Argentina was excellent and the United States was not.
That’s boiling Tuesday night’s Copa America Centenario blowout down to its simplest answer is the easy part. What went wrong individually? And did anything go right?
[ MORE: Match recap | Messi’s magic free kick ]
That’s what we’re here for, to analyze your nightmares before you go to sleep. Argentina was electric, and showed the Yanks just how far they have to go to be truly relevant on the tournament schedule.
Starting XI
Brad Guzan -- 4 -- Terribly timid on the first goal, debatably rough on the Messi free kick -- come on, though -- and I kinda wanna dislike his soft parry or non-catch on the third (but that’s being pretty harsh). Great save on Messi late, though.
Fabian Johnson -- 5 -- Some good interventions to keep the score line relatively modest, but was all sorts of overwhelmed on the opening goal.
John Brooks -- 6 -- Did some very good things throughout, but lost Higuain on the backbreaking third goal. That said, his midfield kept him under duress all night. Mistakes were going to happen. Even Tim Howard couldn’t blank Belgium during one of the finest performances in USMNT, so Brooks can get a pass here.
Geoff Cameron -- 7 -- Not sure anyone deserves a 7, but Cameron is close to blameless for this debacle.
DeAndre Yedlin -- 5 -- Won a foot race with Messi in the second half, and had one good bombing run forward. That’s one more than many of his teammates.
[ MORE: Three things we learned from USA 0-4 ARG ]
Kyle Beckerman (Off, 60') -- 3 -- Just a terrible evening overall. In the first few minutes alone, the fill-in frittered away possession, was roasted by a dribble and finally was lost in the clouds as Ezequiel Lavezzi cruised past him to beat Guzan for the opener. Ugly.
Michael Bradley -- 2 -- This was not Michael Bradley, as one of the best players in USMNT history had one of his worst games in any shirt. Take the tape and burn it, then bottle the embers and fire said bottle into space. Then end space exploration.
Gyasi Zardes -- 5 -- Ran his shoes off, and had little support when he had the ball in any sort of attacking position.
Graham Zusi -- 5 -- Unsure what else you wanted to ask from him given the spot start against the electric outside attack of Argentina.
Clint Dempsey (Off 78') -- 5 -- Had to drop into the midfield just to sniff the ball. Have a hard time faulting him.
Chris Wondolowski (Off HT) -- 2 -- Tactically, perhaps he was told to not pressure the Argentina backs when they had the ball, but his giveaway allowed Lionel Messi to score his marvelous free kick.
Subs
Christian Pulisic (On HT) -- 5 -- Looked like a 17-year-old, which he is. Such is life.
Steve Birnbaum (On 60') -- 4 -- His Benny Hill moment on the fourth Argentine goal was tough to watch.
Darlington Nagbe (On 78') -- N/A
