HARRISON, N.J. – A cross-country trip to Red Bull Arena did not cure the US national team of the hangover it felt after losing the CONCACAF Cup to Mexico on Saturday.
Although head coach Jurgen Klinsmann only started five players in Tuesday’s 1-0 friendly setback to Costa Rica who appeared in Saturday night’s match, he admitted that the team was still feeling the effects of their extra-time loss to Mexico at the Rose Bowl.
“The Saturday night was still heavy in the air,” Klinsmann said in his postgame comments. “Our heads were full. It wasn’t so much a physical question as much as we were not able to shake this off after two days. Coming here to play another game was just too much on their shoulders coming off that 120 minutes with Mexico.”
Klinsmann added that he wanted to give reserve players a chance against los Ticos to impress him before World Cup qualifying begins next month. Geoff Cameron was both one of the five players to start both matches before coming off in the second half. Cameron said the team needs to have a short memory to get over its less-than-impressive record in 2015.
“As a team we’re not playing as well as we should,” Cameron said. “We all know there’s games where you play amazing and you don’t win, and it’s devastating. And then there’s games where you grind out a tough result, and you win when you didn’t deserve it. It’s one of those things where we have to get back on track.”
The US need to get back toward playing hard and being difficult to beat, Cameron said. Both Cameron and Jozy Altidore are familiar with the struggles the US can face when a new cycle begins. Altidore said Tuesday night’s match was always going to be difficult with all eyes focused on the CONCACAF Cup.
The Toronto FC striker added that the current rough patch will make the team better.
“You guys always put more pressure on us than there needs to be,” Altidore said. “We understand that it’s the start of a new cycle and it’s a bit slow but it’s going to get better. It naturally is going to improve as the games come and get tougher. When you think about it, you think maybe it doesn’t get easier, but it does.
"Guys get more comfortable with each other, guys get comfortable in their role and somewhere along the way, there’s going to be fresh blood that comes in and helps us.”
