Martin Rogers

USA TODAY Sports

SEATTLE – Along with a welcome uptick in form, the United States national team has discovered something else in its collective locker during its strange but ongoing run in the Copa America.

A nasty streak.

Adversity in the guise of a disappointing start to the tournament has brought out the fighting spirit in Jurgen Klinsmann’s American squad.

Ahead of Thursday’s quarterfinal against Ecuador, midfielder Jermaine Jones was swift to point out that a soft underbelly can destroy even the most talented of teams.

“I always think it's funny when I see the other teams, especially South American teams, they play nasty too,” Jones said. “But then if you play nasty they are always crying around and all that stuff. We stick together. We step up and take the battle.”

When reminded that the U.S. received six yellow cards, plus a sending off for DeAndre Yedlin in its final group game against Paraguay, Klinsmann was not fazed.

“We see guys coming through, being a warrior,” Klinsmann said. “It is an indication of their fighting spirit. Once your legs are getting tired you are going to be all over the place, and here and there you commit a foul just to break them down and to stop them. It is no problem.”

The current national team group is a likable bunch and if they are to be faulted, it would be for being too nice. It is a longstanding issue with the U.S. and there have been times when a sneakier mindset could have paid dividends.

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At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the side’s round of 16 defeat to Ghana saw their African opponents milking the clock to preserve the lead in extra time, flinging themselves to the ground at the slightest contact, exaggerating injuries and deliberately slowing the pace to take the sting from the U.S.’s attempt at a fightback.

In 2014 in Brazil, a famous victory over a Portugal team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo was only seconds away from fruition, needing just a little clever time-wasting to put the points to bed. Instead the U.S. carried on as they were, got caught on the break by Ronaldo’s pace and a brilliant cross and ended up finishing second in the group.

It is commonly held belief that this current crop of players is not inundated with natural talent, meaning scrappy qualities will be more important than ever going into the next World Cup, in Russia in 2018.

“You need that toughness,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. “You need it to build on. We have got good players who can change a game but you also need that resolute defending, that hunger and desire to block shots and put yourself on the line.”

An opening game defeat to Colombia was a major disappointment that put the Americans on the brink of elimination in the group stage of the Copa America. However, back-to-back wins revived the campaign, before the U.S. became beneficiaries of an extraordinary group of events.

First Colombia rested 10 players and went down to Costa Rica, handing the U.S. top spot in the group and the chance to avoid what it thought would be a quarterfinal with Brazil.

Except that didn’t happen either. Brazil was stunningly knocked out by Peru, with some helping handiwork from Raul Ruidiaz. Now Ecuador, ranked 13th in the world, looms large – though with a passionate home crowd behind them at CenturyLink Field, the Americans will go in as slight favorites.

For Klinsmann, a week on from seeing his job security called into question, it is another chance for forward progress and a fresh chance for his troops show they are no pushovers.

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