Almost predictably, especially as the US National Team world turns, recent friendlies against a full-strength Belgium side and a patchwork Germany squad gave us all plenty to praise, criticize and otherwise ruminate over in advance of a crucial stretch of World Cup qualifiers that will see the US travel to Jamaica before returning home for games against Panama and Honduras. It's a stretch of games that is just as likely to be problematic for the US as it will be a path to seizing control of the top spot in this final stage of qualifying.
Though the aforementioned friendlies offered us more questions than answers in various doses, the sample size of these 180 minutes certainly presents enough of a canvas on which we may begin to paint the picture of what we think this month will ultimately look like for Klinsmann and company.
Will Brad Evans continue on at right back? In the wake of Geoff Cameron's rather shaky outing against Belgium, it was Brad Evans who got a run out at right back against Germany, despite the fact that this meant he was playing out of his comfort zone in central midfield. Any fears of how he might fare were quickly dispelled, however, as he hardly looked like a fish out of water in his back line outing and indeed did a fantastic job of neutralizing the likes of Lukas Podolski while also coming up with some crucial clearances along the way.
Was his performance enough to merit another start there against Jamaica? It should be, logically speaking.
Better days may await Jozy Altidore. The statistical output from Jozy Altidore in recent years in a US shirt and in an AZ Alkmaar shirt really couldn't be more disparate. While Altidore has all but scored goals for fun in the Netherlands of late, finishing fourth in the league in scoring this year, his goal scoring drought for his country dated back to 2011. Such profligacy is hardly what one would expect from a man expected to lead the line for the US, but, in all fairness, a lack of sincere service on several occasions during this dry spell did him no favors at all.
Regardless, the drought was what it was, and strikers in the midst of such droughts can't help but to allow such a lack of scoring to have an utterly detrimental effect on one's mental state and confidence. Yet, as a player's psychology goes, it often only takes that one moment in which everything finally goes right for a decent run of form to begin again. Hopefully his performance against Germany, fantastic goal included, stands at that turning point that he and US fans have been so longing for.
Is a continuation of the Beasley/Fabian Johnson partnership in store? It truly seems that DaMarcus Beasley's US renaissance revolves around him now being the de facto left back, and it's a role that he has filled admirably enough. With Fabian Johnson having been pushed up to the left wing against Germany in response to Beasley's continuation in defense, that flank had much more pace than it would have had Brad Davis started there, and the luxury of having two players down that side who are comfortable in attack or defense is tantalizing indeed.
With Jamaica's speed on the wings in mind, don't be surprised to see this partnership continue for at least 90 more minutes on Friday.
As I wrote in the immediate aftermath of the Belgium loss, we can only hope that the lessons learned in the last seven days, especially in defense, against quality opposition will be applied appropriately when it matters most. Friendly wins against the likes of Germany are nice, but the grind of CONCACAF is where the USA's bread is buttered. Losing sight of that fact would be perilous.
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