Jurgen Klinsmann: USMNT Shorthanded In Brazil Loss, 'Building' Toward Mexico

FOXBORO, Mass. — Some United States men’s national soccer team players would rather Oct. 10 come sooner. Others want that date to come later.

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Tuesday he expects Team USA will be sharper and fitter when it faces Mexico next month than it was in the 4-1 loss to Brazil. The U.S. struggled to cope with Brazil’s high-tempo counter-attack and ultimately failed to challenge the five-time world champion seriously at Gillette Stadium.

Klinsmann cited Clint Dempsey’s absence due to injury and Jozy Altidore’s and Jermaine Jones’ recent returns from the sidelines as reasons to believe Team USA threaten Mexico’s goal Oct. 10 in the must-win CONCACAF Cup.

“We will be sharp,” Klinsmann said. “By that time a couple players will be in better physical shape as well. For Jozy it was very difficult to defeat Friday’s game (in which he scored twice against Peru). It’s building. Jermaine is building.”

Injuries and experimentation have prevented Klinsmann from fielding a fit-and-sharp Altidore-Dempsey attacking combination all year. Klinsmann hopes the pair will give Team USA that missing cutting edge, which their replacements haven’t reproduced.

“We had no Clint Dempsey, and that’s why we bring in the young players,” he said. “We need to give them a run and see where they are.

“Four weeks from now, hopefully Jozy is much fitter. If Clint is 100 percent then you’ll see a difference as well. With those two up front, we’re a threat all the time.”

Injuries also prevented fullbacks Fabian Johnson and DaMarcus Beasley from playing against Brazil. Klinsmann hopes both will be healthy enough to play against Mexico and add dynamism and width to Team USA’s attack.

The result and performance against Brazil suggests the sky might be falling for Klinsmann’s Team USA. The coach is willing to wait-and-see what the future holds, but the calendar works on its own schedule.