ATLANTA (AP) – Jurgen Klinsmann strolled into the room in the basement of the Georgia Dome, not looking overly concerned about the biggest upset loss in U.S. men’s soccer history.
Sure, the coach was disappointed that his team won’t be heading to the Gold Cup final Sunday, having been upended by an island nation of 2.9 million people that’s known mostly for Usain Bolt and some of the world’s greatest Olympic sprinters.
“It’s unfortunate, but that’s reality,” Klinsmann said. “We have to swallow that pill.”
More than that, a 2-1 loss to Jamaica in the Gold Cup semifinals Wednesday was a striking reminder that Klinsmann, approaching four full years as the U.S. coach, has yet to push the national team from the fringe of international contention to a full-fledged powerhouse.
He did produce a Gold Cup title in 2013 and an inspired run to the knockout round at last year’s World Cup in Brazil. But in this what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world, the stunning setback to the Reggae Boyz showed Klinsmann’s tenure is still a work in progress.