TheNearPostI think where the USA really lost the final was in the way it defended, although that seems an obvious statement after they gave up 4 goals. The USA wasn't pressing, so Mexico had time to play passes, but the USA wasn't playing deep, so Mexico's pacy players had space to run in behind the USA's defense. If the USA had picked one way to defend, they might have gotten a grip on this final. Mexico was not nearly as lenient on defense, pressing high up the field. This limited the USA's time one the ball, and with no target to bring down long balls and clearances out of pressure, the USA struggled to put together cohesive attacks.

That being said, I thought Bob Bradley's use of Landon Donovan as a false nine wasn't a bad idea and the second goal was a direct result of it. The centerbacks didn't track Donovan dropping into the midfield, and the central midfielders were occupied with Bradley, Jones, and Adu. This allowed Donovan to help the build-up play and continue to make a curved run into the heart of Mexico's defense unmarked, where he received a pass from Dempsey and finished coolly.

Bob Bradley's second big surprise to include Adu was a success. He did what he was supposed to do as a playmaker - Found space between lines, held the ball, ran at defenders, and showed vision. His drifts wide right allowed Bedoya to come inside, although Bedoya also did a good job of giving width, and this gave the USA a sense of fluidity and variation in attack.

In short, the USA's attack was well set up for the most part, but the way they defended was too indecisive - they neither dropped deep or pressed, allowing Mexico time on the ball, and space in behind the defense to play it into. Mexico played better, there is no doubt of that, but you have to wonder how many goals they get against a team that closes down the spaces they like to work in.

Another change I would make is to bring out Bedoya for Chandler. Chandler offers the same pace, energy, work rate, stamina, width and crosses that Bedoya does, but simply does it better. The one issue is that Bedoya was comfortable coming inside off the flank to combine with the other attackers, whereas Chandler is guarenteed to glue himself to the touchline. This slightly reduces the fluidity and variation of the USA's attack, but quite simply, Chandler is a better player in a better league, and in a game where the USA was lacking in quality at times, you have ot wonder if that would have made a difference.

03.07.2011