Led by Arena, USA does U-turn on road to Russia
Leaving Mexico with a World Cup qualifying point stashed firmly in their luggage, the U.S. men’s soccer team players found different ways of saying the same thing.
That Bruce Arena’s input as head coach has helped rescue the campaign. And that the second stint of Arena, who is undefeated in four qualifying games this time, is a vast improvement over Jurgen Klinsmann.
In a year, the Americans hope to be ensconced in Russia, preparing for their opening game in soccer’s biggest tournament. That likelihood is significantly higher now than it was after the opening two games of the CONCACAF region’s final qualifying round, which produced defeats that doomed Klinsmann.
For defender Omar Gonzalez, a primary reason behind the improvement under Arena is simply logistical. Gonzalez found out he would be playing vs. Mexico at Estadio Azteca three weeks ago and was informed at that point it would be as part of a five-man back line featuring three central defenders.
“Sometimes with Jurgen you wouldn’t know until the day of the game, and it is just stressful,” Gonzalez said. “I think it is just a different environment and a different mentality you can take when you know three weeks out. You saw how things can turn out when you don’t really prepare that properly and you are confused and you don’t know who is going to start. Things can turn out (that you lose) at home.”
The USA did indeed lose at home to Mexico in November, a performance that was marred by uncertainty surrounding the game plan and included a tactical shift after 25 minutes.
After that game, and especially after the 4-0 defeat in Costa Rica that followed it, the mood in the U.S. camp was despondent. Things were different after Sunday’s effort, one that left the team in third place in the CONCACAF qualifying pool. Three teams from the region will automatically make it to Russia and a fourth will meet an Asian team in a playoff.
“Definitely the energy is different,” forward Jozy Altidore said. “That is natural when you change guard. A new coach comes in with new, fresh ideas, and that kind of rallies the troops. Bruce has done a great job, and all the guys are behind him.”
Arena had a reputation for being grumpy and difficult as recently as a few years ago, but he has lightened up and appears to be having the time of his life.
He values togetherness in a national team program, a process made more difficult by the realities of modern international soccer. Teams do not get to meet up often and must find ways to jell quickly when they do. Arena says he thinks the team will benefit from the bonding over the last two games, with a 2-0 victory Thursday against Trinidad and Tobago preceding the exciting and tense tie.
“We have got our confidence back a bit,” defender Geoff Cameron said. “There has definitely been a change in atmosphere. It is positive. The guys are cooking right now, and it is a good thing.”
The job is not done yet, and if Panama beats Honduras on Tuesday, it would leapfrog the USA and move into third. However, the U.S. team has its three most difficult games of the 10-match campaign out of the way — both Mexico games and the visit to Costa Rica. Realistically, the Americans look not only like a qualifier but a team that is rediscovering itself, too.
Klinsmann was supposed to launch a tactical and technical awakening that would have the USA playing a brand of soccer similar to some of the world’s biggest soccer nations. It never really happened.
Arena has gone back to basics to a certain extent, prioritizing maximum effort, a communal spirit, individual accountability and a fierce work ethic. It has worked. “Bruce has done a very good job of raising the level across the board,” midfielder Michael Bradley said. “A big part of that is (having) team spirit, mentality. Understanding that we have good players and are a good team but we are not good enough to just step on the field and think things are going to take care of themselves.”
September’s qualifiers — at home vs. Costa Rica and at Honduras — will provide fresh tests, but for now the USA feels like it is on the road to Russia and has put the Klinsmann era in the rearview mirror.