SoccerAmerica - Another loss, another game without a goal 11/11/2011

[FRANCE-USA] France beat the USA 1-0 thanks to sub Loic Remy's goal in the 72nd minute in their friendly Friday at the Stade de France. The loss dropped the USA's record to 1-4-1 under Jurgen Klinsmann with two goals in six games.

Remy easily held off the challenge of Clarence Goodson on a ball played over the top by Marvin Martin and beat Tom Howard to the far post.

The goal came only minutes after another ball over the top forced Howard to make stops on subs Remy and Olivier Giroud, who had just entered the game.

France piled on the pressure early in the second half. Karim Benzema hit the crossbar with a header and a minute later the Real Madrid striker had a free kick brilliantly saved by U.S. keeper Tim Howard.

France had almost all the possession but few concrete chances in the first. Its best came when Jeremy Menez shot over the bar from 10 yards out.

The French left the field at the half to whistles from the St. Denis crowd.

The Americans created few chances and had little possession. The French defense had no trouble shutting down the Americans when they didn't lose the ball with poor touches and passes.

Nov. 11 in St. Denis
France 1 USA 0. Goal: Remy 72.
France -- Lloris; Debuchy, Rami, Koscielny, Mathieu; Menez, M’Vila (Gonalons, 59), Diarra, Ribery (Remy, 64); Benzema (Martin, 64), Gameiro (Giroud, 59).
USA -- Howard; Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra, Chandler; Williams (Johnson, 71), Beckerman (Jones, 66), Edu (Buddle, 77); Dempsey, Altidore, Shea (Beasley, 71).
Att.: 70,018.

0 comments

cony konstin

commented on: November 11, 2011 at 5:01 p.m.

no creativity. no imagination. Defend Defend Defend. Howard again saves our bu##. We need a soccer revolution.

David Mozeshtam

commented on: November 11, 2011 at 5:32 p.m.

Very, very poor again. No one in the midfield capable of creating anything.

Anthony Pignataro

commented on: November 11, 2011 at 10:28 p.m.

The biggest problem remains that the US cannot string 3 or 4 passes together while under any sort of pressure. Until we have the players that can do that, this will be the result. Everything stems from basic poor passing. The last series of matches I only see Dempsey and Shea putting passes out there that show creativity. Problem is you need 8 more guys out there who can pass adequately.

Raveen Rama

commented on: November 12, 2011 at 2:23 a.m.

I think the experiments by Klinsmann will end with the Slovenia game, and then perhaps we will see development and progress towards constructive and winning soccer. I hope in 2012 the team will have more time together, and be more than ready for qualification. Time is on the coach's side now but it sure seems to be running out faster than we might believe.

ckg beautiful game

commented on: November 12, 2011 at 7:22 a.m.

Is Freddy Adu injured? Where is our bright spot from the Gold cup? He worked so hard, had great touches; opened defenses with amazing through balls & won many corners and free kicks. He lost the ball in the Mexico game and then ran 70 yards diagonally to win it back. Where is he? He and MB are greatly needed as well as Donovan. We need to put the best 11 on the field worry about positions later.

cony konstin

commented on: November 12, 2011 at 9:07 a.m.

It doesn't matter who is coaching the US National Team. You can not win a world cup unless you have some special players and everyone on the team must have the ability to attack. We are not there yet but to get there we need radical change. The change must happen by creating a soccer revolution in the US. Our players are naive and predictable. It is not there fault. Our system is to blame for our lack of vision, creativity and one dimensional play. We have no style or self identity. Our players are ok but not good enough. Again it is not their fault. WE NEED RADICAL CHANGE!!!!!!

David Mozeshtam

commented on: November 12, 2011 at 9:58 a.m.

To Raveen Rama: what experiments? That's one of the problems -- there are no experiments. It's basically the same players game in and game out. Why does Tim Howard have to play every minute of every game? Why not give another goalie a look -- isn't that what friendlies are for? With such an anemic offence, why not a single minute of action for Adu or Gomez? Why start a midfield of Edu, Beckerman, Williams, and Shea -- not a single creative player among them. Lots of whys, but no answers, other than results don't matter. Fine, I wouldn't care that much about results in friendlies if the team played some good soccer and you can see some progress. Actually, the reverse has been the case -- it keeps getting worse and worse. There was not a single scoring opportunity yesterday, not a single meaningful shot on goal.

Scott O'connor

commented on: November 12, 2011 at 12:13 p.m.

I'm looking to the Slovenia game as more of a potential barometer. France is just too talented for our team. They kept us on the heel all game. When we tried to counter they just countered back. Our CONCACAF rivals know us too well and pretty much just pack it in ('cept El Tri) so those games aren't that telling. Slovenia is a decent European opponent who shouldn't class us off the field like France. This game will be more an indication of progress.

Kent James

commented on: November 12, 2011 at 9:37 p.m.

David M., he is trying new personnel (Williams? Johnson?) as well as giving more time to people whose role is uncertain (Chandler, Goodson, Shea, Beckerman), so while the entire line-up is not new, I'd say about a third of it is (and if you change it too much, it's hard to tell who is responsible for what changes, so I think it's more like a controlled experiment). I just wish JK would look for more creativity; Shea is pretty much the only decently creative new player I've seen (Adu and Torres deserve more time, and where is Feilhaber? I feel like he fell off the map, and he was always good for creativity and distribution). I'm glad that Altidore has improved so much; his touch, speed, creativity and work rate have really changed for the better in the last year, but for him to be successful as a lone striker, he needs to have some help (which wasn't there against France). If we're playing two defensive center mids (as we did against France), both outside mids, and the offensive cm have to be willing (and able) to go forward quickly, or the lone striker is going 1 v 3 up top (as Altidore seemed to be doing all the time), which means there is no offense. I hope we can be more offensive minded against Slovenia!

John DiFiore

commented on: November 13, 2011 at 4:15 p.m.

When is he going to try something different uptop?? Isnt the definition of insanity: doing the SAME THING BUT EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT....?

John DiFiore

commented on: November 13, 2011 at 4:19 p.m.

GIVE ADU AND GOMEZ MINUTES!!!!! WE NEED SOMETHING TO CHANGE...SOMETHING TO HAPPEN!!

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