The U.S. men’s national team had one objective in 2011: winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup to qualify for the 2013 Confederations Cup. After 25 minutes against Mexico at the Rose Bowl, it looked like the Americans had done just, taking a 2-0 lead. But after giving up four consecutive goals in a 4-2 defeat, disappointment and key questions are all that remain:
Is the most pressing U.S. need at striker or outside back?
Despite the growing ranks of Americans playing abroad, an alarming lack of depth all over the field is the U.S. program’s biggest concern.
In Saturday’s final, central midfielders Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones both showed signs of fatigue after the group stage loss to Panama pressed them into more service than expected.
Without injured forward Jozy Altidore, Alejandro Bedoya also started out of place up top and looked that way against the Mexicans.
But it was the loss of veteran right back Steve Cherundolo to a first-half ankle injury that stunned the United States, forcing the insertion of out-of-form Jonathan Bornstein, who was victimized repeatedly. Cherundolo will be 35 when the 2014 World Cup comes around. The United States needs to plan for his replacement — fast.
How much of the blame for losing the Gold Cup final — and the credit for getting there in the first place — belongs to U.S. coach Bob Bradley?
The oft-maligned Bradley did some of the best managing of his career in benching Landon Donovan, selecting and utilizing Freddy Adu and adjusting to a 4-2-3-1 formation during the Gold Cup knockout rounds.
But Bradley’s questionable roster selections back in May left him without options as the tournament progressed. Oguchi Onyewu was a bust in central defense. Tim Ream was also raw, and young German-raised outside back Timothy Chandler stayed home.
Bradley’s reliance on Bornstein has long been criticized, but hitching the goal-starved U.S. forward line solely to an inconsistent Altidore and the 18-year-old Juan Agudelo may be where Bradley is guilty of being the most inflexible.
Is Adu headed to a World Cup after all?
After playing a role in the final three U.S. goals of the Gold Cup and being arguably the team’s best player against Mexico, Adu’s resurgence is undeniable. The next step: finding the right European club where he can continue his career. Benfica still owns his contract for one more year, but Adu’s suitors this summer should be plenty.
