Costa Rica vs. USA

There’s no shame in losing to Mexico, but a good argument can be made that Klinsmann cost the USA dearly Friday against El Tri by starting that 2-1 loss with a new 3-5-2 formation.

Johan Venegas got the best of John Brooks in the seventh minute, pushing the ball between the defender’s legs and forcing Guzan into a sterling leg save. Brooks and Omar Gonzalez started in the center of the back line.

Although there are still plenty of points to play for with eight games remaining, Klinsmann said he had not anticipated failing to take a point from the opening two games. “Obviously, it’s not a good start to the Hex, and today, in particular, was not a good performance”. He started Matt Besler and Timmy Chandler at fullback, and kept them in even as they struggled. The German coach did change things back to a 4-4-2 in that game and the team found an equalizer and had chances to win in the second half following the shift in formation.

The Americans embarked on the qualifying odyssey with high hopes of snatching four points from the first two matches.

Klinsmann has helmed the USA program for more than five years, a run that has seen plenty of positive moments.

And if it isn’t, it should be.

Is the axe ready to drop on Jurgen Klinsmann?

After suffering a first World Cup qualifying home loss since 2001, against fierce foe Mexico of all teams, Klinsmann needed a big response from his players Tuesday night in Costa Rica.

The drubbing on Tuesday was a blaring alarm that the discontent is starting to reveal itself in the results.

With the proper coaching, all hope is not lost for the USA team – as the roster is now constructed, it’s not outside the realm of reality to think this team can make up four points in eight games. If Klinsmann is not getting results on the field with the first team and the youth squads are not where they should be, where is the progress? In the 43rd minute, though, Johan Venegas received a flawless cross and headed the ball in for Costa Rica’s first goal – they had plenty more to go.

As for Klinsmann’s status, U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati told the AP: “We don’t make any decisions right after games”.

Matchup to watch: The U.S. attackers against Costa Rica’s goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. If – more sensibly, in my view – he played Bradley in his preferred number-six position, a player like Sacha Kljestan could be brought in to link midfield to attack, with Christian Pulisic, Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood playing as a front three.

(Less than) Honorable mentions: 4-0 loss to Argentina in the 2016 Copa America semifinal; 3-2 loss to Mexico in the Confederations Cup playoff in October 2015; 2-0 loss to Jamaica in an away World Cup qualifier in 2012.

Calls for Jurgen Klinsmann to be sacked were mounting Wednesday as the worst defeat of his five-year reign left the United States facing an uphill battle to qualify for the World Cup. That’s a stretch considering they just played their two toughest opponents.

“That is not how it works and that’s not what a real team is all about”. Is Klinsmann the right man for the USMNT job?