USMNT: What do we Expect Against Panama?

FIFA Rankings of USA, Venezuela and Panama

The USMNT will face CONCACAF opponents Panama in a friendly tonight at 8:30 pm Eastern. The US is coming off of a close win over Venezuela. The US played Venezuela in Arizona, and fans saw the game stay nil - nil until Ricardo Clark scored an extremely late goal off of a corner kick in stoppage time. The boys walked away with a win and a feeling of success was left in the crowd. After all, this isn't our "A" team out there, so how much can you expect? Well, that begs the question, what are some reasonable expectations from us as USMNT fans?

Had the team tied or even lost that game, it would not be difficult to criticize the play and finishing seen in the game, but the team did manage a result, and in a very typical US fashion. But friendlies aren't so much about results as they are about play. Can we be satisfied with how the team played this game? I'm going to revisit this question again after this next match. 

Depending on who Panama selects to play, (the typical "A" team, or some less experienced guys like what the US is doing) the USMNT team could be in for a tough game. FIFA ranks Panama only 6 places lower then Venezuela, so the skill level in this game should be very similar to the last friendly. However, this game is not going to be played in the same friendly atmosphere of Arizona. The more hostile stadium will present a challenge for US players who are just getting their first caps in. Panama also has recently upset the US (the last gold cup in group play) and will be looking to do it again. This would not be an easy game for the normal US starters, so it should be a big match for players trying to work their way on to the full team.

If the US come out to play, stick to Klinsmann's plan, and finish opportunities that should be finished, that is enough for me. I want a win, but that's not the most important thing in a friendly like this. 

We as fans should expect our team to play well, and to play an attacking style like Jurgen has been advocating. We should expect the team to have good decision making and go full-out for a full 90+ minutes, the American soccer way. If we fail to meet these expectations, but achieve victory by a lack of skill from the Panamanian side,  I will be more disappointed then if we played well and lost. The means for the result are what we should look at today, not the final score. Good luck to the US, make us proud.