After earning his first victory as U.S. National Team coach over the weekend, Jurgen Klinsmann goes looking for his first winning streak Tuesday at Red Bull Arena (7 p.m., ESPN2, Univision). They’ll face a dangerous Ecuador team that will provide both a tough test and a chance to make a strong statement.
“They’re a country that’s on the rise, beating everybody,’’ said Klinsmann, who saw his U.S. team beat Honduras 1-0 in Miami on Saturday, his first win after an 0-2-1 start. “This is a good side, but also a good benchmark for these guys to prove a point.’’
But as much as these friendless are about results, they’re even more about teaching and learning as well. They’re about Klinsmann teaching his players the possession, attack-minded style he wants, rather than Bob Bradley’s counterattacking ways. And it’s about the legendary German striker learning what his players can do and what they can’t, who can cut it on the international stage and who can’t.
Keeper Tim Howard and captain Carlos Bocanegra are the only players to start every game under Klinsmann, with midfielder/support striker Clint Dempsey and midfielder Landon Donovan givens. But he has many questions that need answers, and these games give him a chance to do so.
With Donovan out with a quad injury, Dempsey scored the winner over Honduras; but Klinsmann wants to see more movement from him playing as a support striker. Howard is 32 with no proven backup, so they’re grooming Bill Hamid. And Bocanegra has had a merry-go-round of central defense partners, with Michael Orozco Fiscal struggling and Oguchi Oguchi just returning to form from injuries.
“I’m able to make more of an impact on the game. I like being closer to goal, whether it’s putting people in position to score or getting goals myself. It’s a position I can express myself, play the style I fell in love with growing up,’’ said Dempsey, whose strike partner Jozy Altidore is suddenly thriving.
After three years of failed loans and rust-inducing inactivity following a $10 million transfer from the Red Bulls to Villarreal, Altidore has seven goals this year for AZ Alkmaar, two in the Europa League.
“It’s huge; important for any player, you’re at your sharpest when you’re playing all the time,’’ said Altidore. “Playing, that’s the biggest thing, and I’m getting that there. Not only that but playing at a pretty good level against good teams. For me it’s important. I feel more confident now, I feel fitter, stronger.’’
Ecuador won 2-0 at Costa Rica, beat Jamaica 5-2 and Costa Rica again 4-0, then opened World Cup qualifying with a 2-0 win over Venezuela. Klinsmann has the luxury of not opening qualifying until June 6, still toying and tinkering, grooming youngsters like Hamid, Red Bull teen Juan Agudelo and Brek Shea _ being scouted by the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Klinsmann expressed two huge concerns going forward, saying any player that plans to be considered for the national team had better be playing for his club _ something for Shea to look at _ and the MLS calendar of seven or eight months puts them at a disadvantage vs. European plays that play 11 months.
“If they’re an international player he has to do extra work, he has to do extra weeks. And he can’t go on vacation, even if he says I’m supposed to have six weeks off,’’ said Klinsmann. “If he comes and says that, then I give him a hug and say have fun for six weeks, but don’t come back here because it’s not working.’’
