Posted on 06/09/2013 10:17:32 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
There is still a long way to go, and things can certainly go wrong. But the United States is in wonderful shape to qualifying for Brazil 2014 and extend that ongoing streak, to find its way into a seventh consecutive World Cup.
Given the U.S. history in World Cup qualifiers on home soil – basically, they don’t lose at home – and given that Jurgen Klinsmann’s team has already gained four of a possible nine points on the road, there is no other way to see it.
Remember when the CONCACAF draw came out? We all looked at the schedule and, exhaled and said, “Well, that didn’t work out very well.” For Klinsmann and Co., it was all about keeping their heads above water through early June – through Friday, specifically.
So a late goal in Jamaica goes a long, long way to achieving the bigger goal.
Three of the first four matches in final round World Cup qualifying were on the road, and qualifying matches in CONCACAF (anywhere around the world, really) are perilous pieces of work. But a loss in Honduras to begin the final round was mitigated somewhat by a draw in Mexico and now … a huge, huge win in Jamaica.
In between, the United States prevailed in that bizarre, snowy night in Denver.
The formula for qualifying is always the same: win at home, nick a few points on the road and start looking for the best hotels and training grounds inside the World Cup host country.
At this point, the United States has six matches remaining in final round qualifying, and four of those are at home. It starts Tuesday in Seattle against Panama and then flows south of there in Utah a week later against Honduras.
At this point, the United States needs eight or nine points – something that looks quite achievable given the schedule ahead.
Not impressed with their defense, but yes, it would take a meltdown of major proportions for them not to qualify....but they won’t last long in the WC without a huge improvement in their back line.
For the life of me, I cannot figure out what Klinsmann’s doing. Is the talent pool that bad?
The entire region looks down this cycle. Mexico is struggling, Jamaica lost 2 home matches, etc.
Should be excellent TV viewing next year with all the samba beach bunnies in Brazil next year.
I understand wanting to experiment with different players and all, but the time for that has long passed......time to solidify the roster and get them playing together.
Well, if we have to deal with that terrible field in Honduras, teams can deal with the snow here.
I agree. Time to get busy.
Mexico has the talent, but they are like England, too many egos, and they don’t play well together.
Glad to hear that the US is in “great shape” for something! If zero attends or speaks out favorably for our team we’ll lose.
We might be able to win badmitten and shuffleboard too
You know, if we played man-on-man defense all over the pitch and simply forgot about offense completely, do you think that back line could possible, I say just possibly, stay goal side of the one player they are assigned to?
We are completely flat-footed on give and goes. Balls over the middle beat us three or four times a game. “But for” the post and terrifically poor shooting on a couple of great opportunities, the score would have been 1-3 Jamaica!
Oldplayer
In the USA, soccer is a sport that is popular with illegal aliens and homosexuals.
Just a gateway to the NFL, my friend.
Well, to soccer’s credit it’s also popular with perfectly normal elementary school kids.
Having Mexico at Azteca out of the way is huge. This is certainly doable.
The defending from set pieces has been, to be kind, shocking, especially against Jamaica.
Well you’d have to be pretty bad not to qualify out of CONCACAF. But they won’t get a point in Brazil, as it stands now.
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