Jurgen Klinsmann is daring to dream that the US can pull off mission improbable in the Copa America Centenario semi-finals today as the hosts face a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina closing in on a long-awaited tournament triumph.
Klinsmann has already met his goal of reaching the final four after helping his side navigate a challenging group and an awkward quarter-final against in-form Ecuador, but despite a raft of suspensions which will decimate his first choice starting lineup at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Klinsmann is bullishly talking up his team’s chances as they prepare to take on the might of Argentina.
The German World Cup winner cites his team’s impressive record in friendlies, which has included away wins over Germany and the Netherlands, and their performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup as reasons to believe.
Photo: Winslow Townson, USA Today
“There’s no reason at all why we can’t win Copa America,” Klinsmann said on Sunday. “We traveled the world the last few years to very difficult friendly games all over Europe and in Mexico, and we came away with wins.”
In Brazil two years ago, Klinsmann’s side helped eliminate a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal and highly rated Ghana, before qualifying with Germany in the World Cup’s “Group of Death.”
“We don’t need to talk up Argentina any bigger than they are,” Klinsmann said.
“Two years ago we had Mr Ronaldo against us in Manaus and we led them 2-1 until the 96th minute,” Klinsmann said of his team’s World Cup group match which finished in a 2-2 draw. “We surprised a lot of people — no one gave us a chance to get out of the group in Brazil. We left Portugal behind, we left Ghana behind. Anything is possible in knockout games. You’re 50-50 with whoever you play against. Dream big — why not? This is about two more games.”
Privately, though, Klinsmann will be attempting to solve the puzzle caused by the suspensions of influential midfielder Jermaine Jones, wide player Alejandro Bedoya and Hamburg SV-bound striker Bobby Wood. All three have played a pivotal role in the US campaign, with Wood providing the speed and thrust in attack which has created the space for veteran Clint Dempsey to thrive, and Jones a towering presence in the heart of midfield.
Although Klinsmann has urged his team to shed their underdog mentality, insisting he wants them to be bold against more heralded opponents, a gung-ho approach against Argentina could be disastrous.
When the relentless US pressing dropped off in the second half against Ecuador in the quarter-final, the South Americans created chance after chance only to be let down by poor finishing. Argentina, who have amassed 14 goals in four games, are unlikely to be as profligate.
Messi, superb in Saturday’s 4-1 quarter-final demolition of Venezuela, in which he scored to join Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s record international goalscorer with 54 goals, cautions that facing the hosts on home turf might not be as straightforward as it seems.
“We’re on the right track, but it will be very difficult playing in front of the American crowd. Physically they are a very strong team and they can do a lot of damage if they are allowed to play,” Messi said.
Yet it is hard to see anything other than an Argentina victory, which would leave Gerardo Martino’s side 90 minutes away from ending a 23-year wait for a major title.
Messi and his teammates have suffered agonizing losses in the finals of last year’s Copa America in Chile and the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Germany.
“It is clear that I want to win something with my country and I want to do everything I can to make that happen,” the Barcelona superstar said.
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