USMNT trends: Results aside, key developments from March matches

USMNT trends: Michael Bradley's role, Jozy Altidore's importance, late breakdowns headline friendlies against Denmark, Switzerland

Brian Straus | Apr 2, 2015

USMNT trends: Results aside, key developments from March matches /

A story published Wednesday on the U.S. Soccer Federation’s website was headlined, “A Veteran Voice: Bedoya Looks Beyond Immediate Results.” Lest the veteran midfielder risk losing faith, looking beyond the results is just about the only option available.

The U.S. national team drew 1-1 with Switzerland on Tuesday and lost, 3-2, to Denmark last week. And its recent record isn’t good. Since defeating Ghana in the opening game of the 2014 World Cup—that was more than nine months ago—the Americans are 2-6-4. The last time the U.S. suffered through a similar stretch was, interestingly, during and immediately after the 2010 World Cup. Coach Bob Bradley’s team went an uncharacteristic 2-4-6 from the start of the South African tournament to the beginning of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. After finishing second in that competition, Bradley was fired.

Klinsmann continues to experiment tactically ahead of summer Gold Cup

There’s no indication that the national team’s current run under Jurgen Klinsmann has put his job in anything resembling jeopardy. Rather, it’s a sign that the year following a World Cup is a time for tinkering and experimentation. But as Bradley’s departure suggests, the subsequent Gold Cup is crucial (if anything, the 4-2 loss to Mexico offered U.S. Soccer the excuse it needed to finally appoint the coveted Klinsmann). At some point, a winning team must be built.

For now, as Bedoya suggested, final scores aren’t critical.

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“[The Gold Cup] is the ultimate goal, and these friendlies allow us to tinker around and play with different things, whether it’s players taking different responsibilities or trying out different formations, to seeing who steps up, and what works and what doesn’t,” Bedoya told U.S. Soccer. “That what these friendlies are for, and that’s more important than results. The results are going to matter when the Gold Cup comes around, and hopefully all these games that we’ve played will serve us as the right preparation for the summer.”

The summer is coming fast. The U.S. has three more exhibitions scheduled before the Gold Cup kicks off on July 7. It will host Mexico on April 15, then head to Europe to meet Netherlands and Germany in early June. If the 2-6-4 record isn’t a sign of where the U.S. stands heading toward the games that matter, then what is?

MORE: Mexico tops Paraguay at Arrowhead Stadium

Here are a few trends, both positive and negative, that emerged over the past couple games:

Roster revolution

Of the 14 men who played against Belgium in the World Cup’s round of 16, only four (Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Fabian Johnson and DeAndre Yedlin) featured in the past two friendlies. There are a multitude of explanations for the upheaval, several of which have nothing to do with Klinsmann, but it is a small indication of the churn that can mark the start of a new four-year cycle.

USA improves, but indiscipline, late concession lead to Switzerland draw

Injuries notwithstanding, the optimist will argue that it’s in U.S. soccer’s best interest for Klinsmann to expand the international player pool. The pessimist will point out the fact that chemistry can be tough to build without lineup consistency. Not only are different players coming in and out of camp, they’re often playing different position from game to game. And the manager said the changes will continue this month in San Antonio, leaving the composition of the Gold Cup roster anyone’s guess.

“We’re going to get a different group two weeks from now in San Antonio against Mexico, with MLS-based players and Mexico-based players, so we’re going to miss all the European guys,” Klinsmann told reporters after the Switzerland game.

Despite the fact that the two groups rarely mix, Klinsmann was optimistic the necessary bonds are being forced.

“We picked up a rhythm now. Everybody’s on board. The competition is going full steam,” he said. “They start to have a feel for each other. They start to build their own group.”

WATCH: Brek Shea nails free kick vs. Switzerland

For now, Bradley, Johnson, Jozy Altidore and perhaps Bedoya are Klinsmann’s only sure-fire starters. And for three of those four, roles aren’t clearly defined. Clint Dempsey remains valuable but at 32, he’s on the downslope of his brilliant national team career. He missed the Switzerland and Denmark games with a hamstring issue. The back four is in flux, as are the identities of Bradley’s ideal midfield partner. Should there be a second forward? If so, who should play the role? The status of key World Cup contributors like Matt Besler, Jermaine Jones, Geoff Cameron, Kyle Beckerman, Omar Gonzalez and Graham Zusi seems up in the air.

On the plus side, players like Danny Williams, Brek Shea and Michael Orozco showed promise over the past week and may be ready to take a leap up the depth chart.

There’s a lot to figure out before July.

Michael Bradley’s role

He remains the U.S.’s most indispensable player, but Bradley’s versatility may be working against him. The 27-year-old is the national team’s best defensive midfielder. The problem is that while Klinsmann has several of those, he doesn’t have anyone who can orchestrate an attack further up the field. Dempsey certainly can create, but he’s more effective closer to goal and the U.S. typically performs better with two forwards. Bedoya is more effective in a wider role, and Mix Diskerud, while skillful, doesn’t have a 90-minute impact. It may be too late for Lee Nguyen. U.S. midfielders who seem poised to break through, from Williams to the likes of Wil Trapp or Perry Kitchen, aren’t No. 10s.

USMNT misses chance to fully change tone, course with Switzerland lapses

So, Bradley has been pushed forward with more frequency over the past year. While he’s capable of hitting the sort of pass that unlocks a defense (see Julian Green’s goal against Belgium), it’s not his natural position and it puts the U.S. at a disadvantage when the ball turns over and he’s further up the field. The additional burden placed on Bradley was evident in Brazil, where he simply had too much to juggle (especially once Altidore was injured—see below).

Klinsmann and Bradley’s club coach, Greg Vanney, disagree on how the player is best deployed. On Tuesday, Klinsmann asked Bradley (instead of a forward) to pressure the Swiss back four. That left Bradley even further removed from the play when the hosts worked the ball quickly into the U.S. half.

There’s no obvious solution to the problem, at least in the short term. Asking someone like Williams or Beckerman to remain tethered to the back four would at least relieve some of Bradley’s responsibilities, but it’s still not using the team’s best player in his best position. Deploying Bradley as part of a pivot with another box-to-box midfielder has yielded mixed results.

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It may not matter as much against CONCACAF opposition. But when playing the sport’s top teams, forcing Bradley to create further up rather than organize further back simply doesn’t seem ideal. But if not him, then who? It’s perhaps the single biggest question Klinsmann faces over the next few months.

Jozy Altidore’s importance

The U.S. was a changed team once Altidore went down in the first half against Ghana. Without his presence up high, his ability to draw defenders and serve as a target for the American build-up, both Dempsey and Bradley were stretched thin and less effective. The Americans were without a key attacking anchor.

Altidore’s move to Toronto FC, where he’ll have the playing time and responsibility required to boost his confidence, looked like it would be a boon to the national team. He scored in January against Chile, opened his MLS account with a pair in TFC’s March 7 win in Vancouver and then had a goal and an assist in last week’s loss in Denmark. It may say as much about the rest of the player pool as it does about Altidore, but the fact remains, he is Klinsmann’s most dependable striker.

WATCH: Altidore scores vs. Denmark | Sent off vs. Switzerland

That made Altidore’s meltdown and subsequent red card against Switzerland all the more disappointing. It was atypical behavior. In fact, the ejection was his first in 80 caps. But it underscored the fact that the 25-year-old must embrace a position of leadership and responsibility appropriate for a two-time World Cup vet whose presence remains vital to American offensive prospects. For the U.S. to thrive, Altidore must stand up and be counted. Maintaining the composure to handle 90 minutes of defensive punishment, to rise above referees and to create and finish chances that others cannot is essential.

Late breakdowns

Klinsmann remains unfazed by his team’s troubling tendency to allow late, game-changing goals.

"It might be a theme, but it’s not a problem because we know the reason why certain things happen. We know maybe why in some games, you know, we kind of ran out of gas earlier and then made individual mistakes. Or maybe now, this was a pure individual mistake and [has] nothing to do now with the physical condition, which is good,” he said Tuesday. “It’s not a concern at all.”

He’s certainly right that it’s a theme. Fifteen goals yielded in the final 15 minutes in the past 15 games is the ugly statistic that’s gained traction this week. In the U.S.’s past eight games, all since the World Cup, it’s conceded eight goals in the 80th minute or later. It’s a miserable trend.

Outplayed once again, Klinsmann's USA sees repeated theme in Denmark

But Klinsmann also might be right that it’s nothing to be too concerned about. It could simply be a function of the tinkering described above. In the nine friendlies the U.S. has played since Brazil, Klinsmann has started eight back line combinations (the only repeat: Greg Garza, John Brooks, Orozco, Timmy Chandler). Three goalkeepers have earned starts, which also impacts chemistry, and friendlies typically feature numerous second-half substitutions.

Whatever comfort a back four might develop during the course of a game inevitably is altered by reserves introduced late in a game.

Solving one problem may prove to be the solution to another. If and when Klinsmann finds one or two stable defensive combinations, the U.S. should be able to see matches out more effectively.

GALLERY: U.S. Soccer in 2015

The Year in Photos: U.S. Soccer in 2015

U.S. U-20 vs. El Salvador, January 24

Paul Arriola (7) celebrates his goal in a World Cup qualifying playoff match vs. El Salvador. The U.S. U-20s cemented their place in the World Cup with a 2-0 win. They drew host New Zealand, Ukraine and Myanmar in their summer group.

USMNT vs. Chile, January 28

bobby-wood-chile — Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images

Bobby Wood flies high in the USA's 3-2 loss to Chile, which opened the calendar year for the national team. Brek Shea and Jozy Altidore scored in the loss.

USMNT vs. Panama, February 8

gyasi-zardes-clint-dempsey-gallery — Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

Gyasi Zardes and Clint Dempsey celebrate after combining for a goal against Panama at StubHub Center to cap off winter training camp with a 2-0 victory.

USWNT vs. France, February 8

Lori Chalupny (left) and the USWNT had a tough time keeping pace with Jessica Houara (center) and France in a 2-0 loss in a friendly in Lorient. The match was the first of two played without suspended goalkeeper Hope Solo.

USWNT vs. England, February 13

Alex Morgan celebrates scoring the lone goal in the USWNT's 1-0 win over England in a friendly at Stadium mk in Milton Keynes.

USWNT vs. Norway, March 4

The USWNT opens the Algarve Cup with a 2-1 win over Norway, marking Hope Solo's return from a 30-day suspension with a come-from-behind victory. Carli Lloyd scored both goals for the Americans.

USWNT vs. Switzerland, March 6

Alex Morgan celebrates her goal in the USWNT's 3-0 win over Switzerland in the Algarve Cup group stage.

USWNT vs. Iceland, March 9

Alex Morgan and the USWNT were frustrated by Iceland, held to a 0-0 draw to wrap up group play at the Algarve Cup. The result was still enough to put the Americans in the final against France.

USWNT vs. France, March 11

uswnt-algarve-cup-podium — Francisco Leong/AFP/Getty Images

The U.S. women's national team celebrates winning the Algarve Cup after a 2-0 triumph over France. Julie Johnston and Christen Press scored, and Hope Solo saved a penalty kick.

U.S. U-17 vs. Jamaica, March 15

The U.S. U-17 national team celebrates qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup after defeating Jamaica on penalty kicks following a 0-0 draw in a playoff match.

USMNT vs. Denmark, March 25

nick-rimando-denmark-gallery — Lars Ronbog/FrontZoneSport/Getty Images

U.S. goalkeeper Nick Rimando expresses his frustration after one of Nicklas Bendtner's three goals in Denmark's 3-2 win over the Americans. Jozy Altidore and Aron Johannsson scored for the USA.

USMNT vs. Switzerland, March 31

Jozy Altidore watches as Brek Shea hits a perfect free kick to put the USA on the board against Switzerland. The Americans settled for a 1-1 draw.

USWNT vs. New Zealand, April 4

Lori Chalupny (16) celebrates her goal vs. New Zealand with Lauren Holiday at St. Louis's Busch Stadium. The goal opened the floodgates for a late outburst en route to a 4-0 U.S. victory in front of more than 35,000 fans.

USMNT vs. Mexico, April 15

Jordan Morris etched his name in U.S.-Mexico lore, as the Stanford University forward scored in his first senior national team start to break a scoreless draw against El Tri at the Alamodome.

USMNT vs. Mexico, April 15

Juan Agudelo collapses to the ground in celebration after his goal at the Alamodome gave the USA a familiar lead over Mexico: Dos-a-Cero.

U.S. U-23 vs. Mexico, April 22

Real Salt Lake's Luis Gil captains the USA to a 3-0 win over Mexico at StubHub Center in Olympic qualifying preparation for both CONCACAF favorites.

USWNT vs. Ireland, May 10

Abby Wambach celebrates one of her two goals vs. Ireland as the USWNT took a 3-0 win on Mother's Day at Avaya Stadium.

USWNT vs. Mexico, May 17

Sydney Leroux is congratulated by her teammates after one of her two goals in a 5-1 pre-World Cup rout of Mexico at StubHub Center.

U.S. U-20 vs. Myanmar, May 30

Maki Tall celebrates his equalizer for the USA as part of a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Myanmar to open the U-20 World Cup group stage in New Zealand.

USWNT vs. South Korea, May 30

Carli Lloyd gets off a shot through traffic in the USA's final World Cup send-off friendly, a 0-0 draw against South Korea at Red Bull Arena.

U.S. U-23 in Toulon Tournament, May-June

Alonso Hernandez, left, takes on Qatar, while Julian Green, right, vies for the ball against France in the Toulon Tournament as part of Olympic qualifying preparations.

U.S. U-20 vs. New Zealand, June 2

Gedion Zelalem controls the ball against New Zealand in the USA's 4-0 win that cemented a place in the U-20 World Cup knockout stage.

U.S. U-20 vs. Ukraine, June 5

From left, Joel Soñora, Gedion Zelalem and Rubio Rubin show frustration during a 3-0 loss to Ukraine that wrapped up group play in the U-20 World Cup.

USMNT vs. Netherlands, June 5

DeAndre Yedlin and Danny Williams salute each other after the latter's goal–his first international strike–brought the U.S. level with the Netherlands at 3-3 in the 89th minute.

USMNT vs. Netherlands, June 5

Bobby Wood puts the finishing touch on an epic comeback, with his 90th-minute strike capping a wild 4-3 win for the USA over the Netherlands. The USA trailed 3-1 in the 71st minute.

U.S. U-23 vs. England, June 7

Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

USA defender Boyd Okwuonu makes a tackle on England's Duncan Watmore in the Toulon Tournament third-place game. The U.S. U-23s won 2-1, sealing their best finish in the tournament.

USWNT vs. Australia, June 8, WWC

Megan Rapinoe lets out a yell after her second goal, which sealed the USA's 3-1 win over Australia to open Group D play in the Women's World Cup.

U.S. U-20 vs. Colombia, June 10

Rubio Rubin celebrates the goal that gives the USA a 1-0 win over Colombia in the FIFA U-20 World Cup round of 16. Zack Steffen's late penalty save preserved the win, as the Americans reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2007.

USMNT vs. Germany, June 10

Michael Bradley was everywhere against World Cup champion Germany, assisting on Mix Diskerud's equalizer and commanding the midfield in a 2-1 win in Cologne.

USMNT vs. Germany, June 10

Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

For the second straight game, Bobby Wood came off the bench and scored a stunning winner. He watches his long-range blast beat Ron-Robert Zieler in a 2-1 win over world No. 1 Germany.

USWNT vs. Sweden, June 12

Julie Johnston wins the header in a dominant showing on the U.S. back line, helping the Americans preserve a 0-0 draw against Sweden in the second game of the Women's World Cup group stage.

U.S. U-20 vs. Serbia, June 13

U.S. players' emotions say it all after a gut-wrenching loss to Serbia in penalty kicks at the U-20 World Cup. After a 0-0 draw, the Americans fell 6-5 in PKs, despite Zack Steffen's two saves in sudden death.

USWNT vs. Nigeria, June 16

Abby Wambach leaps for joy after scoring in the 45th minute off Megan Rapinoe's corner kick, which delivered a 1-0 win to the USA and first place in Group D of the Women's World Cup.

USWNT vs. Colombia, June 22

Alex Morgan's goal broke a 0-0 draw, provided relief after Abby Wambach's PK miss and helped the U.S. women to the World Cup quarterfinals after a 2-0 win over Colombia in the round of 16.

USWNT vs. China, June 26

Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images

While Carli Lloyd (10) celebrates her goal in the distance, stalwart center backs Julie Johnston and Becky Sauerbrunn rejoice in the goal that put the USA into the semifinals of the Women's World Cup.

USWNT vs. Germany, June 30

Carli Lloyd yells in celebration after scoring the penalty that put the USA up over Germany en route to a 2-0 victory in the Women's World Cup semifinals.

USMNT vs. Guatemala, July 3

DeAndre Yedlin and Jozy Altidore, wearing special jerseys with stars-and-stripes numbers for July 4, celebrate after a Guatemala own goal gifts the USA a 1-0 lead during a 4-0 win in Nashville, Tennessee, prior to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

USWNT vs. Japan, July 5

Carli Lloyd sets the tone with a third-minute goal in the Women's World Cup final against Japan, the first of her three strikes within 16 minutes that lifted the USA to a 5-2 win and its first title in 16 years.

USWNT vs. Japan, July 5

U.S. players rush the field after the final whistle, which sealed their 5-2 triumph over Japan and a record third World Cup title.

USWNT vs. Japan, July 5

Victorious, the U.S. women's national team raises the World Cup trophy for the third time, but the first in 16 years, after completing a 5-2 win over Japan in the final at Vancouver's BC Place.

USMNT vs. Honduras, July 7

Clint Dempsey leaps in celebration of his second goal in the USA's Gold Cup opener against Honduras. The Americans won 2-1, fending off a late Honduras surge to collect all three points in the start of their title defense.

USA vs. Haiti, July 10

Clint Dempsey (8) is congratulated by his teammates after a 47th-minute goal gave the USA a 1-0 win over Haiti in the Gold Cup. Gyasi Zardes, second from left, came on at halftime and assisted, and the win clinched first place in Group A.

USMNT vs Panama, July 13

Clint Dempsey, left, and Michael Bradley, right, celebrate after the latter's goal in the USA's 1-1 draw vs. Panama, which wrapped up group play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

USMNT vs. Cuba, July 18

Rob Carr-Getty Images/Matthew Ashton-AMA-Getty Images/Patrick Semansky-AP

The U.S. men put on a clinic against an overmatched Cuba in the Gold Cup quarterfinals, with Clint Dempsey's hat trick leading the way in a 6-0 rout. Gyasi Zardes, Aron Johannsson and Omar Gonzalez also scored.

USMNT vs. Jamaica, July 22

A downtrodden Clint Dempsey and Jurgen Klinsmann walk off the field as Jamaica celebrates a stunning 2-1 win over the USA in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals.

USMNT vs. Panama, July 25

Michael Bradley walks away in dismay after having a penalty saved in a PK shootout in the USA's loss to Panama in the Gold Cup third-place game. After a 1-1 draw, Panama prevailed 3-2 in PKs, the USA's first shootout in 10 years.

USWNT vs. Costa Rica, August 16

Meghan Klingenberg waves a Terrible Towel in her hometown of Pittsburgh after scoring one of the USA's many goals in an 8-0 rout of Costa Rica in its first game since winning the 2015 Women's World Cup.

USWNT vs. Costa Rica, August 19

Alex Morgan and Kelley O'Hara celebrate during a second rout of Costa Rica in three days, this one a 7-2 win in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

USA U-23 vs. England U-21, Sept. 3

U.S. U-23 goalkeeper Zack Steffen looks on in disappointment as England U-21 forward James Wilson celebrates with Duncan Watmore after scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 friendly win in England.

USMNT vs. Peru, Sept. 4

Jozy Altidore, right, is congratulated after one of his two goals that sparked the USA's come-from-behind win over Peru at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

USA U-23 vs. Qatar, Sept. 8

Gedion Zelalem made his U-23 debut off the bench in the USA's 2-0 win over Qatar in England in the final tune-up before Olympic qualifying

USMNT vs. Brazil, Sept. 8

Neymar and Marcelo celebrate while DeAndre Yedlin and Ventura Alvarado look away in disgust during Brazil's 4-1 rout of the USA at Gillette Stadium.

USWNT vs. Haiti, Sept. 17, 20

Kevin C. Cox/Duane Burleson/Getty Images

Carli Lloyd scored hat tricks in both games and NWSL Golden Boot winner Crystal Dunn scored her first international goals as the USWNT beat Haiti 5-0 and 8-0 in a pair of friendlies in Detroit and Birmingham, Alabama. Haiti replaced on-strike Australia as a last-minute opponent.

USA U-23 vs. Canada, October 1

Jerome Kiesewetter, left, and Emerson Hyndman, right, sandwich Jordan Morris after his first-minute goal in the USA's 3-1 win over Canada in their Olympic qualifying opener.

USA U-23 vs. Cuba, October 3

Cameron Carter-Vickers gets congratulated by Jerome Kiesewetter and Emerson Hyndman after opening the scoring in a 6-1 rout of Cuba in their Olympic qualifying match. The USA cemented its place in the semifinal round with the win.

USA U-23 vs. Panama, October 6

There was plenty of credit to go around, as the Americans finished off a perfect group run in Olympic qualifying with a 4-0 win over Panama. Jordan Morris and Jerome Kiesewetter came on at halftime and provided the spark needed to seize the three points.

USA U-23 vs. Honduras, October 10

Wil Trapp's reaction says it all, as the USA failed to secure an automatic berth to the 2016 Olympics after falling to Honduras 2-0 in the semifinals of CONCACAF's Olympic qualifying tournament at Real Salt Lake's Rio Tinto Stadium.

USMNT vs. Mexico, October 10

Captain Michael Bradley leads the USA out onto the field ahead of the Americans' CONCACAF Cup playoff vs. Mexico at the Rose Bowl.

USMNT vs. Mexico, October 10

Geoff Cameron beats Rafa Marquez to the spot and heads home a 15th-minute equalizer off a free kick from Michael Bradley, negating a Chicharito goal five minutes earlier in the CONCACAF Cup playoff between USA and Mexico.

USMNT vs. Mexico, October 10

U.S. forward Bobby Wood celebrates his 108th-minute goal vs. Mexico that brought the Americans level at 2-2 after Oribe Peralta had given El Tri the lead in extra time. That reprieve would only last for 10 minutes, though.

USMNT vs. Mexico, October 10

Jermaine Jones falls to his knees in disappointment as Mexico celebrates after Paul Aguilar's sensational volley in extra time captured the CONCACAF Cup for El Tri and sends the U.S. rival to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

USA U-23 vs. Canada, October 13

Marc Pelosi (15) celebrates after his goal breaks the deadlock and sends the U.S. U-23s on their way to a 2-0 win over Canada in CONCACAF's Olympic qualifying third-place game. The U.S. still has a chance to reach Rio, but it'll have to go through Colombia in a playoff.

USMNT vs. Costa Rica, October 13

Tim Howard can't watch as Costa Rica players celebrate Joel Campbell's goal in a 1-0 friendly win at Red Bull Arena. The match marked Howard's return to the U.S. goal for the first time since the 2014 World Cup round of 16.

USA U-17 vs. Nigeria, October 17

Victor Osimhen scores for Nigeria in a 2-0 win over the USA in the teams' FIFA Under-17 World Cup opener in Chile.

USA U-17 vs. Croatia, October 20

USA U-17 midfielder Christian Pulisic watches his opening goal find the back of the net in the Americans' 2-2 draw with Croatia at the World Cup. The U.S. led 2-0 on Pulisic's goal and assist to Brandon Vazquez, but the European side mounted a furious rally to salvage a point.

USWNT vs. Brazil, October 21

Shannon Boxx, right, passes off the captain's armband to Carli Lloyd in her final act as a player, riding into retirement in the first half of a 1-1 draw against Brazil in Seattle.

USA U-17 vs. Chile, October 23

USA U-17 captain Hugo Arellano sits dejected after a 4-1 loss to host Chile eliminated the Americans from the World Cup in the group stage.

USWNT vs. Brazil, October 25

The USA said goodbye to two more veterans, with Lauren Holiday, left, and Lori Chalupny ending their careers during a 2-1 win over Brazil in Orlando. The team improved to 5-0-1 on its World Cup victory tour with the win.

USWNT at the White House, October 27

President Barack Obama welcomes the World Cup-champion USWNT to the White House, honoring their triumph in Canada.

USMNT vs. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, November 13

Jozy Altidore watches one of his shots head toward goal in the USA's 6-1 win over St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the opening of 2018 World Cup qualifying. Altidore scored twice, as the USA overcame a shocking early deficit and won at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago, November 17

Gyasi Zardes and the U.S. men were held to a 0-0 draw by Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain, closing the year with a World Cup qualifying and sitting atop Group C in the semifinal round via goal differential tiebreaker.

USWNT vs. Trinidad & Tobago, December 10

Christen Press triumphantly raises her hand after a goal during her hat trick in a 6-0 rout of Trinidad & Tobago at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

USWNT vs. China, December 13

Crystal Dunn leaves her feet to settle a pass in the USA's 2-0 win over China at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Dunn and Christen Press scored the goals.

USWNT vs. China, December 16

Abby Wambach is introduced in the U.S. lineup for the last time at the Superdome in New Orleans, playing in her final match before retiring. She ends her U.S. career with 255 appearances and an international-record 184 goals.

Published Apr 2, 2015

BRIAN STRAUS

A lifelong soccer player, coach and fan, Brian Straus joined SI in 2013 after covering the sport for The Washington Post, AOL and Sporting News.