FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN U.S. QUALIFIER
commerce city, colo.
The USA faces its latest crucial World Cup soccer qualifying game Thursday, when it takes on Trinidad and Tobago. Mathematically it is not a must-win. Realistically it is, given the opponent and the location of the match.
WHAT TO WATCH Change of scenery, change of personnel: The scheduling that sees the USA face its toughest rival, Mexico, on the road just three days after Thursday’s clash has created a headache for head coach Bruce Arena. He has acknowledged that changes will be made between the two games but said “no one is being saved for Mexico,” meaning a full-strength team Thursday. While that might seem counterintuitive — Trinidad and Tobago is the weakest team in the pool, and Mexico is the strongest — it is borne of necessity. The first priority is to get three points in Denver, to get the campaign on a more firm footing after four points from the first four games.
Wall of Brooks: John Brooks is probably the USA’s best defender when he is in top form, which is not all of the time. Even so, the thigh strain suffered by the big center that could keep him out against Trinidad and Tobago is a cause for concern. Brooks was recently sold by Hertha Berlin to its German Bundesliga rival Wolfsburg for a fee of $22.4 million, a record for an American player. Arena might leave his decision until close to game time. Dempsey avoids record talk: Clint Dempsey doesn’t like to talk about records, but he is on the cusp of a mean---
ingful one. With one goal, the forward would take his U.S. tally to 57, putting him in a tie with Landon Donovan for the program’s most in a career.
Dempsey has scored in the last three World Cup tournaments and in the last three qualifiers he has played. After missing several months with an irregular heartbeat, his return has been a major boost.
Minnesota’s Molino: Trinidad and Tobago is low on overall talent compared to the USA, but the visitors will come in with some degree of hope. Shaka Hislop, formerly of the English Premier League and Trinidad and Tobago’s goalkeeper, said last week that he finds the USA “underwhelming” and believes his countrymen can secure a tie.
To do so, they likely will need a big game from Kevin Molino, an enterprising attacking midfielder with Major League Soccer newcomer Minnesota United, who continues to make strong progress.
Other results: Win most of your games in CONCACAF’s final hexagonal qualifying round, and qualifying takes care of itself. Given the USA’s shaky start, it is still in the position where it can be grateful for a helping hand from other teams.
Assuming that the USA would be happy enough to see Mexico and Costa Rica disappear off into the distance, a Mexico win against Honduras and a Costa Rica victory against third-placed Panama would see no complaints from Arena and his men.