U.S. National Team Coach Juergen Klinsmann was brought in by the USSF to change the way the U.S. plays soccer. The days of heaving the ball forward, scrambling like madmen in defense, and praying for the odd counterattack and set piece to bounce our way were supposed to be gone. Our new America-friendly German was supposed to import his country’s style of play to the team: orderly, direct, focused, pass-heavy, but creative, pressing, and patient. America was to finally joga bonito (albeit in a still kind of boring way), and play our soccer in the manner that gets respect (or respect-hate, the best kind of hate) from naysayers and critics the world over.

In the World Cup Opening test against Ghana in waterlogged Natal, Team USA proved that old habits, especially against old rivals, die hard. It was a passionate, emotional, and nerve-racking game, with emotions getting in the way of fluid play for both sides. After an unlikely (but awesome) first minute goal from Clint Dempsey, the U.S. was in the seemingly unusual and uncomfortable position of the early lead against a worthy opponent.

And it showed: from then on, the U.S. had only 40 percent of the possession, and only eight shots to Ghana’s 21. Goalkeeper Tim Howard led the U.S. team in possession with 45 touches of the ball. U.S. players were literally falling from exhaustion, chasing Ghanaian shadows all across the pitch. The U.S. had the most touches in our defensive third of any team. It wasn’t a good showing for either team.

But we won, dammit! We won! And we only have Ueberfussballmeister Klinsmann to thank for this. Why am I thanking our German overlord for a paltry performance and a lucky win against a decidedly mediocre Ghanaian side?

Because without him, we would have lost. Two reasons:

Instilling Formation Flexibility and Back Foot Awareness

The old USA would have fit square players into round positions. This new team focused on formations that brought the most out of each player. I tried to keep track of our changes throughout the half between starting chants at the bar and drinking too much. Here’s how we started the match:

The status quo reaction: Beckerman, Jones AND Bradley in the midfield? Where is the width? Here was our formation from Altidore’s injury onward, adapting to the slow, wide possession-dominant game Ghana had been dead-set on playing:

Before Klinsmann, we would have kept on keeping on with a 4-4-2, defending in two lines of four and praying we get the ball to Donovan (I know, still awkward). But under Klinsmann, The 4-4-1-1 became the leaning 4-3-1-1-1, adding a pressing line of three holding midfielders to disrupt passing lanes and defend the box. Alejandro Bedoya, who had an amazing game, became the scythe up the middle Mike Bradley was supposed to be. This allowed Fabian Johnson and DeMarcus Beasley the option to add width as wing-backs. That is, of course, if the former ever got the ball, and if the latter could stop fumbling away possession in a very sloppy display.

Ghana (correctly) saw Beasley as the weak link in the chain and focused on a wide attack. But this tactical change saw the U.S. clog up the center, making sure that any threat to goal was outside the box unless it was a ridiculously slick back-heel.

The Leaning 4-3-1-1-1 also helped injury sub Aron Johannson, a smaller forward than traditional target man Jozy Altidore, get more involved with the offense (if he could get the ball). If you take a look at the official heatmaps, you’ll notice that there were no real Ghanaian forays into the American box; any real shots in the game were taken from outside the 18. The tactical change made the U.S. more stout in defense and dangerous on attack… if we could ever get the ball.

Faith through Positive Substitutions

Herr Klinsy showed his faith in his charges in his two second-half substitutions. As a precaution, he took out Matt Besler for the relatively untested John Brooks, the Hertha BSC defender with only four previous caps. In a post-game chat, Klinsmann said he chose Brooks over veteran Omar Gonzalez because “[Brooks] is our left center back sub, Omar is our right center back sub.” And that was that. The system is created, and will be trusted to get the job done.

His faith and confidence in relatively untested players to get the job done speaks volumes to the player evaluations put together by him and the coaching staff. It shows that there is a method to the madness. The second substitution, Graham Zusi in the 75th-ish minute, came when the U.S. was still clinging on to a one-goal lead. Status quo reaction: Zusi is an attack-minded winger; what the hell was he doing in a defense-heavy game? According to Klinsmann in the post-game, “even after the equalizer, I felt like we had a chance to win. We needed to be more aggressive out there.” And he let everyone on the bench know apparently.

YES. Where Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley would have settled for the point and made prevent-defense substitutions that made me cringe (*cough*SashaKjlestan*cough*), Klinsmann saw an imperative to fight back with POSITIVE, ATTACKING soccer, even if his team was playing poorly.

Oh, and the winning goal? Zusi to Brooks on a corner.

Will the Leaning Tower Formation Hold?

No. Neither will Klinsmann’s faith that an orderly substitution system will get the job done against the meatier two opponents in this Group of Death. Changes will have to be made, the U.S. will have to show that they can keep possession and build up an attack from the backline to the forwards. The departure of Jozy Altidore means that the U.S. will have to find a new formation to fit the smaller, quicker, but less powerful Aron Johannson or Chris Wondolowski.

But, unlike before this World Cup, I have faith that these players can make those adjustments to get the job done.

I have faith because Juergen Klinsmann has faith. Next up: Portugal. Let’s do it, USA.

Stray observations:

Ghana’s home shirt is easily the kit of the tournament. The detail on the collar is so subtle but so SHARP.

My Man of the Match: Jermaine Jones. Put in an assist, an incredible defensive shift and helped lead the midfield, all while starting “out of position” on the wing. The Besiktas man is easily the most underrated player on the national team, if not the best player.

I will be watching the U.S.A-Portugal match at the Hawk’n’Dove in Capitol Hill. Especially if it starts ANYTHING like this one did. They have good pizza.

New drinking game: For every U.S. goal, a shot of American whiskey. For every bad guy goal, rail gin.

I started the “I believe that we will win” chant at the bar at 80′. Everyone yelled obscenities at me after Ghana equalized. Then we scored. I started again and no one complained, in fact, they joined in! #beerisawesome.

On the “future posts” checklist: write a bit about how half of the starters are bastard sons of the Night’s Watch Cold War brides taken during the Reagan escalations in West Germany. Brings a whole new meaning to “spoils of war.” #thanksbrezhnev

Cold War brides taken during the Reagan escalations in West Germany. Brings a whole new meaning to “spoils of war.” #thanksbrezhnev I think we still have a very irrational fear of the Ghanaian national team. I mean, yes, they’re good and have quality talent, but their stars are old, and their new guys aren’t exactly overwhelming. If the U.S. can actually string some passes in the next game, I think we’ll definitely show that we play soccer on that second-tier-European-arrogance-because-we-can’t-win-a-World-Cup-anymore level. (i.e. Portugal, England, Sweden, Czech Republic, etc.)

GIF credits to nymag.com. Full GIF article