USMNT’s disappointing loss to Jamaica complicates future

The USMNT’s 2-1 loss to Jamaica in the Gold Cup semis is the latest disappointment for Klinsmann’s crew.

If there’s anybody around the United States Men’s National Team that you have to really feel sorry for after the shocking 2-1 loss to Jamaica Wednesday night, it’s those fans who already bought their tickets to the Gold Cup Final in Philadelphia Sunday night.

If it counts for anything, considering the fact that prior to the Gold Cup the USMNT came back ferociously against Holland and defeated Germany in Germany, the U.S. should’ve cruised through the Gold Cup. For the most part they did – the U.S. handled their own business, going undefeated through the group stage before destroying Cuba 6-0 last Saturday.

The USMNT lacked chemistry and firepower throughout the tournament (except against Cuba). Klinsmann’s goal was to win the Gold Cup for the second straight time, however, after saying he was going to sacrifice player development to achieve that goal, starting Ventura Alvarado and John Brooks in central defense in a “must-win” situation wasn’t the best call, nor were any of his subs. Deandre Yedlin came in three subs too late and subbing Mix Diskerud for Kyle Beckerman was an interesting call as well.

Klinsmann’s Starting XI never started a game together in a 4-2-3-1 formation that they had to figure out on the fly which, obviously, they didn’t. The lack of a sense of chemistry cost the U.S. opportunities to create scoring chances, something they’ve been even somewhat better at as of late.

Jul 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; United States midfielder Michael Bradley (4) celebrates after scoring a goal in the second half against Jamaica during the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal match at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

“It’s very disappointing, very frustrating,” USMNT captain Michael Bradley said afterwards. “We have no divine right to be in the final. We certainly didn’t think that. We knew from the get go that this was going to be an extremely difficult tournament. It was.”

The loss to Jamaica proves that the USMNT still has a ways to go.

“We had enough chances to put two, three, for [or] five in there,” Jürgen Klinsmann said afterwards in his postgame presser. “We didn’t do that, and that’s why, at the end of the day, we lost. It’s unfortunate, but it’s reality. Congratulations to Jamaica for being in the final. We have to swallow that pill.”

Although the U.S. will play Panama in the third-place game at PPL Park on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 2), the “pill” that the U.S. has to swallow after this loss is bigger than Klinsmann described.

For just the second time in its history, the USMNT lost to Jamaica, which was ranked 76^th in the FIFA world rankings entering Wednesday night. It’s the first time that the U.S. lost to a Caribbean team on home soil since a 1-0 loss against Haiti in 1969 and the U.S. was playing on home soil in an elimination game of the continental championship tournament. The loss was also the first Gold Cup semifinals loss for the U.S. since 2003.

“It doesn’t make us a bad team,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan mentioned. “It doesn’t erase a lot of the good stuff that we’ve done. Just as when we beat Holland and Germany, this game doesn’t define us.”

The Jamaicans, on the other hand, now become the first Caribbean team to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final. The win against the USMNT was just their second in now 23 overall meetings

Klinsmann’s career as the head of the USMNT could be on the line if the USMNT cannot find their way into the 2017 Confederations Cup. Not only does his team have to win on Saturday against Panama (a team that drew 1-1 against in the final group stage match in the Gold Cup) to at least finish third in the Gold Cup, but they’ll also have to win a playoff match against the winner of the Jamaica-Mexico final in October.

They can thank their 2013 Gold Cup title for that spot.

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