Klinsmann did receive backing from US Soccer president Sunil Gulati after the US’s subpar performance this summer, but a vote of confidence more often than not comes before a fall. Wouldn’t you rather they spent that money on youth development, or lowered ticket prices, or paid more than 24 female players a living wage?
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The USA men’s national soccer team has an important match in a sold-out venue Saturday night.
More generally, there are not a lot of young Americans, or Americans for that matter, Klinsmann has to pick from in MLS. Those are available only in the rare competitive matchup.
A reported 27 people were arrested at that game, most on suspicion of public intoxication or fighting in the parking lots and areas outside the stadium. Moreover, there weren’t many teams who could go to the Azteca and draw, much less win.
“It’s more intense for them”. Pressing well and then taking their chances on the break, Mexico deservedly held a 2-0 lead before the brilliance of Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero clawed Argentina level late on.
Mexico won the 2015 Gold Cup. So too did friendlies in 2000, 2007 and the last time they met in April. In the most recent Gold Cup, Jamaica upset the U.S.in the semifinals.
Orozco and Co. host Gold Cup champions Mexico at Rose Bowl in California on Saturday, with a spot at the Confederations Cup in Russian Federation up for grabs.
His midfield options are also plentiful, though it could boil down simply to the presence of one player-Kyle Beckerman.
After Mexican fans dominated the Rose Bowl four years ago, CONCACAF carefully crafted the crowd this year to yield as close to a 50-50 split as possible. The tournament is staged at the sites of the next World Cup the summer before, which gives the teams advance knowledge of playing conditions for the upcoming tournament.
The United States will win if… With a little luck, the red, white, and blue could make a run similar to 2009, when they beat world no. 1 Spain in the semis and almost took down Brazil in the final.
USA goalkeeper and New Jersey native Tim Howard said Mexico is “pissed” because of the American dominance lately. Nobody knows how the Mexico game will unfold, but at a few point Klinsmann’s hand will be forced.
“Dos a cero” – which translates to “two to zero” – has become the US rallying cry and taunt of choice against Mexico. Why?
As if a trip to the Confederations Cup wasn’t enough pressure for the CONCACAF playoff, the embattled USMNT head coach now has to deal with criticism from Landon Donovan.
USMNT should be the best team in CONCACAF – especially at the moment, with Mexico in disarray on and off the field – and a victory in this game would be a step in the right direction for Klinsmann’s under-performing team. A 4-1 capitulation against Brazil at Gillette Stadium last month offered no signs of encouragement. Critics see in Klinsmann a lack of accountability for the team’s failures and a reluctance to use players that could help the USA attack, specifically playmakers like Benny Feilhaber and Sacha Kljestan.
Donovan has been critical of Klinsmann since he was controversially left off the 2014 World Cup roster, and told ESPN FC that Klinsmann should be held to the standard he sets for players.
“That will play a big, big role in the way the fan base is going to react on the day of the game”, said CONCACAF spokesman Jurgen Mainka.
“We had a very poor summer with bad results in the Gold Cup”, Donovan said. “Anywhere else in the world, if this coach had those results, and they lose this game against Mexico, they’d be fired”.
In Mexico’s case, they are without a permanent coach. Not to mention a multi-million dollar contract through 2018. He thinks Jurgen Klinsmann should lose his job if the USMNT doesn’t win. Andres Guardado opened the scoring for Mexico right before halftime. Mexico doesn’t have a full-time manager, as Tigres coach Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti is overseeing the proceedings this weekend until Juan Carlos Osorio arrives to take over until he’s inevitably fired before the next World Cup.
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The playoff match between the United States and Mexico will be on Saturday, October 10, at 9 p.m. EST.
