USMNT soccer is close to panic time
The Red, White & Blue panic button shouldn’t look so big right now, but it does, and it is glowing. Hit it?
The United States Men’s Soccer Team put forth a poor performance in a 0-0 tie in El Salvador on Thursday. The U.S. has, by far, the superior talent. It did not play like it.
The USMNT’S 1-1 draw with Canada on Sunday was better but not exactly uplifting. The Americans were at home. They should beat Canada in Nashville. Full stop.
Now, they face … a must-win game? Is that what Wednesday night brings? A must-win game against Honduras at Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula?
Maybe. It’s close. Put it this way: A victory would give the U.S. team a chance to exhale, while a loss would send a simmering-hot fan base into a full-blooded boil.
Coach Gregg Berhalter has been questioned about his roster selections, substitution patterns and a punch-less offense that has produced just one goal over 180 minutes. A loss in San Pedro Sula will bring the “fire him now” crowd – which has a healthy head count already – to full throat.
Remember, Jurgen Klinsmann was fired in November 2016 after two losses in the first two games of the qualifying cycle. Loss No. 1 was the bursting of the Dos a Cero bubble in Columbus, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of rival Mexico. It was the first home loss to Mexico in World Cup qualifying since 1972. Loss No. 2 was a 4-0 drubbing in Costa Rica. It was one of the USMNT’S worst shutout losses in decades.
By then, Klinsmann had been on the job for five years. He was known for questionable on-field tactics, alienation of players and feuds with anyone who questioned him. By the time he filled out his resume with a couple of historic losses, fans had already turned on him. Hard.
Back then, qualifying was a hexagonal competition with 10 games spread over 333 days. Klinsmann’s replacement, Bruce Arena, had three months to prepare for the next set of games.