Mexico and the USMNT’s Copa America Centenario successes sent them up the latest FIFA rankings. El Tri moves up two spots to 14, while the Yanks hit 25. That’s six spots better, just above the Netherlands.
The Top Five of Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Germany and Chile remains unchanged, though there were some big movers just outside it. France leaps 10 spots to seventh while Wales gains 15 spots to 11th, moving two slots ahead of England.
Croatia, Poland and Iceland surge double-digits places into the Top 25. Venezuela’s solid Copa gives its a 31-place boost to No. 46, and Guinea-Bissau is up 40 to 75.
No. 93 New Zealand is the biggest gainer, rising 54 places.
The big losers? Austria is down 11 to 21 after going bottom of its group at EURO, while aforementioned Holland’s inactivity sinks its standing.
American soccer fans have had a week to calm down now.
The USMNT’s 4-0 loss to rampant Argentina in the Copa America Centenario semifinals was hard to watch, and the valiant digestif served in a 1-0 loss to Colombia only helped a bit with the hangover.
The reality check was a stiff one for those who believe the United States of America should compete on the same level with the world’s best, and overshadowed what was a goal-meeting, encouraging run into the Final Four of a legendary and difficult tournament.
For those who see the USMNT as a project, it was still tough to swallow. A semifinal is a terrific result, but could tactics have helped against Argentina? Were these our best players? Should we have expected more from Jurgen Klinsmann?
And what about the players? That’s the question we’ll answer today, as we evaluate the USMNT’s 23 men from a memorable tournament.
Kyle Beckerman Tournament dossier: 4 matches, 1 start, 90 mins total He’s served the States well in the past, but his days being useful against dangerous attacking teams seem behind him. Woeful in a tough spot against Argentina (Rating: 4.5)
Alejandro Bedoya Tournament dossier: 5 matches, 5 starts, 399 mins 3 shots, 2 yellow cards, 10 fouls committed, 2 fouls suffered An integral part of the team and a big reason the Argentina match was lopsided, Bedoya nonetheless did not have the impact we’ve come to expect from the Nantes man (Rating: 6)
Matt Besler Tournament dossier: 2 matches, 2 starts, 180 mins Did a job under tough circumstances, and could be a left back option for the 2018 World Cup if no one steps forward (Rating: 6)
Steve Birnbaum Tournament dossier: 2 matches, 31 mins Limited appearances, and one big mistake. Happy to go with letters here for a promising player (Rating: N/A)
John Brooks Tournament dossier: 5 matches, 5 starts, 450 mins It’s too early to say he’s come into his own, but Brooks belonged on the all-tournament team after showing a lot more wisdom in positions and decisions. (Rating: 9)
(Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Michael Bradley Tournament dossier: 6 matches, 6 starts, 529 mins 2 shots His 12 crosses were almost unrivaled on the team, with DeAndre Yedlin the only other player with more than four (eight). The motor was still going for one of the country’s all-time players, but at times he was surprisingly bewildered. The giveaways were alarming, and perhaps there’s an argument for using him further up the pitch. Offensive production was limited. (Rating: 5)
Geoff Cameron Tournament dossier: Played every minute Versatile and at times dominant, Cameron showed us he could’ve been the difference in last summer’s Gold Cup. (Rating: 8)
Clint Dempsey Tournament dossier: 6 matches, 6 starts, 460 mins
3 goals, 2 assists, 19 shots, 7 on goal
Does this guy live for the summer or what? The ex-Fulham and Spurs man buried big shot after big shot one year after scoring a career best nine international goals. Consider these numbers:
Before Klinsmann: 22 goals in 75 caps
After Klinsmann: 30 goals in 55 caps (Rating: 9)
Brad Guzan Tournament dossier: 5 matches, 5 starts, 450 mins, 18 saves Led the tournament in saves and starred in several matches, including the stirring win over Paraguay, but had a couple rough matches along the way. Overall, he was strong enough to suit the side’s needs. (Rating: 6.5)
Tim Howard Tournament dossier: 1 match, 1 start, 90 mins Only got to play one game as the younger Guzan gets every chance to show he can be a World Cup starter. Was dynamite (Rating: 8)
Fabian Johnson Tournament dossier: 5 matches, 5 starts, 450 mins, four shots Some fits and starts for the left back, which is understandable considering how often he plays left wing for his club. That said, as we’ve seen with David Alaba at Austria, as a star and versatile player you have to fill the biggest need for your national team. Johnson did fine with that (Rating: 7)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Jermaine Jones Tournament dossier: 5 matches, 5 starts, 388 mins, 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots, two yellow cards, red card Loses a point for his red card, which looks worse and worse upon review. Still, he’s shown an ageless quality in athleticism, his guile is emblematic of the team, and he’s going to make the World Cup roster unless the USMNT fails to make the tourney or he suffers a major injury (Rating: 7)
Darlington Nagbe Tournament dossier: 3 matches, 47 mins Has the misfortune of being behind a well-function three-man midfield, and has done well enough for us to ask whether he’ll get a look over or next to Bradley in the next friendly.
Michael Orozco Tournament dossier: 2 matches, 1 start, 129 mins, two yellow cards While we still would’ve liked to see Eric Lichaj or another full back who could hold his own over Orozco, he didn’t kill anything. Yes, even with his silly red card against Colombia (Rating: 5).
Christian Pulisic Tournament dossier: 3 matches, 85 mins Looked dangerous, promising, lovely… and 17. Will be a force one day, and the experience will help him (Rating: 6)
Chris Wondolowski Tournament dossier: 2 matches, 1 start, 57 mins His form in MLS hinted that he might be able to do a job for the Yanks, but he was statuesque at times and unfit as a hold-up player at the Copa America Centenario level. We don’t want to beat down one of the all-time good stories in USMNT, so let’s move onto this —
Please get well soon: Aron Johannsson, Terrence Boyd or Jozy Altidore.
See you soon: Jordan Morris, Jerome Kiesewetter
Improve: Julian Green, Fafa Picault
Please write letters to Jurgen: C.J. Sapong, Mike Grella, maybe even Will Bruin (Rating: 3.5)
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
Bobby Wood Tournament dossier: 5 matches, 5 starts, 399 mins, 1 goal, 5 shots, 13 fouls suffered, 11 committed If Wood’s finish was on point, he would’ve potted 4-5 goals and been the breakout start of the tournament. That aside, he was borderline dominant and the embodiment of what U.S. fans want to see in their strikers (You know, aside from the goals) (Rating: 8).
DeAndre Yedlin Tournament dossier: 5 matches, 5 starts, 408 mins red card, nine fouls committed He’s much, much improved and still has a long way to go. The motor is fine, and the speed is wonderful. You can tell he gained savvy in defense under Sam Allardyce at Sunderland, but still has to learn tricks of the trade like when a player like Carlos Bacca is going to give that little tug that pushes him to a razor-thin goal (Rating: 6.5)
Graham Zusi Tournament dossier: 5 matches, 1 start, 138 mins 1 goal, 1 shot on goal Not going to be the first name on the team sheet any time soon, but could prove to be one of the unsung heroes of a dicey time in USMNT history. His work in the big win over Guatemala kickstarted a rebirth of sorts that prove Klinsmann knows he has an asset in Zusi (Rating: 6).
Gyasi Zardes Tournament dossier: 6 matches, 6 starts, 539 mins
1 goal, 1 assist, 6 shots, 11 fouls suffered The most difficult player to judge in American soccer history? Klinsmann keeps trotting the big man out there despite matches where his body never catches up to his brain. It’s clear he has a great understanding of the game and is improving in wonderful ways. If only his first touch — which is not being criticized too harshly, could improve a bit — he’d be a 1-2 punch with Zardes that would overwhelm most back lines in CONCACAF. (Rating: 6)
Lionel Messi had given no hints that he could be on the verge of international football retirement before late Sunday night, in the wake of a crushing Copa America Centenario final in which the world’s best player sent a penalty kick over the goal.
So, as concrete as his comments may read — “It’s very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back” — perhaps we should wait for Messi to have some time to reflect on his future, and for Argentina football to sort through its murky time.
The country’s federation is under FIFA administration as it prepares for presidential elections, and some have claimed the nation could be banned from competition. Sergio Aguero claimed after the game that several players were considering their international futures in a charged comment, and the BBC claims Messi, Aguero, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain are amongst a bevy of players ready to quit. That makes it all seem even more political.
Messi turned 29 on Friday and won’t turn 31 until the 2018 World Cup is well underway. Argentina is hardly guaranteed to qualify for the tournament without him, currently good for fourth in CONMEBOL qualifying. That’s two points out of first, but two ahead of 7th.
Messi would be leaving his club in the lurch with Matchdays 7 and 8 against Uruguay and Venezuela, respectively, on tap for early September.
Clinical finishers with regrettable hair styles. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
As an extreme competitor, perhaps Messi is tired of the messy Argentine federation. Perhaps. But is he ready to give up on winning a major senior tournament? That would be a stunning, though hardly unique, admission from an all-time legend’s resume (which does have Olympic Gold). Moreover, his retirement talk could be a threat to get his way in the changing landscape of Argentina soccer.
Barcelona has trumpeted Messi’s retirement claim, and the club would be thrilled if its megastar would quit the injury and fatigue risks that come with international play. There’s also the fact that Messi has been judged harshly by his home nation’s fans since he left the country for Barcelona at 13, whereas fans wished to see him develop at home (Hmmm… sounds familiar).
I’m going to wait until the diminutive legend makes it formal. Twenty-nine years old and major trophy free. Remember that.
According to the Copa America Centenario Technical Study Group, all of the best players at Copa America Centenario were in Group D’s pair of finalists.
Given the star wattage of players on Chile and Argentina, perhaps that was always coming (Sorry, James Rodriguez, Clint Dempsey, John Brooks, and David Ospina: You’re mere semifinalists).
Anyway, the CACTSG handed out the Golden Boot (Eduardo Vargas), Golden Glove (Claudio Bravo) and Golden Ball (Alexis Sanchez), as well as a team Fair Play Award (Argentina).
As for the Best XI, plenty up for debate here:
Goalkeeper: Claudio Bravo (Chile) Defenders:Mauricio Isla (Chile), Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina), Gary Medel (Chile), Jean Beausejour (Chile) Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Argentina), Arturo Vidal (Chile), Charles Aránguiz (Chile) Forwards: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Eduardo Vargas (Chile), Alexis Sánchez (Chile)
After allowing five goals in the group stage, Chile threw zeroes across its three knockout rounds games. That’s enough for Claudio Bravo, who had two howlers against Panama, to pass David Ospina? To the victors go the spoils.
You couldn’t reasonably slot James or Dempsey ahead of the trio of forwards, though if Alexis Sanchez is a “midfielder”, then surely you could fudge James’ position, too (especially if the third place game means anything). Presumably that would be over Charles Aranguiz in the midfield.
Perhaps Argentina’s 4-0 destruction of an otherwise stingy USMNT makes Brooks or Geoff Cameron unappealing at center back (despite allowing three goals in the tourney leading up to the semi)? And there wasn’t a single back better than Isla? Alright.
As for quarterfinalists, Venezuela’s Wilker Angel marshaled a back line that allowed just one goal before the 4-1 ouster from Argentina. And Mexico’s midfield had a strong tournament before siete a cero.
Well done, CACTSG; Not only does your initialism sound like a rapper from the desert, but you sleepwalked through your only job.
Angel di Maria returns to the starting XI for Argentina, while Messi and Gonzalo Higuain lead the charge in the attack. After only conceding twice in their five matches at Copa America, Argentina will keep their back four the same on Sunday.
Chile will look for an extra spark from Arturo Vidal, who returns to the lineup after missing the semifinal due to suspension. Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas look to continue their strong tournament, hoping to bag a few goals and hand Chile their second straight Copa America title.
