By Jared Launius
Today, the USMNT are in Ljubljana to take on Slovenia – the national side it came back from 2-nil down against in the World Cup last summer. The Yanks took what looked like a 3-2 lead when Maurice Edu deposited a Landon Donovan free kick into the net in the 86th minute, but a foul was called – good luck finding it – the goal was disallowed and the final read U.S. 2-2 Slovenia.
Before we get into that Group C rematch, I'd like to tie up a few loose ends from Friday's 1-0 loss to France in Paris. Here are the highlights.
First, and I don't think this can be said enough, that was a pretty fantastic defensive performance. I don't mean to dumb down Bob Bradley's defensive tactics, but this, I think, is much, much better. Rather than relying on a crowded bunker and ball-hawking defenders staging timely – and often dramatic, last-ditch – interventions, all 10 of Klinsmann's men Friday defended all over the field with a high line and patient, marshaling defense. For the most part, the Yanks contained in their areas, playing – for an American football or basketball analogy – great zone defense.
Kyle Beckerman continues to win praise and a starting spot because he does exactly what's asked of him defensively – staying at home, keeping attackers in front of him and convincing them to make less-than-desirable decisions (a shaky first touch notwithstanding). Brek Shea and Danny Williams, despite failing to enact the attacking ideas required for successful wing shifts, defended admirably as they provided support for their wing-defense counterparts. Certainly, France got their chances and their goal – you can't let a team of that quality have that much of the ball and expect anything else – but this was encouraging.
A defense that can press high up the field and keep itself in good shape is one of the building blocks for the type of attacking side Klinsmann wants, and I'd have to say, after surrendering five goals in six games so far against some quality sides, this seems to be one part of Klinsmann's plan that's on track.
The attack, of course, isn't short on critics, and I see no reason to pile on. Plenty of server space across the country has been used to discuss the shortcomings – from questionable personnel decisions to larger questions (does the personnel even exist?) – without me using more. My cliffnotes: Dempsey, Altidore: good; Shea, Chandler: still trending up; Williams, Edu: miscast; Beckerman, Goodson: still deciding; Bocanegra, Cherundolo; trending down.
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Now, Slovenia.
I'll be honest – I don't know a ton about the Eastern European side. Last year's World Cup team, under the instruction of Matjaz Kek, wasn't at all dissimilar to Bob Bradley and Bruce Arena's U.S. teams. They deployed a similar bunker-and-counter 4-4-2 with a little more technical ability but a bit less overall punch. This will be the first match coached by new manager Slavisa Stonjanovic (whose name, if I'm being honest, was just copy+pasted from the team website), so it remains to be seen how the side will play under new direction.
I know Robert Koren, Slovenia's captain and number 10, was left off this roster for no discernible reason I've been able to track down. Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic, who each tallied first half goals against the States in Johannesburg last June, figure to be involved I would think, as will Chievo Verona defenders Bojan Jokic and Bostjan Cesar. But that's all the surmising I'll do. As we've seen under Klinsmann, coaching changes can sometimes spell big personnel and tactical decisions.From the U.S., Slovenia presents a very nice opportunity. Though incapable of replicating the dynamic tour de force France enacted Friday, Slovenia is a talented side with it's share of players in top flight leagues and a fantastic goalkeeper in Udinese's Samir Handanovic. This is probably the fourth-best side the Yanks have faced thus far (coming in behind Mexico, France and Belgium) but it's a stout squad who will be playing at home and trying to impress a new coach. Should be pretty competitive.
How about some predicty stuff?The lineup
I can't imagine we see sweeping changes from Friday's roster. Here's what I expect.
Howard
Cherundolo - Goodson – Bocanegra – Chandler
Beckerman
Edu – Dempsey
Johnson – Altidore – Shea
The lone change from Friday's roster is Fabian Johnson's schalten (did I use that correctly) with Danny Williams, whose run – or lack thereof – or the right flank ought be over. Johnson deserves a look. Bocanegra is a lock for hist 100th cap (WOOOHOOO!). Shea, with a little more help from Chandler, should find more space on the left in the attacking third. And can somebody – somebody – please tee one up for Jozy Altidore? It doesn't even have to be a brilliant ball or anything – he's proven with AZ this season a capability to score every which way – just give him something. Dude's been working hard.I'm using my unused word credit from not talking at length about the U.S.'s struggle in attack earlier here and, for no real good reason, posting the lineup I'd like to see featured instead.
Hamid
Williams
Johnson – Altidore – Shea
Give Hamid a run out – he's been in every Klinsmann camp and is missing out on U-23's first get together for this. Let him have his first cap. Also: Gooch, man. Poor guy was semi-culpable for both Slovenia goals last year – the first when he failed to close Birsa down above the box and the second when he kept Ljubijankic onside – and probably wants to exercise some Gooch demons now that he's fit and in good form. Plus, from a more practical standpoint, he's more equipped (to put it lightly) to deal with Slovenia's surprising physicality than Goodson (see: Loic Remy). Danny Williams, after working his ass off to little avail the last three matches out of position, deserves a chance to impress in his place of choice and Michael Bradley, well, look: I know his flaws are many – I know he plays too many negative passes and commits himself to too many tackles beyond his assignment, but I can't imagine the team could be worse with him in for Mo. And he put in a truly fantastic shift against the Green Dragons (a little mad this is the first time I've worked their fantastic nickname in) last year.The proceedings
As previously stated, Slovenia is no France, but its certainly no CONCACAF minnow. The defense will be tough to break down, particularly the way Klinsmann wants to attack – remember the three goals (I'm counting Edu's because, for unofficial, hypothetical purposes, it was a goal) the U.S. scored last year came on long ball, long ball, set piece. That's not how Klinsmann wants to play. Again, maybe Slovenia will come out differently under the new coach, but, unless he benches already-established Serie A defenders, the personnel will still be strong.
If a goal is to come, I'm thinking it will need to be set up (or maybe scored) by a moment of brilliance from Dempsey or Shea – Altidore will probably be busy holding the ball up and making distracting runs. Dempey and Shea, I think, will be the key men. I can't imagine Slovenia will press as high up the field as did France, meaning (presumably) Beckerman and Edu should have plenty of time and space to link up to attacking players (I expect Edu to be lured up often in hopes of catching him out on a counter). It will be that final pass, I think, that the Green Dragons will make elusive (unlike France who just didn't really feel like letting the U.S. have the ball at all). Shea and Dempsey have the speed (the former) and the craft (the latter) to unlock good defenses, but they'll need to produce something real neat to do so against Slovenia.The Score
Much as I'd like to see Klinsmann's second win and the U.S.'s first in Europe since Poland in 2008, I can't predict as much with real honesty. Slovenia is difficult to unlock and each player on the field will be working to impress the new coach. I think one swift Green Dragon counterattack in the second half will decide it a la Ecuador.
Slovenia 1-0 U.S.
