Jurgen Klinsmann says USMNT can beat Colombia

Jurgen Klinsmann believes the United States has a chance to beat Colombia in the Copa America Centenario opener.

While many soccer fans across the United States were excited when Jurgen Klinsmann was named the national team’s head coach back In 2011, he has made numerous enemies since taking over the bench. He has never been hesitant to criticize Major League Soccer, and left off fan favorite Landon Donovan from the 2014 World Cup roster.

With a disappointing 2015 that saw the United States Men’s National Team finish fourth in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and lose to Mexico in the inaugural CONCACAF Cup, the German tactician is starting to feel the pressure. He has been unable to get his squad to perform up to expectations, since their strong performance at the World Cup in Brazil.

With the biggest international tournament on American soil since the 1994 World Cup about to kick off, Klinsmann knows the time to perform is now. While there are few that believe the USMNT can actually win the Copa America Centenario, fans are expecting a strong showing from their team. Klinsmann is confident that his side will be able to live up to expectations on home soil.

“Step one is to get out of the group, which we will do. Then we will take it one game at a time,” Klinsmann said, via ESPN FC. “We don’t have the luxury to say, ‘What would be better?’ We have only one message: We’ve got to go through the group. And then whatever comes then in the quarterfinal is fine with us.”

The USMNT coach understands the threat Colombia poses in the opener, but also made it clear that anybody can be beaten on any given day.

“They are all difference makers,” he said of Colombia’s talented squad. “They are also beatable.”

The USMNT open up the Copa America Centenario on Friday night against Colombia. The match kicks off from Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium at 9:30 p.m. ET.

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