.

The truth is there was never a replacement for Altidore. And, despite his poor scoring form with club and country, his skills served a far greater purpose: possession and defense. Eddie Johnson and Terrence Boyd have similar attributes but neither have his experience, vision, and natural abilities. Juan Agudelo is another possibility here.

We are now left to wonder what it might have been like with Jozy on the pitch in all those games.

Tim Howard's fortress falls and USA loses to Belgium

Tim Howard gave everything he had against Belgium tonight, but the team still lost in extra time and were denied a berth in the quarterfinals. The score of 2-1 in favor of the Belgians does not do justice to what happened on the pitch, however.

In all honesty, the score should have been 5-1 or worse. Howard had a record-setting 16-save game against some of the most prolific players in Europe. Indeed, we are lucky to have him in goal.

What went wrong? That's not he right question. Belgium was better than the US from the start. The possession was theirs, the chances were theirs, the style and ability were also theirs. 

Team USA played as a unit, as a never-give-up squadron of warriors. It's not enough at a World Cup. This is the reason why they have not gone past the round of 16. Except in 2002, but that was against Mexico and it really doesn't count in the grand scheme because they are a known foe.

Was Landon Donovan missed? Yes and no. At times you could say that he might have succeeded in some plays or he might have injected extra pressure in others. But DeAndre Yedlin came up big with his speed and Julian Green showed us why he was called in by Klinsmann.

We can claim that Wondolowski could have scored at the end of the match and won the game for us. True. But Belgians might say the same about the numerous chances they had thwarted by Howard.

It's time to look forward now, to see what Costa Rica did right, which was to win the group and enter the knockout round in a position to play a weaker team. Had the US had to play Greece or Switzerland, then the chances to reach the quarterfinals may have been greater.

The USMNT erased major specters in this tournament: we have no fear of Ghana, of mid-level European teams with marquee players (Portugal), and we had style when we wanted to play the game. 

There won't be Clint Dempsey next time, or Jermaine Jones or Kyle Beckermann. A new spine will need to develop. The American game is growing and MLS teams and US Soccer is getting more involved at a younger age with soccer-aspiring youths. Klinsmann also has a knack for recruiting youngsters with an American passport. Between now and the time Russia 2018 starts, don't be surprised if there are one or two more Julian Greens.

Facing Belgium is the real next step for US Soccer

Photo: ronaldo7.net

Beat Ghana, check. Tie or beat Portugal, check. Stand up to Germany, check. Team USA did what was necessary to get out of the group. Now comes the real test. A real "final," so to speak, for the USMNT: Belgium.

The truth is that Klinsmann trained his crew for the group stage. They had to earn points against the best African side in the world. No offense to Nigeria or Algeria, but the change-up, positioning and speed of play is much better for Ghana. USA also nearly defeated a wounded Portugal and might even have tied Germany.

Landon Donovan put it well when he was asked about the exceptionalism of this USMNT. Sometimes things just go right, he insisted. You score in injury time (vs Algeria in 2010), you advance out of group stage by virtue of other scores (2002, 2014). The "breakthrough" in 2002 was defeating heavily-favored Portugal. The match against Mexico was icing on the cake. Germany in the 2002 quarterfinals was just that: Germany.

Tomorrow's test is completely different. USA was handed one of the more unpredictable and difficult sides in this World Cup when they finished second in the "group of death." This Belgian squad has the likes of Hazard, Kompany, Lukaku, Dembele, Fellaini, Mirallas, Courtois, Januzaj, Vermaelen. If they sound familiar it's because you know soccer and you know the teams they play for. Top teams like Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton. 

But Belgium is also very young, with its 11 starters averaging less than 25 years old. Also, only one player has participated in a World Cup. For USA, we have Bradley, Dempsey, Howard and Beasley from the starting lineup that know how it works.

Even so, Belgium was ranked in the top right and that is why they got to be a top-seeded team and were given a "group of life," of sorts, along with Russia, Algeria and South Korea. They are one of the "top" European teams still in contention and they are better than others like Greece or Switzerland.

This is why Team USA could take the true "next step" by earning a place in the quarterfinals against a true contender, regardless of how lackluster the Belgians' performance has been so far. Is it a bridge too far? Most of us thought the group stage was and they proved us wrong.

Saved by Math: USA through to the round of 16

Taylor Twellman said it. Today's 0-1 loss to Germany in the final game of Group G in World Cup 2014 felt a lot like 2002. Why? The Americans were saved by math and Klinsmann knows how to work the problem out.

As I put it in a previous post. A "small" team has to try to go for 4 points and a decent goal differential in order to go through. USA came into the game with 4 points while Ghana and Portugal had 1. Ghana had -1 goal differential and Portugal -4. 

A loss to Germany was highly probable. They have not been eliminated at the group stage since 1954 and they have one of the most talented sides in the World Cup. Klinsmann knew it and acted accordingly. A win versus Ghana was a must. Done. At least a point versus Portugal was crucial. They almost won. The rest was just math, as Portugal was undone in the first game and could not defeat Team USA in their second outing.

For the players it comes down to Jermaine Jones being the absolute MVP in this tournament for the Americans and Howard showing why he's one of the top 5 goalkeepers in the world. Dempsey has partly made up for Altidore but the New Jersey product will be required versus a highly talented Belgian side.

Some deltas include Michael Bradley's subpar performances. This is very disconcerting considering his pedigree as a player, but Jones has made up for it. Beasley, Fabian Johnson and Matt Besler have also played their best, as did Omar Gonzalez in his first start today. 

Now anything is possible. Belgium is an entirely different team. They will be difficult for the USA in terms of their speed and athleticism and their highly-skilled midfielders. Think of them as a mix of Germany and Portugal. It's no wonder some dub them the dark horses of the tournament. In this World Cup, however, all logic has gone out the window.

And let's say it: We Believe.

More learning pains: USA loses to Belgium in friendly

Photo credit: AP

The game started slow enough this evening in Cleveland, a town not known for soccer. A defensive mistake by Geoff Cameron and Omar Gonzalez allowed Mirallas to put a sublime touch on the ball to get it over Howard for the first of the game at just 6 minutes. It looked like a rout.

Team USA had a hard time for most of the first half hour with Belgium controlling most of the possession. Fellaini, Kompany, Lukaku, Dembele and Defour made it look simple and Klinsmann had to scramble for answers. Enter Geoff Cameron in the proverbial set piece and goal for the US. Sadly, Jozy Altidore was never able to establish himself in this match and he was subbed again at halftime, continuing his scoring drought that goes back to November 2011.

The first half ended better for the United States with good play out of Beasley and Jermaine Jones and Zusi and Dempsey waiting to pounce. The second half also started well with Brad Guzan in goal until Omar Gonzalez committed a terrible mistake in lightly touching the ball away while moving towards the USA. The Belgians pounced and Benteke was gifted a perfect ball that he just tapped in. From there, the Americans tried to pull back but the real Belgian team showed up. Great goals by Fellaini and another by Benteke in highlight-worthy moments.

Why are these learning pains? For one is the continuously evolving/revolving back line. Klinsmann went with Cameron at right back, where he plays for Stoke City, Beasley as left back and Goodson and Gonzalez in the middle. Goodson brings experience but he showed slow and disconnected. Indeed, everyone seemed disconnected from Omar Gonzalez, even Omar himself with Belgium's second goal. Cameron is clearly not meant for right back and that position should go to Chandler or Lichaj. Parkhurst has not been in action so he probably should not play at that position.

DaMarcus Beasley had another stellar match tonight. Maybe not so much because of his defense, although he held his own against a superior side. No, it was the dribbling around players like Vermaelen and Mirallas and unleashing his speed down the flank that allowed for plays that ultimately led to Dempsey's PK late in the match. It might be a good idea to have Fabian Johnson and Beasley control the left side for now. They can both play the wing and defend well. Ironically, it's the middle and the right that trouble Klinsmann. Not long ago we had countless talks about the problem at left back and how we were stacked elsewhere.

If the US is to build around Gonzalez as a fulcrum then Gonzalez will first need to clear his head and understand that he is the captain of the defense. Second would be moving Cameron to the middle where he excelled and won his place with the national team and earned his passport to Europe. This should be the start and perhaps we'll see something to that effect in the game versus Germany coming up this Sunday.

The rest of the team had a pretty muted match. Attacks came from Beasley and Jones with Dempsey and Altidore/Johnson/Boyd providing the final attempt. Clearly there was something or someone missing. One can make the case for both Michael Bradley and, yes, Landon Donovan.

Player ratings:

Howard................6

Cameron...............5

Gonzalez...............4

Goodson..............4.5

Beasley................6

Zusi.....................5

Davis...................5

Kljestan...............4.5

Jones...................6.5

Dempsey.............5.5

Altidore...............5

Subs: Guzan (5), Johnson (6), Boyd (5), Holden (5), Evans (N/A), Besler (N/A)