For the better part of the past dozen years, any time the US men’s national team faced Mexico, the heated rivalry and battle for regional supremacy served as the dominating and adequate story line.
As the squads prepare to meet yet again, Wednesday in Philadelphia, the center of attention isn’t American or Mexican, but German. Jurgen Klinsmann’s long-awaited arrival as US head coach has overshadowed a match that suddenly doesn’t seem to have the same focus points it might have had if Bob Bradley were still manning the American sideline.
The match itself still has plenty of significance — but for far different reasons. Now, instead of being about beating Mexico, Wednesday’s friendly is about getting the first glimpses of the Klinsmann era and what sort of influence he might be having on a team that hadn’t been putting up the best results over the past year.
The squad Klinsmann called in has several familiar faces, but it is clear in some of the players he has chosen that he is eager to start familiarizing himself with those who either hadn’t gotten much of a look under Bradley or who hadn’t played key roles recently.
How those new faces do against Mexico obviously could help determine whether Klinsmann’s US national team debut is successful. But the reality is Wednesday’s US-Mexico match isn’t as much about getting a result as it is about seeing how the American players, veterans and newcomers alike, respond to Klinsmann’s coaching style and tactical approach, and whether some new options are ready to take on bigger roles in the Klinsmann era.
Here are a few things to watch for from Klinsmann’s US national team coaching debut on Wednesday night:
Landon Donovan could be handed a new role by Jurgen Klinsmann. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Landon Donovan’s role
Klinsmann has talked about wanting a more attacking style and also mentioned wanting to get Donovan closer to goal. There is a very good possibility Klinsmann will use Donovan differently, potentially as a forward or in the hole. The Mexico match should shed light on where Klinsmann believes Donovan can do the most damage for the United States.
The left-back candidates
Anyone who watched the Gold Cup knows just how few left back options the US has, but it’s clear Klinsmann wants to take a look at new faces there. With Carlos Bocanegra looking more likely to play centerback against Mexico, we could see Edgar Castillo start at left back in just his second appearance with the national team. Heath Pearce is also a potential option there.
Beasley and Shea: the old and new
DaMarcus Beasley sounded surprised about his first call-up in almost a year and a half, but with the US pool lacking many quality left-footed options, he’ll get another long look from Klinsmann.
Brek Shea didn’t do much his first time around with the national team, but as one of the hottest players in MLS, Shea has earned the chance for another lengthy look, and Wednesday could be his chance to show that his form with FC Dallas is a sign of a player ready for a bigger role — both with the 2012 US. Olympic Team nd eventually the 2014 senior team.
The Mexican influence
Edgar Castillo and Jose Francisco Torres have long had vociferous backers who believed they could both excel with the US. So when both were called up, along with Michael Orozco, it became clear Klinsmann was eager to get a good look at three Mexican-American players who had held their own in Mexico.
Orozco seems like the biggest wild card of the bunch, having failed to impress that much during his stint in MLS with the Philadelphia Union, but he’s done enough to catch Klinsmann’s eye.
Torres is an intriguing possibility. He’s match fit playing in the Mexican season with Pachuca and could be an option to start against Mexico ahead of Michael Bradley, who’s currently looking for a new club.
As for Castillo, it remains to be seen whether he’s a better fullback option or a greater threat as a winger. We’ll get our first look Wednesday at where Klinsmann prefers him.
Michael Bradley’s response
Everyone is waiting to see how Bradley will react in the wake of his father’s firing as US head coach. If his responses during interviews Tuesday are any indication, the veteran midfielder isn’t about to let his father’s departure affect his game. If anything, it could serve to motivate him, as it did in 2005 when Bob Bradley was fired by the MetroStars late in the season. The younger Bradley responded with a string of fine performances, capped by a playoff berth-clinching goal in the regular-season finale.
Freddy Adu is likely to get the chance to impress Klinsmann. (Gabriel Bouys/Getty Images)
Building on Adu’s Gold Cup
One of the biggest bright spots for the US in the Gold Cup was Freddy Adu’s two impressive performances, and the fact that Klinsmann has called in a player who has yet to resolve his club situation indicates the coach liked what he saw.
Not being in preseason with a team could affect Adu’s sharpness and keep him from a bigger role Wednesday. But don’t be surprised if we see more glimpses of magic from him and potentially more appearances under Klinsmann in the coming months.
