Given the strength of the opposition, it's not surprising that the US only produced one good half of football (the first against Slovenia). They scored three goals - all three of them well deserved - and had it not been for a miss-of-the century candidate from Jozy Altidore, it may well have been four. It's certainly the best the USMNT has played under Jurgen Klinsmann, and it was refreshing for the fans, who were just beginning to get a little nervous about the lack of offense.
But if it shouldn't have been surprising that the US didn't walk all over Slovenia or get a result against France, it was nevertheless shocking just how bad they were against France and in the second half against Slovenia. They managed to create, without any exaggeration, zero quality opportunities against France. Neither Brek Shea nor Danny Williams knows how to keep the ball, and however good Edu is defensively, he doesn't offer much of anything going forward. The three of them were replaced with Edson Buddle, Fabian Johnson, and Michael Bradley, and the result was the best half of football the US has played since the first half of the Confederations' Cup Final against Brazil.
Buddle was solid up front, converting a difficult chance from distance on the volley, and offering a little more pace and energy than Altidore, although Altidore certainly holds up play better. Fabian Johnson was the revelation of the match against Slovenia, looking consistently comfortable on the ball, with good close control and good passing. Michael Bradley was excellent in the first half, but looked gassed in the second, and his inability to find balls out of the midfield was a big part of the reason why the US did virtually nothing in that second half.
As for the defensive side of things in the two games, the game against France wasn't really bad. The goal, which every one of the commentators said was clearly Clarence Goodson's fault seemed much more like Bocanegra's to me. Bocanegra stepped up, but failed to win the ball. A runner came into his space from the outside (maybe Chandler should have gone with the runner), and Goodson couldn't reach him in time to get the challenge in. Interestingly, Slovenia's first goal was almost a carbon copy. Bocanegra came out, failed to get the ball, and a runner ran into the space he vacated in the back line. Goodson came across, but again, wasn't there in time. But Bocanegra being captain seems to mean that no one commentating wants to say anything against him.
The second half against Slovenia was a disaster, and I think the US can feel a bit lucky to have escaped with a win, even given their stellar first half performance. Even in spite of the fact that the defense certainly outperformed the offense over the course of these two games, I'm left with much more confidence in the offense going forward. I lineup that includes Dempsey, Altidore, Donovan, Bradley, Fabian Johnson, Brek Shea, and Edson Buddle is going to get goals. They're not great players, but they're all good players. With Bocanegra and Cherundolo both nearing the end of their international careers, the player I'd most bet on having a starting role in Brazil 2014 is Timothy Chandler. But he's been tested very little so far.
World Cup Qualifying begins soon for the US, and it won't be an easy task. Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Jamaica all have teams capable of beating the US on the right day. The kinks should have been ironed out by now. That they haven't been means the uneasiness will continue until the first really solid full competitive game.
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