Jurgen Klinsmann Needs to Get Best out of Bobby Wood Versus Costa Rica

A day after losing the opener of the Copa America Centenario to Colombia at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the United States men’s national team were presented with a gift from Costa Rica and Paraguay.

Not only did the other two sides in Group A play to a scoreless draw at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Ticos center-back Kendall Waston was ejected in stoppage time for a ridiculous challenge on Nelson Valdez. The absence of the towering defender for Tuesday’s contest with the USMNT at Soldier Field in Chicago means the Yanks must exploit his absence.

Just like everyone else in the USMNT attack, Bobby Wood struggled to gain a foothold in the final third on Friday against Colombia. The natural center-forward was out of position on the left wing, and he failed to display any type of chemistry with those around him on the pitch. The good news for the Hamburg player is he has two games to make up for his poor performance in the Group A opener. Tuesday presents the perfect chance for USMNT boss Jurgen Klinsmann to get the best out of his top, in-form striker. 

In the first pre-Copa friendly on May 22 against Puerto Rico, Wood displayed all the qualities necessary of leading the line. The quality of opponent may not have been the same as the Copa, but it showed us just how much the 23-year-old is capable of. With Waston suspended and regular center-back starter Giancarlo Gonzalez not in the Costa Rica squad, Wood has the opportunity to tear through the Ticos back line and hand the Yanks a much-needed win.

In order to set Wood up for success, he can’t spent the majority of the match on the left wing. Klinsmann has to find a way to get the 23-year-old up top by himself or alongside Clint Dempsey, who started in the true forward role of the 4-3-3 formation on Friday. A …

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