There were precious few positives to discuss from the US national team's timid showing in a 4-0 Copa America Centenario semifinal loss to Argentina on Tuesday night.
Things started all wrong and rarely looked up as Lionel Messi guided the Albiceleste to the final against a home side that was clearly not up for the occasion. Put simply, the USMNT uncharacteristically looked like they weren't up for the fight.
Brad Guzan (5) - The netminder made a couple of nice stops and had no help from his defense on three of Argentina's goals. However, he stepped the wrong way to open up the short side on Messi's free-kick strike.
DeAndre Yedlin (5.5) - The Tottenham man used his speed to make a couple of nice plays at both ends of the field and was not culpable on any of the goal leaks, but committed a handful of turnovers in the US half during the opening frame.
Geoff Cameron (5.5) - A few strong defensive stops from Cameron kept the USMNT in the game until late in the first half. Still, there were too many empty hoofs out of the back and he was careless on the ball after being switched into midfield at the hour.
John Anthony Brooks (4) - There was a helpful line hold here and an acrobatic interception there, but Brooks' strong tourney run came to end against Argentina. In addition to a couple of very cheap turnovers, his passing game lacked the usual bite. Worst of all, he went to sleep on Gonzalo Higuain's first goal, which essentially ended all US hope shortly after the break.
Fabian Johnson (3.5) - Other than a nice shot block midway through the second frame, there was little to write home about in Johnson's showing. He completely left Ezequiel Lavezzi to run free on Argentina's opener and had no ideas on the rare occasions when he found space moving into attack.
Kyle Beckerman (3.5) - The veteran committed the unforgivable sin of failing to fill the defensive space left by Johnson on the opening goal. Though Beckerman would eventually make a couple of defensive stops, he failed to provide much possession support when it was sorely needed.
Michael Bradley (3.5) - Normally the team's metronome, Bradley always looked out of time in this one. Even when he did well to step into passing lanes, the Toronto FC star often piled up another cheap giveaway. His passes constantly lacked the proper weight, such as when he put Steve Birnbaum in a bad situation on the Argentina fourth.
Gyasi Zardes (5.5) - Every US rush of potential went through Zardes in the first half, and he seemed to win more one-on-one battles than the rest of his teammates combined. But the Galaxy attacker would fade after the break.
Graham Zusi (3.5) - While Zusi provided the occasional defensive play, he did not complete a single positive pass in the attacking third and didn't log one in Argentina's half until the waning moments. He always looked overmatched on Tuesday night.
Clint Dempsey (5.5) - The Sounders ace provided some high pressure and repeatedly dropped deep for hold-up work that helped the team out of their end, but didn't have any offensive impact until the final pass of his 78-minute shift sprung a scoring chance.
Chris Wondolowski (3) - The veteran forward had only a sad few touches, but that was partially because he far too often made himself unavailable. To top off a bad half, Wondo committed a clumsy giveaway followed by a clumsier foul to tee up the Messi free kick that killed all hope of keeping the game close.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann (3) - Despite all the big talk of being unafraid to grab the moment and taking the game to Argentina, the boss' line-up and game plan showed quite the opposite. His team definitely "slept late" to open both halves and always acted in a timid, reactive manner. The USMNT got away with plenty in prior games, but this time they were facing an opponent that was always going to be quick to dole out punishment. The loss certainly wasn't unexpected, but the performance sure tasted like snake oil.
Subs:
Christian Pulisic (4.5) - The teenager had a rough shift off the bench. Pulisic failed to complete a single forward pass in the attacking half, and didn't seem to want the ball when given a chance to fire in the penalty box.
Steve Birnbaum (4) - The center back's hesitance in receiving a pass near the area gifted Argentina their capper.
Darlington Nagbe (5.5) - The Timbers midfield ace was brought on far too late to have any real effect.
