“In My Opinion……….”
We knew the opening game for the U.S. Men in the final round of regional World Cup qualifying would be difficult. But we didn’t expect a loss!
The other two games resulted in draws, including Jamaica’s surprising 0-0 draw against Mexico in Mexico City.
With three of their first four Hexagonal games on the road, Jurgen Klinsmann and his team find themselves in a hole.
It’s no time to panic! Disappointed? Yes! Concerned? Yes, yes, yes!
With nine games to go, five of them here at home, it is hard to imagine the U.S. not earning one of CONCACAF’s tickets to Brazil in 2014.
Yes, the important thing is to qualify, and we would take that and move on, but if we have hopes of being a contender to journey deep into the knockout round, we need to put together a string of positive results for a high regional finish. First would be nice.
OK, here are the concerns. First, as a soccer nation we can’t seem to move past “the draw.”
Poor results after four games would leave us near the bottom of the standings. Positive results in those four games would rank us at the top. The draw is what it is. The important thing is the results.
• Concern #1. Twenty years ago when the U.S. MNT was filled by collegiate players, there was little training time as a team. Klinsmann trained a roster of mostly potential backup players for three weeks in January before playing Canada to a disappointing 0-0 draw in an international friendly.
He had his first-team roster of mostly European-based players together for a couple of days before heading to Honduras.
• Concern #2. How good is the chemistry on the U.S. team, with a number of German-American newcomers being worked into key positions, and a defense marked by question marks rather than Xs and Os. The four starters in the back had a combined 14 national team caps, and captain Carlos Bocanegra spent the game on the bench.
• Concern #3. The team’s leading scorer, and arguably the one who, on a good day, can drive the U.S. offense, was in California deciding if at age 30 he’s played enough soccer. His professional coach, LA Galaxy’s Bruce Arena, says Landon Donovan will play this year, but Donovan has yet to publicly say he will.
It’s likely that Klinsmann and his teammates would welcome him back, but does he still have the drive and intensity that it will take to lead the team to the 2014 World Cup?
• Concern #4. There is no doubt that our players are better today than they were back in 1990 when the U.S. earned a World Cup berth for the first time in 50 years. Better, and we have more of them.
But are we good enough? Does the commitment to be a good professional player measure up by international standards. Commitment is part of the mental part of the game, and difficult to measure.
Oh there are other concerns, and there are expectations.
With Klinsmann in charge, the U.S. has turned in some good results in international friendlies, winning in Italy and in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium. But in official FIFA competitions?
This is not a World Cup year, but it is filled with a schedule of meaningful games. The CONCACAF Hexagonal offers 10 World Cup qualifying games.
The Gold Cup later this year will be played in the U.S. That regional championship qualifies the winner for the 2017 Confederations Cup. Mexico gets that trip this time after winning the last Gold Cup in a 4-2 thrashing of the U.S.
By winning the 2007 Gold Cup, we beat Spain in the Confederation’s Cup semifinal and lost 3-2 in the final to Brazil, after leading 2-0 at the half.
Next up for the U.S. MNT is Costa Rica on Mar. 22, in Colorado.
None of these games will be easy, but it is a game we should win. But we should have won the game in Honduras. Make that “could!”
In the Hexagonal opener only veteran right back Steve Cherundolo was missing with an knee injury. Except for Cherundolo and Donovan, Klinsmann had arguably his best roster. Yes, we can debate a couple of others, but…..!
Going forward. It is time to get past the “audition mentality” of trying to make the team, and develop a level of confidence that allows good players to play to the best of their ability.
When you get the opportunity play to find a way to win the game, and in a situation where the game is winding down and the score is tied, find a way to not lose the game.
Losing to Honduras makes it very important to win at home and that starts against Costa Rica next month.
Success develops confidence, and the mental strength of any player is a key to how well he or she will play in a competitive environment.
So now, we are 0-1 with nine games to play. No time to panic.
You can be disappointed and you can be concerned, but all that matters now in the question to book that ticket to Brazil is what lies ahead!