SAN JOSE, Calif. – It’s still mighty early in the chase for a 2018 World Cup berth, months of matches, corrections and continental treks ahead. History tells us that the United States will qualify for next year’s soccer extravaganza and, depending on pairings and performance, cope just fine against the titans of the sport.
But as the Americans and their rowdy supporters gather Friday at Avaya Stadium for the third of 10 final-round qualifiers, the passage has grown pocked with peril. Two missteps in November have left them last in the six-nation quest for three passes to Russia next summer.
With the margin for error shriveling, the U.S. squad has turned to a new coach, who happens to be the old coach; to a clan of seasoned barnstormers; and to a teenager from Hershey, Pa., with delicious skills.
The Americans will play two matches over five days, here against Honduras tonight and Tuesday in Panama. Two victories would cancel out the lowly start. A victory and draw would steer them back on course. Anything less would carry anxiety into the next set of games in June.
“We’ve been waiting around for this game for a few months,” captain Michael Bradley said, “and now we have the chance to start to put things right.”
Things went very wrong in November with a home defeat to rival Mexico and a 4-0 thumping in Costa Rica, Jurgen Klinsmann’s last act in a 4½-year coaching reign.
The qualifying road is never seamless: inevitable defeat somewhere in a Central American cauldron, almost certain setback in the choking air of Mexico City, rutty fields, dodgy officiating. This cycle, though, has brought atypical consternation for the United States.
The last time the United States lost the first two games in any round was 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.
Mexico knows what it’s like to stumble in a middling soccer region. Four years ago, amid two coaching changes, CONCACAF’s other bully was fortunate just to finish fourth and earn a two-leg playoff against New Zealand for the last of the 32 World Cup berths. Mexico won a ticket to Brazil, then, per usual, advanced out of group play. (This year’s fourth-place finisher in CONCACAF will face Asia’s fifth-place team this fall.)
The lesson: It doesn’t matter how you get to the World Cup; just get there.
Argentina, FIFA’s top-ranked team featuring superstar Lionel Messi, began the week fifth among 10 South American teams. Only the top four receive automatic berths.
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.
His message?
“We’re planning to qualify for the World Cup.”
How he’s going to pull it off?
“Win games.”
You don’t need a photograph to picture the New Yorker’s wry grin.
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, improving communication and chemistry, and boosting the defensive performance.
“Throughout qualifying, you always have your ups and downs,” defender-midfielder Geoff Cameron said. “This is kind of a down period where we need to pick up some points. The pressure is on us. We’ve been here, we’ve dealt with it before. We’re confident.”
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 leave the physically imposing but slow-footed U.S. defense exposed in the open field.
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.
The birth of a child scratched second-choice goalkeeper Brad Guzan, as well. Jordan Morris, a potential starter in Wood’s place, is trying to shake off an ankle ailment. Midfielder Jermaine Jones will miss the Honduras game with a yellow card suspension.
Speculation has run wild about lineup choices: Is Darlington Nagbe ready for a prime-time role? Will Christian Pulisic, the 18-year-old wonder for German titan Borussia Dortmund, orchestrate the attack or play out wide? Will Cameron have to start at his third most-comfortable position (right back) because of the Yedlin and Johnson absences? Will Clint Dempsey, a three-time World Cup scorer, start up front after returning this winter from a heart condition and missing several qualifiers?
“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.”