Jurgen Klinsmann’s timely substitutions prove successful throughout CONCACAF Gold Cup.
40 seconds after Brek Shea’s introduction into the Gold Cup final, the Stoke City midfielder tapped in what proved to be the winner for the USA.
A simple tap in, but this should not take anything away from Shea or Klinsmann. Right substitution, right place, right time. Making effective substitutions is an art which the German has shown himself to be mastering, as a further glance at this year’s Gold Cup will show.
In the USA’s game against Costa Rica, with the score at 0-0, Klinsmann again threw on Shea. Minutes later, the 6 ft 3 Stoke City winger’s fresh legs put him on the end of a counter attack to finish well and win the match.
In the quarter finals against El Salvador, Klinsmann brought on Eddie Johnson, who within seconds out jumped the El Salvadorian defence to power a header into the top corner and put the USA two goals clear.
When the World Cup comes around next summer Klinsmann will have some european club pedigree pushing for places – if he can utilise his bolstered squad with the same nous as he has in the Gold Cup the USA could be a force to be reckoned with.
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