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This is a game that came with all the reservations. Call it Clásico goaltender, and for about an hour, Tuesday's game between the United States and Mexico in Nashville was a rivalry match in name and uniform only.
Both sides were young. Once again, the Americans lined up a team of about 23, while Mexico had only a few familiar names, as well as seven newcomers (including four international beginners). And each team was led by an interim coach. The temporary (probably) reign of Dave Sarachan entered his 11th month, and Tuca Ferretti of UANL Tigres took over El Tri.
That first hour was hesitant, placid and lacking sparks or intrigues, with the exception of a few dangerous touches and attempts by Mexican Diego Lainez, an 18-year-old Club América player. Meanwhile, the Americans produced little. Both teams are so neutral, so in transition, that the stakes were as low as they have ever been.
Then they got up. Lainez and American defender Matt Miazga clashed. Mexico's Ángel Zaldívar was sent off and the emboldened hosts defeated New York Red Bull midfielder Tyler Adams. Yellow cards for dissent (DeAndre Yedlin) and unsporting behavior (Bobby Wood) followed, and for about 25 minutes, they felt something like USA-Mexico. In any case, this last chapter served as an introduction to those who had a first glimpse of the rivalry in Tennessee. He also punctuated the first victory of Americans on El Tri since 2015.
This will not, however, relieve the more general concerns about the leadership of the US National Team. The new GM Earnie Stewart was present in Friday's loss to Brazil and Nashville, but he promised not to recruit a permanent coach until the end of the year. The pressure to unleash the relaxation is accelerating, and the stagnant departure of the United States on Tuesday will complicate it.
Here are three ideas on the US 1-0 win:
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The red card has changed and made the game
The first Mexican player to compete between Miazga and Lainez was Zaldívar, who plays for Chivas de Guadalajara. He was angry and stayed that way. A few minutes later, he missed a tackle and arrived at the top of the US pack Wil Trapp. Red cards in friendly matches are rare. This time Costa Rican referee Ricardo Montero did not hesitate.
Usually, a team as young as the United States and still finding its marks and identity would prefer to continue 11 against 11. It's a normal football, and playing normal football is the best way to improve. But after more than 200 scoreless minutes since Julian Green's surprising goal in Paris, including a helpless exit against Brazil and a first quarter silver against Mexico, the American team needed a boost. And what better framework to get one than against El Tri?
Who knows how the game would have gone without the red card? Sarachan and the United States probably do not care. And to their credit, they quickly took advantage of their advantage. Kellyn Acosta carried the ball to the midfield and left left back guard Antonee Robinson, whose cross hit the Mexican defenders. The 18-year-old was not wrong with his first 12-yard victory and his first senior international goal.
USA-Mexico speaks of intensity and memorable moments. Miazga, Lainez and Zaldívar made the match a bit more than football. And that's precisely what the game, and perhaps this new era of rivalry, needs.
Sarachan bailed out by the circumstances
Sarachan took his third victory at the helm thanks to Zaldívar's lightheartedness and Adams' goal, but his team was still in the game thanks to a new twist of fate that, at the time, seemed a setback.
Weston McKennie did not play well and midfielder Schalke 04, 20, is clearly a long-term American pivot. But his left knee injury, a sprained left knee, ended up being a one-night blessing only disguised for the besieged United States. He went out and Green, who had spent a quiet night on the wing against Brazil, came in. The American 4-1-4-1, which became the norm under Sarachan, is a bit transformed. Green sided behind striker Gyasi Zardes, and Adams moved back a little closer to Trapp.
Green played more often in this role in his club, Greuther Furth, and his comfort as a distributor and tempo maker, especially compared to McKennie, Adams and Trapp, was obvious. Green's ability to do a few simple things, such as looking for the ball when he received and settled the ball, or buying a few more seconds with a sideline from the first defender, offered noticeable improvement in vision and possession in the United States.
The Americans were on their heels for most of the first half. In the second, with Green in the gap between Zardes and Trapp, there was something that looked like a bit of offensive chemistry. He managed to hold the ball and hit a dangerous cross on the left channel in 51st, and quickly struck a quick free kick to Robinson in 62nd position, which almost gave the Zardes a chance. Between the two, he helped design the best American possession spell with a little calm in the midfield.
Green's unexpected entrance helped the Americans stop the bleeding and stay in the match, allowing them to enjoy Zaldívar's exit.
The United States did not progress in the attack
With all due respect to Green, it's probably not the long-term solution to American looking for a creative point of support. It is probably still Christian Pulisic, but his absence for almost the entire Sarachan mandate has highlighted the real and worrying shortage of these skills in the pool of US players.
Sarachan has already tried McKennie, Adams and Trapp in the midfield of the US midfield four times, and if his goal was to give his young team the ammunition needed to stay in the games and avoid getting caught by France or the United States. Brazil, then mission accomplished. But it's clear that you need more balance and panache with the ball. The Sarachan team, when deployed, struggled to keep the ball long enough to allow a deep team to launch a counter-attack. On Tuesday, he even tried Acosta on the right wing, so much he was engaged in the settings.
Teams playing with four in the back and one forward need this creative pawn in the middle of the field. Think of Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho or Luka Modric at the World Cup. The United States certainly does not have anyone at this level, but the fact that Sarachan did not really find or choose someone to try it during this transition year – the perfect time to do it. – is disappointing. There is no depth beyond Pulisic except maybe Green and maybe someone like Kelyn Rowe. After that, you examine the prospects.
Sarachan did a good job keeping things as stable and professional as possible during this time, and he helped major players build their international bases. But Tuesday's first half, against a young and inexperienced Mexican team, showed a certain rigidity in both the pool of managers and players.
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