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Fans' Rating France 1-0 USA: Jurgen Klinsmann's squad continues to struggle offensively
The U.S. defense could only keep the team in the game for so long as France scored late to hand the Americans another close defeat.
By Mike Slane
Getty Images
SAINT-DENIS, France -- It was the same old story for Jurgen Klinsmann's squad.
In the toughest test since the Klinsmann era began last summer, the U.S. national team struggled offensively in a 1-0 defeat to France on Veteran's Day at the Stade de France.
Loïc Remy scored in the 72nd minute to hand the U.S. another one-goal loss, which is becoming a common result for the new-look American squad.
The U.S. has lost four of its last six games - including four 1-0 results - as it drops to 1-4-1 under Klinsmann with World Cup qualifying on the horizon. The Americans have only scored twice since the new coach took over for Bob Bradley back in July.
"Obviously you want to kind of score a couple of goals sooner or later, so I wish there was one or two," Klinsmann said, who has preached an attacking style of play since making his way to America.
Maybe he could take some notes from France, which controlled the game from start to finish.
The United States' best opportunity of the night came on a potential penalty that was waved off by the referee after Jozy Altidore was taken down in the box in the 20th minute. And a short burst after Remy's goal at the end of the game was the only time the team showed promise.
France, on the other hand, attacked from the beginning, leaving the the U.S. backline to keep the Americans in the game. Its first real chance came in the 36th minute when Jeremy Menez sailed a shot just over the crossbar following a nice set up by Franck Ribéry.
Right before the halftime whistle, France finally caught the American defense sleeping as Karim Benzema made his way behind Timothy Chandler. But Carlos Bocanegra was able to cover and the ball bounced off goalkeeper Tim Howard and out of bounds.
France, which entered the night unbeaten in its last 15 matches and recently qualified for the European Championships, was booed by the home crowd as it walked off the pitch for halftime.
And it came out in the second half looking to give the fans something to cheer about.
Les Bleus nearly broke the deadlock within the first 10 minutes of the second half as Benzema watched his close-range header hit the post off a corner kick. Moments later, the French forward nearly put one in off a free kick, but Howard made an amazing diving save.
It appeared as though would be only a matter of time before the French side would take the lead. And the tie was eventually broken in the 72nd minute.
"Obviously it was difficult after their goal," Klinsmann said. "In these types of games, you make one or two individual mistakes, you get punished."
The Stars and Stripes began to push offensively in the closing minutes, but nothing came out of their final attempt to score. Perhaps things could have gone a bit smoother had star midfielder Landon Donovan not pulled out of the team days before the game.
Donovan of the LA Galaxy withdrew from the U.S. team on Monday to rest ahead of the MLS Cup on Nov. 20. He had originally planned to play in Paris and skip next week's match against Slovenia.
The U.S. was also without Oguchi Onyewu, who has a slight groin strain and did not dress. Clearance Goodson took his starting place at central defender, which marked the only change in the starting lineup from last month's 1-0 loss to Ecuador.
The U.S. will look to bounce back against Slovenia on Tuesday.
Goal.com France contributed reporting to this article.
In the toughest test since the Klinsmann era began last summer, the U.S. national team struggled offensively in a 1-0 defeat to France on Veteran's Day at the Stade de France.
Loïc Remy scored in the 72nd minute to hand the U.S. another one-goal loss, which is becoming a common result for the new-look American squad.
The U.S. has lost four of its last six games - including four 1-0 results - as it drops to 1-4-1 under Klinsmann with World Cup qualifying on the horizon. The Americans have only scored twice since the new coach took over for Bob Bradley back in July.
"Obviously you want to kind of score a couple of goals sooner or later, so I wish there was one or two," Klinsmann said, who has preached an attacking style of play since making his way to America.
Maybe he could take some notes from France, which controlled the game from start to finish.
The United States' best opportunity of the night came on a potential penalty that was waved off by the referee after Jozy Altidore was taken down in the box in the 20th minute. And a short burst after Remy's goal at the end of the game was the only time the team showed promise.
France, on the other hand, attacked from the beginning, leaving the the U.S. backline to keep the Americans in the game. Its first real chance came in the 36th minute when Jeremy Menez sailed a shot just over the crossbar following a nice set up by Franck Ribéry.
Right before the halftime whistle, France finally caught the American defense sleeping as Karim Benzema made his way behind Timothy Chandler. But Carlos Bocanegra was able to cover and the ball bounced off goalkeeper Tim Howard and out of bounds.
France, which entered the night unbeaten in its last 15 matches and recently qualified for the European Championships, was booed by the home crowd as it walked off the pitch for halftime.
And it came out in the second half looking to give the fans something to cheer about.
Les Bleus nearly broke the deadlock within the first 10 minutes of the second half as Benzema watched his close-range header hit the post off a corner kick. Moments later, the French forward nearly put one in off a free kick, but Howard made an amazing diving save.
It appeared as though would be only a matter of time before the French side would take the lead. And the tie was eventually broken in the 72nd minute.
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"Obviously it was difficult after their goal," Klinsmann said. "In these types of games, you make one or two individual mistakes, you get punished."
The Stars and Stripes began to push offensively in the closing minutes, but nothing came out of their final attempt to score. Perhaps things could have gone a bit smoother had star midfielder Landon Donovan not pulled out of the team days before the game.
Donovan of the LA Galaxy withdrew from the U.S. team on Monday to rest ahead of the MLS Cup on Nov. 20. He had originally planned to play in Paris and skip next week's match against Slovenia.
The U.S. was also without Oguchi Onyewu, who has a slight groin strain and did not dress. Clearance Goodson took his starting place at central defender, which marked the only change in the starting lineup from last month's 1-0 loss to Ecuador.
The U.S. will look to bounce back against Slovenia on Tuesday.
Goal.com France contributed reporting to this article.
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