#4 Absentees really hurt USA
The host were without their three best players in Jermaine Jones, Bobby Wood and Alejandro Bedoya coming into the match, all of whom were suspended. Their absence was certainly going to be felt, but no one would’ve predicted it to be in such a manner.
The Yanks were very below-par in their showings and made it a cakewalk for Argentina. Not to take any credits from them, but USA offered virtually nothing going forward and were also exposed horribly at the back. Klinsmann's changes, as mentioned earlier, did no good, but the players lacked in drive and desire without their usual suspects.
The presence of Jones, Wood and Bedoya may not have made too much of a difference either as Argentina would’ve still made it though, but the Americans might have atleast put up a fight, as without the trio, USA were more like dead men walking.