Joe Gyau Excelled in his USMNT Debut (Getty Images)
by Roderick MacNeil
Five thoughts on from the USMNT’s last friendly vs. the Czech Republic:
1. Rimando Rises
With Tim Howard taking a one-year sabbatical from the USMNT, popular opinion assumes that 29-year-old Brad Guzan will take over the starting GK job. Nick Rimando has served notice that he’s not interested in popular opinion. Rimando was flawless in the second half against the Czechs, making four critical saves (nearly all of the highlight reel variety) to preserve both the win and shutout. Granted, Guzan had much less to do in the first half, thanks in part to playing behind a more experienced lineup. But Rimando was far beyond adequate in his 45 minutes; he shined and showcased a knack for the spectacular that MLS fans have come to expect. Guzan’s Premier League resume won’t place him at the top of the depth chart by default, nor will Rimando’s age (35) or height (5’10”) disqualify him. Make no mistake, this is an open competition in Klinsmann’s eyes. Real Salt Lake’s standout keeper may yet land the starting job at next summer’s Gold Cup.
2. Meet Joe Gyau
Among the three players who made their USMNT debuts against the Czechs, the most noteworthy performance undoubtedly came from 21-year-old Joe Gyau. Gyau started at forward and went a full 90 minutes. So much for easing new guys into the lineup. Gyau looked composed on the ball and displayed a maturity beyond his years. He showed confidence running at defenders and didn’t hesitate to take shots at goal. His speed on the flanks proved problematic for the Czech defense all day long. Sure, he’s far from a finished product, and his inexperience showed itself at times with decision-making errors on the defensive end. But Gyau impressed overall, and we can expect to see a lot more of him in USA uniform. Gyau’s next challenge: Performing well enough with Borussia Dortmund’s reserves to earn a call from Jurgen Klopp to BVB’s first team. It may happen sooner than we think.
3. MLS Absences Loom Large
This starting XI that took the field vs. the Czech Republic bore little resemblance to those we saw this summer in Brazil, and that wasn’t necessarily all by design. With just a single friendly in Europe during this particular international break, Jurgen Klinsmann elected not to call in players from Major League Soccer (Rimando being the lone exception.) With Jermaine Jones and DaMarcus Beasley’s recent transfers, a full majority (12 of 23 players) from the World Cup roster now play professionally in MLS. In fact, the only clear first-choice players that started in Prague were Jozy Altidore and Fabian Johnson. That’s a dramatic shift from four years ago when only 4 MLS players made the WC roster, three of which (Bornstein, Buddle, Findley) transferred out of the league shortly thereafter.
4. USA Feeling More at Home in Europe
Have away victories in Europe become routine for the USMNT? Perhaps not, but since the 2010 World Cup, the United States has collected wins in Slovenia, Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina and now, the Czech Republic. Toss in a draw in Russia and you’ve got an impressive collection of results in difficult, hostile environments across the pond during the Klinsmann era. With those results come increased expectations. In the new reality of 2014, the United States is simply a better team than the Czechs. Home or away, the USMNT is now expected to get a result against an opponent of this level. Not that CZE is a weak side – they aren’t. But consider that the Czechs have only qualified for one World Cup (2006) in five attempts since the breakup of Czechoslovakia, and you see a national program that has fallen far from its historic glory. That said, this isn’t a win to be minimized: Without most of its first-choice starters, the U.S. defeated the Czechs’ first-choice team. This was also a Czech squad that was motivated for a strong result heading into its first Euro 2016 qualifier vs. the Netherlands.
5. Defensive Midfield Questions for 2018
While defensive midfield is far from a current problem for the USMNT, future depth (as it relates to age) is a concern going forward. Kyle Beckerman and Jermaine Jones (not to mention Michael Bradley) were missing from this roster, leaving Klinsmann’s roster thin on obvious Euro-based replacements. This resulted in a 4-3-3 lineup with Joe Corona in the middle, and Mix Diskerud playing more centrally than the lineup card would suggest. Neither player provides the type of reliable defensive cover that Klinsmann’s preferred style demands. In 2014, defensive midfield is a strong position for the U.S. depth-wise. But in 2018, both Beckerman and Jones will be 36 years old. Identifying and developing the next “generation” in that position will be a challenge during the next cycle.
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