Maybe the United States should just stop playing Panama.
After losing to Thomas Christiansen’s team in last summer’s Copa America, the USMNT fell to Panama yet again on Thursday. This time, that defeat came by a 1-0 scoreline in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals, a result that drops the U.S. out of Sunday’s main event and into the opening act that is the third-place game. For the first time ever, then, the U.S. will not be Concacaf Nations League champions.
What they will be is frustrated.
The United States generated all of 0.68 xG, failing to create clear-cut chances against Panama’s deep defensive block. Christian Pulisic looked passive and was ineffective in tight spots. On the whole, Mauricio Pochettino’s extremely conservative lineup only made life more difficult for his team in the attack.
