Written by Roderick MacNeil at Stars and Stripes FC.com
The United States men’s national team finished 4th at Copa America Centenario, losing a close 1-0 decision Saturday night vs. Colombia in the Third Place Match in Glendale, Arizona. Despite the loss, the U.S. turned in a much stronger performance than four days prior vs. Argentina. Here’s what we learned:
The team cared much more about the result than we did
Okay, I’ll speak for myself here. Maybe *you* were excited about the prospect of a third place medal. I guess it would’ve been a cool souvenir for the guys to bring home from summer camp. It’s nice to have something to literally show for your efforts. But for the rest of us, it’s hard to get up for a Third Place Match after your team has just been eliminated.
Of course, Jurgen Klinsmann and his squad are professionals, and they cared about this result very much. Both teams, in fact, fielded first choice lineups. There was a greater intensity than we typically see in this sort of match. It was undoubtedly a far more spirited and entertaining game than any of Saturday’s three Euro 2016 matches. Both teams pressured and attacked, and generally tried to score, which is more than you could say about the games across the pond.
Still, many observers had preferred to see some youth worked into the squad for this one. A competitive match against a Top 5 team would’ve been a great learning experience for Darlington Nagbe, Christian Pulisic, Perry Kitchen, or even Ethan Horvath to be trusted with a start here. This feels like an opportunity missed ahead of World Cup Qualifying resuming this fall, and that’s disappointing.
The Klinsmann-Orozco Bromance lives on
Everyone needs a buddy they can rely on in a pinch. When you need help moving a couch, when you need a ride to the airport, it’s good to have someone you know will answer the phone. That’s who Michael Orozco is to Jurgen Klinsmann.
Some coaches just have favorites. Michael Orozco is a versatile player. He can, when needed, slot anywhere across the back line. He’s never the first choice at any of those positions, yet always seems to be in the mix because he’s both willing and able, and on occasion does a capable job.
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