Player Ratings
How Low Can You Go? U.S. Vs. Ukraine Player Ratings
Looking for something positive to take away from the United States' loss to Ukraine on Wednesday? Look elsewhere. These player ratings are going to sting a little.
NOBODY ON THE U.S. NATIONAL team earned a seat on the plane to Brazil Wednesday against Ukraine, but a handful of players likely played their way out of World Cup consideration.
It was that bad—especially for a few fringe players who really needed to show something special.
Three regulars—Tim Howard, Jermaine Jones, and Fabian Johnson—showed why their participation in the tournament was never in doubt. That trio aside, there was not a lot of good news coming out of Cyprus. Here's a look at how the individual players performed.
John Brooks: He’s not going to Brazil. Having said that, the 21-year-old Berlin native was always a long shot to make this team. Despite his six-foot-four frame, a quality left foot, and noteworthy aerial prowess, the central defender seemed like a deer caught in the headlights at several key moments Wednesday. In particular, his ill-conceived back-headed pass in the second half served no discernible purpose other than to create a great chance for Ukraine. The good news: Brooks has plenty of potential, and four years to work on his game. The 2018 World Cup seems like a strong possibility. Rating: 2
Edgar Castillo: He’s not going to Brazil either. Castillo’s 63-minute performance at left back showcased his defensive liabilities, which are myriad. The 27-year-old Tijuana fullback is so determined to push forward at every opportunity that he constantly finds himself out of position on the defensive end. It didn’t help matters that Iarmalenko, the best player on either team Wednesday, plagued Castillo down the right flank—seemingly at will. But that’s what happens at the highest level of the game. Castillo has a nonchalant approach to defending, and that just won’t cut it. Rating: 3
Alejandro Bedoya: If the United States had put up more of a fight, Bedoya’s strong five-minute spell in the second half might not have garnered so much positive attention. But since the U.S. national team gave supporters so little to cheer about, Bedoya’s two strikes in a five-minute periodseemed comparatively special. During this eventful spell just after intermission, Bedoya chested down a cross and delivered a sharp right-footed shot that seemed destined for the back of the net. Unfortunately for him, it was deflected wide. A few minutes later Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov botched his clearance and gave the Nantes midfielder a clear shot on goal from 20 yards out. Though well struck, Bedoya’s shot flew off target. The rest of Bedoya’s afternoon featured a few dangerous set pieces but far too many misguided passes. He remains a fringe player for the 23-man World Cup roster. Rating: 5
Jermaine Jones: Sporting an Adam Duritz look, Jones didn’t put his mark on the match until the latter stages of the first half. From that point forward, he was solid on the ball and disruptive in defense. But his slow start, which allowed Ukraine to control possession for the first half-hour of the game, is vexing. Jones needs to put together a few solid 90-minute performances. Rating: 5.5
Clint Dempsey: The United States captain showed a bit of fight in the 84th minute when he took exception with a challenge from Ukraine midfielder Roman Bezus. After the collision—which didn't seem particularly egregious—Dempsey swung a leg at Bezus’ head while they were on the pitch. Then Dempsey stood up, grabbed Bezus’ leg, and threw him to the ground. How he managed to avoid a yellow card I have no idea. And why he saved up his venom for this dead ball clash rather than using it in the match is another mystery. Maybe a return to the United States will help Dempsey snap out of his funk. This match certainly didn’t do the trick. Rating: 3.5
Sacha Kljestan: He’s not going to Brazil. Too many giveaways, too little offensive flair, too many chances with the national team without making a meaningful impact. Rating: 3
Fabian Johnson: If you DVRed the match, watch it again and focus on No. 23. Johnson always provides a quality touch, is tireless in defense, and is constantly looking for offensive opportunities. Johnson started the game on the left wing and saved Castillo’s bacon a few times when Iarmalenko was running wild. Then, when Castillo came off, Johnson shifted to left back and did everything in his power to keep the U.S. in the match. (The second Ukrainian goal was not Johnson’s fault.) Johnson will get 270 minutes of action in the Group Stage, and I think the bulk of that time will be spent on the back line. Rating: 6
Jozy Altidore In his 85 minutes on the field, Altidore rarely touched the ball in a dangerous position. Maybe this single-striker setup isn’t the answer after all. Rating: 4.5
Aron Johannsson: Johannsson’s cultured 87th-minute volley beat the Ukrainian keeper and was angling for the back of the net before it was cleared off the line. That was the Icelandic-American's primary contribution to the match. Why didn’t he do more? Because he was on the bench for the first 63 minutes! At the very least, Johannsson should have come on at the start of the second half when Klinsmann’s 4-2-3-1 revealed itself to be thoroughly toothless. But instead of contributing to the U.S.’s one impressive stretch of play, Johannsson was watching and waiting with the rest of us. Ugh! Rating: 6
Danny Williams: He made one good run through the midfield that set up a U.S. corner, but aside from that sequence the Reading midfielder did not accomplish much in his 10-minute cameo. In retrospect, it would have been illuminating to see what Williams could have done with a few of Kljestan’s minutes. (Also: lose the blond highlights, Danny. Not a good look.) Rating: 5
Juan Agudelo: An uneventful five-minute appearance. No Rating
Starters
Tim Howard: Howard is a beast and he remains in beast mode. The almost-35-year-old faced six shots on goal from Ukrainian players and one from teammate Oguchi Onyewu. He saved five of seven shots, several in spectacular fashion. On both Ukraine goals, Howard stopped the initial strike only to fall victim to rebounds his defenders failed to clear. The U.S. will need more like this in Recife, Natal, and Manaus. Rating: 7 Geoff Cameron: The Stoke City fullback showcased the weakest part of his game against Ukraine, delivering poor crosses in the 3rd, 11th, and 60th minutes. But the Massachusetts native also made a great recovery/clearance in the 23rd minute to prevent a Ukrainian opportunity and sent in a sparkling cross from the right flank at the 51st-minute mark that Jozy Altidore should have put on frame. He has to get better on crosses, but Cameron looks destined for the right back spot in the 2014 World Cup. Rating: 5.5 Oguchi Onyewu Never mind Ukraine’s first goal—that was all on John Brooks, who drifted out of position, lost his focus, and allowed Andriy Iarmalenko to move in on Howard in the 12th minute. And forget about Ukraine’s golden opportunity in the 32nd minute—that was the result of a terrible touch from Sacha Kljestan. But that second goal? The backbreaker in the 67th minute? Where was Onyewu? What was he doing pushing so far forward? Why didn’t he hustle back to help clear the rebound? Poor concentration? Was he missing that extra burst of energy to keep up with the match? Whatever it was, Onyewu’s World Cup dreams likely ended Wednesday night in Cyprus. Kasey Keller said this of Onyewu before the match: “This is an opportunity for him to have a real dominating performance.” He did not do so. Rating: 3.5
John Brooks: He’s not going to Brazil. Having said that, the 21-year-old Berlin native was always a long shot to make this team. Despite his six-foot-four frame, a quality left foot, and noteworthy aerial prowess, the central defender seemed like a deer caught in the headlights at several key moments Wednesday. In particular, his ill-conceived back-headed pass in the second half served no discernible purpose other than to create a great chance for Ukraine. The good news: Brooks has plenty of potential, and four years to work on his game. The 2018 World Cup seems like a strong possibility. Rating: 2
Edgar Castillo: He’s not going to Brazil either. Castillo’s 63-minute performance at left back showcased his defensive liabilities, which are myriad. The 27-year-old Tijuana fullback is so determined to push forward at every opportunity that he constantly finds himself out of position on the defensive end. It didn’t help matters that Iarmalenko, the best player on either team Wednesday, plagued Castillo down the right flank—seemingly at will. But that’s what happens at the highest level of the game. Castillo has a nonchalant approach to defending, and that just won’t cut it. Rating: 3
Alejandro Bedoya: If the United States had put up more of a fight, Bedoya’s strong five-minute spell in the second half might not have garnered so much positive attention. But since the U.S. national team gave supporters so little to cheer about, Bedoya’s two strikes in a five-minute periodseemed comparatively special. During this eventful spell just after intermission, Bedoya chested down a cross and delivered a sharp right-footed shot that seemed destined for the back of the net. Unfortunately for him, it was deflected wide. A few minutes later Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov botched his clearance and gave the Nantes midfielder a clear shot on goal from 20 yards out. Though well struck, Bedoya’s shot flew off target. The rest of Bedoya’s afternoon featured a few dangerous set pieces but far too many misguided passes. He remains a fringe player for the 23-man World Cup roster. Rating: 5
Jermaine Jones: Sporting an Adam Duritz look, Jones didn’t put his mark on the match until the latter stages of the first half. From that point forward, he was solid on the ball and disruptive in defense. But his slow start, which allowed Ukraine to control possession for the first half-hour of the game, is vexing. Jones needs to put together a few solid 90-minute performances. Rating: 5.5
Clint Dempsey: The United States captain showed a bit of fight in the 84th minute when he took exception with a challenge from Ukraine midfielder Roman Bezus. After the collision—which didn't seem particularly egregious—Dempsey swung a leg at Bezus’ head while they were on the pitch. Then Dempsey stood up, grabbed Bezus’ leg, and threw him to the ground. How he managed to avoid a yellow card I have no idea. And why he saved up his venom for this dead ball clash rather than using it in the match is another mystery. Maybe a return to the United States will help Dempsey snap out of his funk. This match certainly didn’t do the trick. Rating: 3.5
Sacha Kljestan: He’s not going to Brazil. Too many giveaways, too little offensive flair, too many chances with the national team without making a meaningful impact. Rating: 3
Fabian Johnson: If you DVRed the match, watch it again and focus on No. 23. Johnson always provides a quality touch, is tireless in defense, and is constantly looking for offensive opportunities. Johnson started the game on the left wing and saved Castillo’s bacon a few times when Iarmalenko was running wild. Then, when Castillo came off, Johnson shifted to left back and did everything in his power to keep the U.S. in the match. (The second Ukrainian goal was not Johnson’s fault.) Johnson will get 270 minutes of action in the Group Stage, and I think the bulk of that time will be spent on the back line. Rating: 6
Jozy Altidore In his 85 minutes on the field, Altidore rarely touched the ball in a dangerous position. Maybe this single-striker setup isn’t the answer after all. Rating: 4.5
Substitutes
Brek Shea: He really shouldn’t be going to Brazil….but Klinsmann loves the Ostrich and against Ukraine Shea loped down the left side multiple times, nearly creating a few meaningful chances. Please note use of the adverb "nearly." Shea’s decision making in the final third needs to improve by approximately 643%, but he can go around or through most fullbacks, which makes him a valuable late-game asset. Rating: 5
Aron Johannsson: Johannsson’s cultured 87th-minute volley beat the Ukrainian keeper and was angling for the back of the net before it was cleared off the line. That was the Icelandic-American's primary contribution to the match. Why didn’t he do more? Because he was on the bench for the first 63 minutes! At the very least, Johannsson should have come on at the start of the second half when Klinsmann’s 4-2-3-1 revealed itself to be thoroughly toothless. But instead of contributing to the U.S.’s one impressive stretch of play, Johannsson was watching and waiting with the rest of us. Ugh! Rating: 6
Danny Williams: He made one good run through the midfield that set up a U.S. corner, but aside from that sequence the Reading midfielder did not accomplish much in his 10-minute cameo. In retrospect, it would have been illuminating to see what Williams could have done with a few of Kljestan’s minutes. (Also: lose the blond highlights, Danny. Not a good look.) Rating: 5
Juan Agudelo: An uneventful five-minute appearance. No Rating
