There is a lot of pressure on United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann after the recent run of poor results. This is partly due to the absence of the star striker Landon Donovan, who has taken a self-imposed sabbatical from the game.
This along with the poor form of striker Jozy Altidore means that the team has managed just one win in the last five matches. As a result, they sit perilously close to dropping out of the play-off position in the group table. Only the top three teams qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil automatically, while the fourth placed team will have a play-off.
United States sit level on points with Honduras in the fourth position while many expected them to challenge for the top spot. Altidore has not managed a single goal for the nation from open play in the last two years. His last goal from open play came in 2011, but Klinsmann has said that he has no concerns about the poor form of the striker. After the failure of Adu, Altidore is regarded as one of the important strikers for the national team. The 31 years of age, not many expect Landon Donovan to continue at the national team for long.
Klinsmann has said that he is still a young player, who has a lot to learn in football.
“When there’s a moment where he’s not getting the message then maybe you leave him out for a game or two like we did – and he got the message. He came back and he was really on top of it. He’s totally [improved], he’s on a tremendous growing path and his upside is big. He’s still only 23 years old. You’re talking about a young player that already has 50 caps, so the expectations might be over the moon,” said Klinsmann.
There is a lot of pressure on United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann after the recent run of poor results. This is partly due to the absence of the star striker Landon Donovan, who has taken a self-imposed sabbatical from the game.
This along with the poor form of striker Jozy Altidore means that the team has managed just one win in the last five matches. As a result, they sit perilously close to dropping out of the play-off position in the group table. Only the top three teams qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil automatically, while the fourth placed team will have a play-off.
United States sit level on points with Honduras in the fourth position while many expected them to challenge for the top spot. Altidore has not managed a single goal for the nation from open play in the last two years. His last goal from open play came in 2011, but Klinsmann has said that he has no concerns about the poor form of the striker. After the failure of Adu, Altidore is regarded as one of the important strikers for the national team. The 31 years of age, not many expect Landon Donovan to continue at the national team for long.
Klinsmann has said that he is still a young player, who has a lot to learn in football.
“When there’s a moment where he’s not getting the message then maybe you leave him out for a game or two like we did – and he got the message. He came back and he was really on top of it. He’s totally [improved], he’s on a tremendous growing path and his upside is big. He’s still only 23 years old. You’re talking about a young player that already has 50 caps, so the expectations might be over the moon,” said Klinsmann.