Match vs. Honduras offers U.S. men redemption
1958 (four consecutive defeats). The last time it lost two qualifiers in a row at any point was 15-plus years ago, a spell that reached three straight before the team regrouped and qualified for the 2002 tournament.
The United States is among seven countries to participate in every World Cup since 1990, joining Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain and South Korea.
Bruce Arena weathered the 2001 storm with the United States — consecutive defeats to Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica — and now he’s in charge of steering the Americans out of the latest eddy.
In his mind, it’s not complicated: The players who stumbled under Klinsmann are good enough. It’s a matter of putting them in the right places.
The Americans will have to sustain pressure on a Honduran team that will aim to counterattack swiftly. Lapses in concentration — or, as Cameron put it, “being in la-la land” — could expose the physically imposing but slow-footed U.S. defense.
Arena has had to go about preparations without three probable starters: Defender DeAndre Yedlin, midfielder-defender Fabian Johnson and forward Bobby Wood are unavailable because of injuries.
“It’s all part of it,” Arena said. “It’s not like these are things I haven’t faced before and players haven’t faced before. We understand where we are.”