At times on Saturday night, it felt like the spirit of Buddy Ryan was guiding the United States defense at Lincoln Financial Field.
John Brooks looked more like Seth Joyner and the 10-man U.S. picked up a first half goal, then parked the bus for 40 minutes and successfully rode out a 1-0 win.
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It was a choppy, sloppy, and extremely physical affair in front of 53,000 fans. Referee Julio Bascunan handed out nine yellow cards and even went down injured when he took a wayward kick from Jermaine Jones.
This was not the prettiest game to watch, but it was definitely entertaining.
The result put the United States through to the knockout rounds, where it looked like a matchup with Brazil was in the cards.
But the more surprising result took place later that night, when Costa Rica shockingly dispatched Colombia in Houston. Manager Jose Pekerman arrogantly rested his entire group of starters, then watched his team concede three goals and finish as a runner-up to the United States in group A.
Changing the shape, but not the personnel
This was the first time in five years that Jurgen Klinsmann has played the same starting lineup for three straight games.
We've groaned incessantly in the past about lineup changes, weird tactical decisions, and playing players out of position. But maybe we should step back and give Jurgen credit for keeping it mostly consistent in this tournament.
On Saturday night, the personnel was the same, but they actually started in a 4-4-2 and stayed in the shape until DeAndre Yedlin was sent off. The 4-3-3 that we saw against Colombia did not appear at all in this match.
The 4-4-2 just seems to suit this squad better. It puts Bobby Wood into a stronger role at the top of the formation. It also allows Clint Dempsey to sink in and find the ball while still having a body in front of him.
The downside of the 4-4-2 is that it pushes Gyasi Zardes out to the wing, which isn't his best position on the field. It can also limit the ability of your fullbacks to get forward, but Paraguay's suicidally high positioning made that idea pretty pointless in this game anyway. The U.S. didn't need to push for multiple goals in this match, but Paraguay needed a win to advance.
It's not perfect from Jurgen, but it's better. Fabian Johnson is a natural midfielder and I'd still like to see him in a more advanced position. The depth at right back (Michael Orozco?) is highly questionable. Michael Bradley probably operates better in a three-man midfield.
But we'll just have to accept it for now.
John Brooks is growing up
The Hertha Berlin center back has been the best U.S. player in this tournament.
And it could have been completely different ballgame if he didn't pull off this play:
That was the highlight of the night, but Brooks was everywhere in this game, winning headers, blocking shots, and continually clearing the ball out of dangerous areas. For the first time, we're seeing Brooks replicate his club form while playing for the USMNT.
He looks dialed in mentally as well, which is important to see. Keep in mind, he's still only 23 years old, and he joined this team as an “outsider,” which is to say that he's one of the German-born players who really only had a brief stint in the U.S. youth setup.
Don't you get the sense that Brooks is really embracing the opportunity to play in this tournament?
The center back finished the game with 1 tackle, 2 blocks, 3 interceptions, 4 recoveries, and 14 clearances. Those numbers will look a bit inflated with the 11-on-10 nature of the game, but even before the red card, Brooks was the best U.S. player on the field.
In a way, he's turning the corner in the same way that Oguchi Onyewu did before earning a move to AC Milan in 2009. Unlike “Gooch," however, Brooks is younger with a lot more upside.
GRADES
Starting XI: Guzan, Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson, Bradley, Bedoya, Jones, Wood, Dempsey, Zardes
• Gyasi Zardes: B
His first contribution was to get on the end of a John Brooks clearance and run at Celso Ortiz, forcing a foul and a yellow card for the AZ Alkmaar midfielder. That ball from Brooks was actually credited as a key pass, so go figure.
Zardes' second contribution was the assist on Dempsey's goal. I really liked the patience he showed in the buildup, as he held the ball out wide while waiting for the play to develop. All he had to do was create a bit of separation and play in that low ball for Dempsey to run onto.
That was a mature moment for him.
The aggravating moment took place in the second half, when he blew a golden chance to double the score, with an inexplicable extra touch inside the box.
That's the scouting report on Gyasi; he's a talented player who isn't quite there yet.
• Clint Dempsey: B+
He scored his game-winning goal with a clinical late run into the box, which is something he does so well in that withdrawn striker position.
Dempsey came off when the U.S. had to switch to a 4-4-1 after the red card.
• Bobby Wood: C+
The 4-4-2 suited Wood a lot more than the 4-3-3, and he was able to do more while spearheading the formation.
He put in a really good effort in the second half as well, when the U.S. was down to ten men and he was playing alone up top.
• Jermaine Jones: B -
He had a grinder of a game, keeping the shape together and doing a lot of work to help clog up the middle of the field. Playing as a CM in a 4-4-2 is a difficult task for anyone, let alone a 34 year old, but he did well to make life uncomfortable for Paraguay.
• Alejandro Bedoya: C+
Very solid defensively and smart with his off the ball runs throughout the game.
Like the rest of his midfielder partners, he was forced to pack it in defensively for the better part of 40 minutes.
• Michael Bradley: C+
He's better in a 4-3-3, but just like Jones, he played a rather simple game in this one.
Bradley took a yellow card in the second half but dialed it down from there, contributing to the 10-man defensive lockdown in top fashion.
• Fabian Johnson: C-
He started the game by springing an early counterattack, then took a dangerous set piece that maybe should have been left for Dempsey.
From there, his mistake sprung the Paraguay 3v1, which had to be snuffed out by Brooks.
He's just better as a midfielder and I don't know why Klinsmann insists on him playing left back for the USMNT.
• John Brooks: A
Man of the match performance.
The only time Brooks was beat was just before halftime, when a really nice through ball played in Dario Lezcano inside the left channel. Brad Guzan came up big by stuffing a tight-angle shot to preserve the 1-0 lead.
• Geoff Cameron: B-
He was much better after the red card, sitting in defensively and clearing away everything that came his way.
In the first half, he had two iffy moments. First, he got beat in the RB/CB seam and needed Brooks to come over to thump the ball away. Later, he sat on the ball for way too long and almost turned it over to Lezcano in a terrible area.
Overall, a decent game with two “meh” moments.
• DeAndre Yedlin: D
Klinsmann didn't have an issue with either card. I thought the first one might be questionable, but Yedlin did follow through on the tackle even thought he made contact with the ball.
• Brad Guzan: B+
The first big test came on that 19th minute cross, where he got over to the far post and parried a tight-angle shot. He was less than convincing on the resulting corner kick, but may have been fouled inside the box.
He made a massive save just before halftime on Lezcano to preserve the lead.
Then, a series of huge saves in the 82nd minute sealed the deal for good.
Substitutes
• 50' Michael Orozco: C
The former Union man is not a right back, but he played there anyway when Yedlin went off.
It looks like he might have to play there again for the next game.
• 75' Graham Zusi: C
Second half reinforcement, he made a couple of decent stops.
• 83' Kyle Beckerman: N/A
Brief cameo to help shore-up the midfield.
MORE GRADES
• Ticket prices: F-
This game should have been sold out. The folks in charge blew it with the overpriced tickets. The sight of the nosebleed sections and lower bowl being filled, with the club seats being mostly empty, was ridiculous to behold.
• Referee: Julio Bascunan (Chile): D
The calls against Yedlin may have been correct, but he lost control of the match in the second half and really earned the ire of the home crowd.
It's also the first time I've ever seen the ref injure himself, which actually resulted in a five minute delay that really helped the U.S. gather themselves and take a breather.
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