US coach Jurgen Klinsmann made headlines last week when, with typical Teutonic bluntness, he said winning this World Cup “is just not realistic.” But Klinsmann and his team are still planning on being in the final next month — realistic or not — and that likely means having to win Monday’s opener against nemesis Ghana.
Whether or not you buy into the ubiquitous soccer chant “I believe that we will win,’’ the US can’t win it all if it doesn’t survive the Group of Death that includes powerhouses Portugal and Germany. That may come down to beating Ghana (6 p.m., ESPN), the same team that’s knocked the U.S. out of the previous two World Cups.
“I booked my flight after the final,’’ Klinsmann said Sunday at Arena das Dunas in rain-drenched Natal.
He may have lowered expectations, but he’s not raising a white flag.
“We come in with the same effort, the same drive, the same energy and ambition to do well. And we went to do really well,” Klinsmann said.
“That’s why we worked more than four weeks on our preparation, we timed it the right way to give the players the confidence they need to beat Ghana tomorrow. This is step one, then comes Portugal and then comes Germany. And then we’ll see. … Expectations in the United States are very high.’’
Probably not as high as they are in Ghana, after the African side knocked the U.S. out of the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. The U.S. suffered consecutive 2-1 defeats, and Ghana’s confidence of making it three straight bordered on hubris.
“We want to try and beat them for third time. They are prepared, but we’re not thinking of what the US can do. I believe in our players, and our group,’’ said Ghanaian winger Andre Ayew, who plays for Olympique de Marseille. “If we are fit and we’re all 100 percent, there is no way we are not going to win this game.’’
It was Ayew’s lobbed pass to Asamoah Gyan that set up Ghana’s game-winning goal over the US in extra time four years ago. Both are back for Ghana, as is the US spine of keeper Tim Howard, midfielder Michael Bradley and attackers Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore — all but Dempsey from New Jersey.
That quartet will probably need to excel to pull out a win, with the US putting all its eggs in one basket and labeling it Ghana.
“It’s a good thing that we put a lot of emphasis on it, because if we can get the win, then we can refocus and go for Portugal,” said Howard, a North Brunswick native and the Americans’ elder statesman. “There’s no sense in looking beyond the first game. It’s important that we can get three points in the bag.
“It’s important that we have that pressure on us in the first game, because we want to win. We want to get three points in the bag. Heaven knows what’s going to happen in the other game between Portugal and Germany. So if they draw, we top the group and everyone is happy. But we’ll see.”
Klinsmann has several schematic options against Ghana, from the 4-2-3-1 he used through much of qualifying, to the 4-4-2 diamond he experimented with lately to the 4-3-2-1 he sprung on Nigeria in the last tune-up friendly. Whatever formation they use, the Americans must deal with a physical, explosive team that’s had their number — and one they’ll likely have to beat to survive the Group of Death.
Mike Petke’s keys to the game
Red Bulls coach Mike Petke, who appeared twice for the National Team, analyzes the gameprovides his keys to the game
Start fast: “They need to start from the opening whistle putting Ghana on their heels. That’s outworking, running, pressuring the hell out of them, going to [have to] show Ghana they’re there for a game and put them on their back heel.’’
Play smart: “They have to limit their individual mistakes. … Out of the back, simple: Win the ball and get it to the players that make a difference, one- and two-touch. Up front, don’t try to do too much. When they have one-on-ones in the final third, I love [Clint] Dempsey on the ball, I want [Jozy] Altidore with his power and pace going. But if it’s not a one-on-one, look for a better option to keep that ball moving.”
Star power: “Their key players need to show up. It goes right up the middle,’’ Petke said, singling out the spine of keeper Tim Howard, midfielder Michael Bradley and attackers Dempsey and Altidore.
“Timmy Howard has to have a strong performance. He’s going to be called on in key moments, and the earlier the better to pull that big save to give them confidence. Michael Bradley, one of the two most important players, needs to do all the things he does: Box-to-box player, simple in his third, thread those needles. Clint Dempsey, probably the most talented player, needs to have one of his superstar games. And Altidore needs to be a beast. He needs to continue on from the Nigeria game and have a nose for goal. Nobody cares if it’s pretty as long as the ball finds the back of the net. On the defensive side, he needs to be running, pressuring, helping the guys behind him.’’