Michel Euler/Associated Press

While there is no shame in losing by one goal to a powerful France team in front of a partisan crowd at the Stade de France, the manner in which the United States national team lost just such a game on Friday does cause some concern.

For one thing, the team’s utter lack of offensive imagination was hard to watch. The lack of confidence in the midfield was equally distressing.

Fortunately for the Americans, they have a chance to redeem themselves on Tuesday, when they will take on Slovenia in Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana (noon Eastern, ESPN2, ESPN3.com, Galavision). The game is a rematch against a team that the United States tied 2-2 in a 2010 World Cup contest marred by controversy.

Given the United States’ 1-4-1 record under Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, it is also a game the team would very much like to win.

Here are four questions Klinsmann and his charges should consider in advance of the contest.



Can the U.S. impose its will on a lesser opponent?



On Friday against France, most of the individual matchups clearly favored Les Bleus, a team stocked with stars who play for the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Valencia and Paris Saint-Germain. Slovenia’s squad, while certainly no pushover, does not have anything resembling that kind of firepower. Many of Slovenia’s players toil in the lower echelons of Italy’s Serie A, and none of them strike fear into opponents the way Karim Benzema and Franck Ribéry do.

When one considers that Slovenia failed to make the playoff qualification round for the 2012 European Championships and changed coaches last month, it seems clear that this is a team in transition that the United States should be able to handle.

Another toothless 1-0 defeat may not cut it here. Through tactics, technique and tenaciousness, the Americans should be able to dictate play. Of course, the U.S. failed to do so in recent home games against Costa Rica and Ecuador, so it will be fascinating to see what transpires in Ljubljana.

How will Klinsmann get his offense in gear?

With only two goals scored in six games, Klinsmann knows his team’s lack of offense is a problem. “Obviously you want to score a couple of goals sooner or later,” he told reporters after the loss to France, “so I wish there was one or two.”

Despite creating just two shots on goal against France – neither of which gave Hugo Lloris any cause for concern – it is hard to blame forwards Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey for Friday’s offensive effort. Both worked tirelessly to get into good positions and make themselves available for passes. The trouble is, those passes never arrived.

In truth it was a poor showing by the American midfield – Brek Shea, Maurice Edu, Kyle Beckerman and Danny Williams – that was behind the lack of any sort of sustained attack. Perhaps overly concerned with their defensive responsibilities, Shea and Williams rarely pushed forward from their outside wing positions, and when they did manage to do so they did not deliver dangerous crosses. Edu (seemingly nervous on the ball) and Beckerman (a step too slow throughout) were simply overrun.

Is this situation primarily a personnel problem? With Landon Donovan, Stuart Holden and Jose Torres currently unavailable, will these problems go away once they return? (Of course, given the absences of these three players, Klinsmann also could have called in a few more offensive-minded midfielders – players such as Sacha Kljestan, Freddy Adu or even Mixx Diskerud.)

One option for the Slovenia match: Klinsmann could shelve his 4-1-3-2 alignment and try a 4-3-3 that places a greater emphasis on attack.

Another option: the coach could keep his 4-1-3-2 but shuffle the deck in terms of roster selection: Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones are in good form, and they could provide an instant upgrade over Edu and Beckerman.

Can Timothy Chandler rebound from a lackluster performance?

Michel Euler/Associated Press

In his first four games under Klinsmann, Chandler has demonstrated blistering speed, a feisty edge and steady improvement. Against Ecuador last month, Chandler neutralized Antonio Valencia. But he took a step backward against France, missing key defensive assignments and offering little offensively. Klinsmann, to his credit, did not sugarcoat Chandler’s showing.

“In Timothy Chandler you have a highly talented player who is growing into the left back position,” Klinsmann said. “And still he’s a raw talent. He still has to learn a lot of things. He knows that. And there’s a lot of upside in his game that can develop. But for right now, he has that starting position. It’s his. And he’s moving along in that process.”

Fair enough. It was just one game. Let’s move on.

Is it time to give Bill Hamid a start in goal?

Everyone knows Tim Howard is the The Guy for the United States. Klinsmann confirmed as much after the France game.

“With Tim Howard we have an absolutely exceptional goalkeeper that a lot of other nations are jealous of,” Klinsmann said. “He’s definitely one of the best five or six in the world, and can really achieve big things in the next couple of years.”

Health willing, Howard will be between the posts when World Cup qualifying begins, and he will no doubt stay there throughout this cycle.

But when will Bill Hamid get his first cap? He has been called in to every roster for Klinsmann and has yet to see any game action. Granted, if the U.S. had gotten out to a 4-1-1 start under Klinsmann, Hamid might have drawn a start by now. Even with the poor record it is time to see what he can do.

Perhaps if the U.S. starts strong on Tuesday and builds a first-half lead Hamid will get a chance to play.

Will you be taking a long lunch to watch the Slovenia game? Do you expect a U.S. victory? Share your thoughts in the comments.

John Godfrey obsessively tracks the progress of American soccer players and is a regular contributor to the Goal blog. He also comments about soccer constantly on Twitter.