United States head coach Bob Bradley asks for more from his strikers than to score. He should considering their inability to score, but he has always believed that even the team's top goal scorers should play a part in defending as well and that is exactly what the U.S. is doing early in their Gold Cup match against Canada.
Both U.S. strikers, Jozy Altidore and Juan Agudelo, began the match by pressing Canada very high up the field and forcing the Canadian back line to get rid of the ball quickly. It paid off with a quick giveaway and even the midfield is bery high up the field.
Early on it has proved to be very effective in keeping Canada from building from the back, but it does leave the U.S. susceptible to long balls over the top. With Tim Ream, Clarence Goodson and Carlos Bocanegra as three of the four U.S. defenders, they are slow of foot too, making the long ball even more appealing for Canada.