In the 19th Century, finishing schools were where the elite sent their daughters to become proper ladies of society. The US Men's National Team might want to take a page from their playbook and set up a finishing school of their own, as this crop of Yanks could surely use the lesson.
During last night's 3-1 loss to Paraguay in the Copa America group stages, the consensus is that the Americans outplayed La Albiroja, but were stonewalled in their finishing. Just in the few minutes I watched, I can agree. The American's passing combinations and creativity were much improved from the Argentina game. Paraguay was a World Cup Finalist last year, so it wasn't some slouch team. However, I saw Justin Mapp hit the crossbar, Eddie Johnson panic in front of the net and pull off an attack (not the first time), numerous shots go wide, and Ricardo Clark's blast that seemed destined to be a golazo smacked away by the Paraguayan keeper. In the Gold Cup, first-teamers Landon Donovan and Damarcus Beasley did not do much better, both shitting their pants with the goal yawning in front of them. While Americans have never been great finishers, or attacking forwards for that matter (Our specialty is goalkeepers and defenders), it is a glaring weakness that must be addressed if the Yanks are to ever seriously contend on the world stage.
During last night's 3-1 loss to Paraguay in the Copa America group stages, the consensus is that the Americans outplayed La Albiroja, but were stonewalled in their finishing. Just in the few minutes I watched, I can agree. The American's passing combinations and creativity were much improved from the Argentina game. Paraguay was a World Cup Finalist last year, so it wasn't some slouch team. However, I saw Justin Mapp hit the crossbar, Eddie Johnson panic in front of the net and pull off an attack (not the first time), numerous shots go wide, and Ricardo Clark's blast that seemed destined to be a golazo smacked away by the Paraguayan keeper. In the Gold Cup, first-teamers Landon Donovan and Damarcus Beasley did not do much better, both shitting their pants with the goal yawning in front of them. While Americans have never been great finishers, or attacking forwards for that matter (Our specialty is goalkeepers and defenders), it is a glaring weakness that must be addressed if the Yanks are to ever seriously contend on the world stage.
In the end, I think it may be a focus problem. Not for the players, but the whole institution. It seems I can't go through one US Soccer broadcast without hearing someone talking about "creating chances." Creating Chances is about the stupidest strategy I've heard of. It's the equivalent of using a machine gun to kill a fly. The basic reasoning is that if you create enough chances, eventually you're bound to get a goal. However, the drawback here is that you will likely wear yourself out trying to keep up a flurry of chances and frustration builds when it doesn't come through. The Americans' total exhaustion in the last 30 minutes of the Argentina game are evidence of this. The US should focus more on clinically finishing chances, not just creating them.
Last night Paraguay took 12 shots on goal, and put 3 in the back of the net (25%). Team USA took 14 and put 1 on target (7%).
Against Argentina, the Americans took 6 shots, and only scored on a Penalty kick. Argentina took 10 shots, and four of them found net.
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