USA Vs. Spain, 2011 International Friendly: USMNT Employing Deep Midfield, Back Line

The United States are looking fairly dangerous using the pace and strength of their players in the attack, but there is obviously a serious difference between them and Spain when it comes to understanding of each others’ movement off the ball and passing exchanges. This isn’t really something the USMNT should be criticized for, as this is a group of players who hasn’t played together at all, but it’s still going to make it very difficult to get a result in this game.

Spain is having some difficulty breaking through the deep and compact defense of midfield of the United States, but that strategy by the USMNT is also allowing Spain to keep the ball extremely easily. Defensive midfielders Maurice Edu and Jermaine Jones are much more concerned with keeping their possession than aggressively closing down to win the ball, and it remains to be seen whether or not that strategy will be an effective one. After 10 minutes of game time, the score is still tied at 0-0.