TheNearPostThe second half saw Juan Agudelo come on for Maurice Edu, and the USA switch to something approaching a 4-4-2/4-2-2-2ish shape. Offensively, switching to a two-forward system immediately gave the USA quicker support for the attack. Apart from that, the movement of the forwards and Chandler into high and wide areas either stretched the defense and created gaps for Donovan and Dempsey to drift into, or provided an outball in transition play, something the USA lacked in the first half. This was particulary dangerous with the Argentina fullbacks tendency for getting forward.

( That's actually kind of ironic because under the very-maligned Maradona, the fullbacks didn't have moved an inch)

Defensively, the USA could sit deep(limit the space in behind the defence), narrow( limit the space in the center of the midfield), and compact( limit the space in between the lines of defence, midfield, and attack.) without worrying about a lack of support for their attack.

Like I've said before, this should be how the USA plays against possession/passing/patient build-up teams like. It closes down the areas they like to work in and makes their attack dangerous, particularly if the fullbacks get forward.

12.04.2011