Klinsmann urges USMNT to not be so 'nice' against Colombia
United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has challenged his players not to be so "nice" when they look to sign off from the Copa America Centenario with victory over Colombia in the third-place play-off.
Having raised expectations following qualification to the knockout stages at the top of Group A and a quarter-final win over Ecuador, the hosts suffered a humbling 4-0 defeat by Argentina in Houston where they fell behind to an early goal from Ezequiel Lavezzi and then a fine free-kick by Lionel Messi.
Klinsmann, though, feels his men can produce the required performance at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Saturday night when they will aim to put things right against Colombia, who recorded a 2-0 win over the USA in the opening match at Santa Clara.
"There is of course a little bit of disappointment about the game against Argentina because it was a huge opportunity to get to the final, but Argentina that night were simply too strong for us. But we had a talk already with the players and the staff to regroup now and to give it a go in Phoenix," the German said in a Q&A session on his official Facebook page.
"At the end of the day we were too nice (against Argentina), it took us a while to get into the game physically.
"When you play these top teams you have got to be physically on the edge. We had too much respect, but there are a lot of good things you can take from a game like that, and we have talked about that with the players as well.
"Hopefully we can take that straight into the Columbia game, get third place and turn it around."
Klinsmann, 51, was linked with the vacant Southampton manager's job, but remains under contract with the United States through qualifying towards the 2018 World Cup.
He continued: "We approach this game with a lot of determination and hunger.
"We played them in the first game, learned a lot in that game and now we are really ready to give it a go and make it happen that we beat them."
Colorado Rapids midfielder Jermaine Jones, Hamburg forward Bobby Wood and Alejandro Bedoya of Nantes could all come back into contention after serving one-match bans for the semi-final.
Colombia, meanwhile, will look to respond after a 2-0 defeat by defending champions Chile in Chicago, which saw a two-and-a-half-hour delay because of a thunder storm and heavy rain at Soldier Field.
Defensive midfielder Carlos Sanchez, who plays his club football in England at Aston Villa, was sent off for two yellow cards and will be suspended.
Captain James Rodriguez, meanwhile, could be rested ahead of scheduled shoulder surgery this summer.
Colombia head coach Jose Pekerman said: "We should move on, and we must recover emotionally to have a great match for third place."
