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Antigua and Barbuda vs. USA: Improvements That Must Be Made for Team USA
Published: October 14, 2012
A 3-1-1 record through five games gives Team USA 10 points in Round 3 of qualifying, tied for the most points in the group. If the squad earns at least a draw in Tuesday's game against Guatemala, they will move onto the next stage.
Still, things should have been easier to this point. None of the other teams in the group are ranked in the FIFA's top 50 in the world. Considering the Americans reached the knockout stage of the 2010 World Cup, it should not have struggled with Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica or Guatemala.
However, the team has just not clicked to this point.
One of the biggest problems has been on defense. The team has conceded five goals in five games and only has one clean sheet in that time. Against stiffer competition, those numbers would be much worse.
Tim Howard is still one of the top keepers in the game, but the defenders have struggled to keep up with the competition. Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocanegra are both 33 years old and are not quite as good as they once were.
Additionally, the team needs to make sure it does not lose focus for any part of the 90-minute match. Simple mistakes have led to goals that have cost them dearly.
The offense has had better excuses. The lineup has not been at full strength throughout qualifying, especially at the midfield position. With Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley out for a long time, lapses in play are understandable.
On the other hand, there have been problems with people finishing goals. Eddie Johnson proved with his two scores that he should be on the team more often. Both were headers that were perfectly placed—something his predecessors have not been able to do.
Johnson is fourth in the MLS with 15 goals and co...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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