Lost Weekend for U.S. as Sweden Wins, 3-1 : Soccer: Americans lose confidence in themselves and coach’s system after poor showing in Miami.

The lasting image of Sunday’s U.S.-Sweden soccer game was of Henrik Larsson racing alone toward the American goal, dreadlocks slapping his back, as, in the distance, one or two U.S. defenders gave desperate chase.

Many parts of the U.S. national soccer team were in reverse during and after its 3-1 loss to Sweden in the Joe Robbie Cup. In the weekend’s two games, the United States all but erased the memory of an organized and cohesive defensive back line that had emerged only weeks before. The United States and Boliva tied, 1-1, Friday.

Also backpedaling was U.S. assistant coach Timo Liekoski, whose glowing review of the defense before the tournament lost its credibility.

The final, and most serious, reversal was the players’ confidence in Coach Bora Milutinovic’s system, and his constant experimenting with players and positions. Milutinovic thought the players had finally embraced his build-from-the-back philosophy.

Then this.

“Struggling is a good word,” said defender Desmond Armstrong. “It’s a matter of being comfortable with the players around you. The problems we have stem from a lack of communication. Honestly, it’s a matter of some players playing out of position. It’s a matter of finding out who is the leader out there.”

Armstrong acknowledged that he was pulled out of position on Sweden’s first goal by Larsson. But his point was more about the general confusion that controls the movements of the back four U.S. players.

Since the return of Marcelo Balboa from a serious knee injury, Armstrong has been bounced from the sweeper position to various other defensive spots. Milutinovic is also tinkering with the halfback position and moving players freely in the back. The result is players are moving forward when they shouldn’t, and there is uncertainty about positions and roles.

“There’s a discrepancy between what we should and should not do, we’ll have to get it sorted out,” said U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who was under assault against Sweden.

The United States scored first on a left-footed shot from Hugo Perez, who was the team’s bright spot.

Sweden took the lead before the half, on a goal from Kennet Andersson that was set up by Larsson. Larsson assisted on Sweden’s third goal, which illustrated the Americans’ defensive breakdown. Larsson found Andersson breaking into the area and sent a perfect pass. Friedel, alone, came out to challenge and Andersson chipped a shot over the diving keeper.

Sweden won the tournament, topping Colombia on goal differential. Colombia defeated Bolivia, 2-0, on Sunday before 20,171.

Liekoski gingerly retracted his earlier compliments and agreed with the players that leadership on the field is missing.

“We lack the one guy who is going to grab the guys by the neck and say ‘Let’s get going.’ If you listen carefully when we play, there’s not a lot of chatter.”

The damage control is only now beginning.