Klinsmann at a crossroads.

USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has decisions to make.

The United States Men's National Team should be approaching Tuesday's game against Mexico with more hope than usual. Last year saw their first ever triumph against El Tri on Mexican soil. Neither country brought a full-strength side, but the 1-0 win was a fantastic occasion.

Likewise, Friday's victory against Costa Rica means that only a draw (and a point) is needed at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.

But unfortunately, last week saw the publication of the now-ubiquitous Sporting News article by Brian Straus. The exposé revealed growing divisions within the squad and a perceived lack of belief in coach Jurgen Klinsmann's tactical acumen.

The former is unsettling, if understandable. Ex-Germany striker Klinsmann, in an effort to expand the American talent pool, has added a sizable German-born contingent. There can be no doubt that this has strengthened the team in terms of raw quality, but more than one player voiced concerns over the drive and dedication of the expats.

The fundamental differences between club and international level can complicate issues of team chemistry. At their respective clubs, players get to go home at the end of the day. They have time to develop a professional (if not overly personal) rapport with teammates and coach. Fundamental unity is not expected. In other words, it's more like a day job.

With the national team, dedication is supposed to be a given. If anyone (German-American, Mexican-American, or American-American) is not giving 100%, they should not be called up. Period. End of story. 

But the issue is doubtless more complicated than that; maybe the native-born players aren't doing their part to properly integrate the newcomers (Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams, Timmy Chandler, and Terrence Boyd are now regulars). The German-Americans are, to a man, far from home and in an unfamiliar environment. Klinsmann must make them feel comfortable without further alienating the American-born players. There are no divisive rumors about the Mexican-American players (another dual-nationality group that he has mined for talent), but the situation is simply not the same. The "Mexicans," despite many of them indeed plying their trade in Mexico's Liga MX, were all born in the US and are English speakers. Klinsman has a difficult balance to strike, and perhaps he could look to the very top of the game for inspiration.

Reigning world and European Spain faces similar internal divisions. The national team is largely composed of players from Real Madrid and Barcelona, two clubs whose rivalry is geographical, idealistic, political, and personal all at the same time. Throw in the added historical divisions between the Catalans, Basques, and the rest of the team, and you've got quite the volatile situation. Yet Spain still stands atop the FIFA rankings. Surely Klinsmann can find a way to solve the problem of 4 or 5 possibly disruptive Germans. And he must do so quickly because he has a much bigger issue, one that cannot be a surprise to those at the top of US Soccer.

Besides the issue of the German players, Klinsmann's coaching was the main concern raised. Too much emphasis on conditioning and health, not enough on ball work or tactics. The US has gone from tiring at the end of games to simply looking clueless. The team needs more instruction, more opponent-specific preparation, and something resembling a definitive strategy.

It is common knowledge (as Straus points out) that even while revitalizing the German national team, Klinsmann leaned heavily on Joachim Löw's skill as a tactician. The US Soccer Federation had to have known this when they hired him; surely they were banking on his attitude inspiring the same sort of top-down improvement. But why, oh why, oh why did they not require him to hire a different assistant? 

Martín Vazquez may be a wonderful person, but he has already proven that he isn't up to the job. He was Klinsmann's assistant during the ill-fated stint at Bayern Munich. That the otherwise thoroughly professional Philip Lahm lambasted Klinsmann suggests Vazquez was a non-factor. A subsequently disastrous foray into full-on club management at Chivas USA left him coaching youth players in Arizona. How in the world did Klinsmann think a reunion was a good idea? And again, why did the USSF approve of it? Trust in your man is one thing, but this is ridiculous.

Klinsmann is not going to transform into a tactical genius; he was not hired to be one. Neither should he be fired; the US is in the midst of World Cup qualifying and cannot afford the chaos of such a drastic change. But the current chaos surrounding the team must be dealt with. The way forward should be obvious already: replace or supplement Martin Vazquez with someone who will cover up Klinsmann's flaws. The German does not seem averse to sharing power; everyone knew about Joachim Löw's prominent role because Klinsmann readily told them. So why not do something similar here? Hire a specialist tactician as an assistant and let them make their mark on the team. They don't have to be inspiring; that's Klinsmann's job. Could the new man even be German, or German-American? Such an appointment might exacerbate the divisions within the squad, but it also could help permanently integrate the talented German faction. And if wins and points begin to pile up, much of the bickering would surely cease. 

Regardless of nationality, perhaps a new, more practical assistant could also push Klinsmann to show a bit more consistency in his call-ups: inclusion is a wonderful ideal, but without consistency there can be no progress. The regulars are feeling under-appreciated, and the new faces either don't have time to settle or aren't of the required standard.

A change is sorely needed. Klinsmann's arrival has certainly shaken up the US Soccer program, and he should be allowed to continue his work. But the two obvious problems must be solved quickly; if Klinsmann does not have the self-awareness to do so, the suddenly vociferous opposition to his reign will surely only grow.