The game, which will be played in San Jose, marks Bruce Arena’s first game back in charge of the U.S. Arena previously managed the United States during the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and he was brought back to guide the team to Russian Federation for the 2018 World Cup after Jurgen Klinsmann was sacked a year ago.
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If the Costa Rica loss last November was the pinnacle of that anxiety, Friday’s 6-0 thrashing of Honduras in Bruce Arena’s first World Cup qualifier since 2005 was the release valve. The project starts tonight with a crucial matchup on home soil against a stout opponent.
Included in Arenas original 23 was midfielder Jermaine Jones, suspended from the Honduras match for yellow cards, but who has become an apparent Arena favorite and a sure starter against Panama.
Honduras, meanwhile, will host Costa Rica at Estadio Francisco Morazan in San Pedro Sula, kicking off at 4:05 p.m. CT Tuesday.
In all likelihood, the United States will get the results they need. Jorge Luis Pinto will count with a strong domestic presence on the team but will also have three players who play in Europe in Emilio Izaguirre, Andy Najar and Anthony Lozano.
That said, the United States have more than enough depth to cover for the losses and have no fewer than 19 MLS players in the squad. US mens coach Bruce Arena will certainly have to field a squad that is quite different from the one he originally contemplated hwne he recently took over the job.
Finding room to maneuver in a central midfield role, Pulisic made it 4-0 just 12 seconds into the second half with his fourth worldwide goal, Dempsey rounded the keeper to score following a Pulisic feed in the 49th, and Dempsey got another on a 23-yard free kick in the 54th.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard started the past two World Cups. Lletget hurt his left ankle on Ever Alvarado’s tackle and was replaced in the 18th minute, and defender John Brooks was stretchered off the field, hand over his face, in the 69th due to dehydration.
Even so, Arena has hailed the quality at his disposal and a squad that he feels is capable of winning matches in this qualifying process. Even Michael Bradley will be 30. That leaves one of Sebastian Lletget and Darlington Nagbe to take the last starting spot. The omission of the budding star Christian Pulisic would raise eyebrows, as would a decision to sit Jordan Morris as a running mate up top with Jozy Altidore. The Americans have also had to scrape by on a late goal. Pulisic has been the darling of the Bundesliga with his dribbling prowess and numerous take-ons and he will need to make something happen. All of them should be fresh as we’re only three weeks into the regular season and that could prove to be a major boost on the night. And in all the other competitive matches, it was the Americans who came out the victors. Christian Pulisic is guaranteed to be in the lineup, as is Bradley.
If the United States of America is tied or trailing in the second half, Arena has to nail his substitutions and go for broke. To fill out his roster, Arena called in Graham Zusi, Sacha Kljestan and Chris Wondolowski. Maybe it’s Kellyn Acosta.
Lletget, a 24-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder, was born in nearby San Francisco and grew up in the San Jose area. In its first qualifier since 2005 under Bruce Arena, it posted one of its most one-side victories.
In the 27th minute the U.S. doubled their lead when Bradley skipped clear of the Honduras defence before aiming an angled shot into the bottom corner for his 16th worldwide goal on his 129th appearance.
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Dempsey had been out of the national team picture for months after a heart issue discovered last August threatened his playing career. It’s about finding a way.
