Writeup for the WC 2018 US soccer team:
US Men’s Soccer Team in Must-Win WCQ
The United States men’s soccer team is in for a fight, if the team want to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. We are about a year away from the big event, and the US has six more qualifying matches left to punch its ticket to the big dance.
FIFA world cup russia 2018
FIFA world cup russia 2018
The Road to Russia
The team doesn’t have an easy route to the World Cup finals and must play Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico (away), Costa Rica, Honduras (away), Panama and Trinidad and Tobago (away) if the team is going to make its eighth straight World Cup finals.
The only problem is, the US hasn’t been great in World Cup qualifying and currently sit fourth in the CONCACAF standings. The top three places qualify automatically for the finals, but fourth place must face off with the fifth place team from the Asian Football Confederation in a life or death playoff. Failure for the US to make the World Cup would not only set the national team back greatly, but it would damage some of the growth soccer has enjoyed in the country.
The Good and Bad
The bad news heading into this week’s qualifying games (June 8th and June 11th) is the team has only won once since the current ‘hex’ round of games started. That win came in March as the US destroyed Honduras 6-0. The Good news is, since November 2016, the team has had a new coach in charge of the national team – Bruce Arena.
Jurgen Klinsmann, so long desired by American soccer fans to take over the team, failed miserably as US coach. Arena was given the job for a second time, and so far he has gotten the team playing far better soccer. The honeymoon period is over, however. Arena needs to get the best out of his team this week. The Trinidad and Tobago match shouldn’t give the team much trouble, they are playing in the US, although both teams have one win apiece. The Mexico game will be the tricky affair as the Yanks travel to Mexico, an impenetrable fortress anytime the Americans go south of the border.
Who to Watch?
The US has a sleek, young attacking midfielder that is destined to be the top American star for some time to come. Christian Pulisic is only 18-years-old, but he is the only American player playing at the highest level in Europe. He has already played in the Champions League with club team Borussia Dortmund, and in the 2017-18 season, tasted silverware as the club won the German Cup. In 14 games international matches, he has tallied five goals, and is the present and future of the US team.
Can the US Qualify?
The simple answer is yes, the US can qualify. The team has better players than nearly all of the other teams it will play in qualification. Mexico has slightly better players at most position, while Costa Rica is a bit more evenly matched with the Americans. However, whenever a team plays the US, there is plenty of incentive to beat the Yanks and every player turns it up a notched. In addition, with the improved play of North America’s Major League Soccer, the quality of players from the smaller North American countries has improved.
The biggest problem so far, and under Klinsmann’s debacle of a reign, was the USA’s continued underperformance. Players like Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley have been in the team for quite a while and seem stale. They haven’t performed to a high degree since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Odds on Favorites
The US is 1/9 favorites to beat Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, which would be of little shock. But it is best not to count out the islanders. Although a US loss isn’t likely, the team should get through and really need all three points. The Mexico game is a different proposition, and no matter what happens on Thursday, the US will be the underdogs in Mexico City three days later.
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