The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sense of urgency for Americans
U.S. needs at least a tie today to stay on track in qualifying.
SANPEDROSULA, HONDURAS — Wiping sweat from his forehead under a broiling sun even before warming up, Tim Howard said he understands the difficult position the United States faces going into this afternoon’s World Cup qualifier against Honduras.
By losing home games to Mexico in November and Costa Rica on Friday, the U.S. needs at least a tie against Honduras at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano to stay on track for the third and final automatic berth in North and Central America and the Caribbean. A loss would mean that even with wins in their final two games next month, the Americans could wind up in a playoff against an Asian team or miss next year’s tournament entirely.
Howard, the 38-year-old goalkeeper who started in the last two World Cups, cautioned against an all-out attacking approach for a U.S. team that will be missing forward Jozy Altidore because of his one-game suspension.
“You also have to be careful of how much you push going forward and making it feel as if it’s doom and gloom,” Howard explained. “The more rah-rah you are sometimes in these situations, the more tense everybody gets.”
Temperatures in the low 90s with high humidity are forecast for the start (5:36 p.m. EDT). That could make it feel like 110 degrees in a stadium set in the Sula Valley near the Merendon Hills. The grass was moist and heavy for Monday’s practice, a sign that play could slow today, when rain is possible.
“It’s going to be a grind in every sense of the word. These are the days that are hard to explain to people who aren’t here,” U.S. captain Michael Bradley said. “The idea of big games, the idea of everything on the line, that can’t faze us.”
Mexico (5-0-2) leads the six-nation final round with 17 points and has clinched a berth, and Costa Rica (4-1-2) is second with 14. The U.S. and Honduras (both 2-3-2) have eight points each, with the U.S. ahead on goal difference, plus-one to Honduras’ minus-seven. Panama (1-2-4) has seven points and Trinidad and Tobago is last with three (1-6).
The U.S. concludes the round against Panama on Oct. 6 at Orlando, Florida, and four days later at Trinidad and Tobago. The last time the U.S. fate was uncertain going into its final qualifier was in 1989, when a 1-0 win at Trinidad put the Americans in the World Cup for the first time since 1950. That started a streak of seven appearances in a row.
“When I took the job in November and we had zero points after two games, we fully anticipated the fact that this would go a full 10 games in order to qualify the U.S. team, and that looks to be the case,” said U.S. coach Bruce Arena.
Arena is likely to make lineup changes, but not as many as the seven in June. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan, center back Matt Besler, left back DaMarcus Beasley, midfielders Kellyn Acosta and Alejandro Bedoya, and forward Clint Dempsey are among the possibilities.