So hopefully, in a future time, when it allows, we come back here.
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A little more than two years on from that result, the MNT played the its last match in the Send Off Series before the 2014 FIFA World Cup as Jozy Altidore scored on both sides of halftime to give the USA a 2-1 win against Nigeria on June 7, 2014. Both teams already had clinched.
Both sides came out fairly even through the first 20 minutes, with the edge going to the United States, which had put up a couple of unsafe chances.
Nonetheless, Klinsmann isn’t messing around.
“The situation is very clear”, he said. All those things are a factor in the crowd being less than we might have anticipated or in previous games.
Everything came up roses for the U.S. on Friday, but the biggest victor for the United States was Matt Besler who not only scored his first worldwide goal, but did so on the day of the birth of his first child (a daughter named Parker). All the MLS league-leader in assists had to do was push the ball into the far corner of the net, which he did easily to give the United States a 1-0 lead going into halftime. “We are fully prepared to go 100 percent full speed”. Yet, although he wasn’t among the scorers, the standout player for the US was again Christian Pulisic.
However, the USA’s 6-0 drubbing of St. Vincent and the Grenadines wasn’t enough to mathematically see them through quite yet.
There will be changes to the lineup that started against SVG: Klinsmann has to account for the absence of Matt Besler (allowed to leave the camp to be with his wife and newborn child) and DeAndre Yedlin (suspended); Michael Bradley is back from suspension, and it is hard to imagine him being left out of the starting XI. Klinsmann also announced early last week that he would rotate his goalkeepers, meaning Tim Howard will replace Brad Guzan. Michael Bradley will be coming off suspension to regain the captain’s armband.
Pulisic, who turns 18 later this month, became the youngest player to start for the U.S.in a World Cup qualifier. “I want to keep him down on the ground”.
Although advancement is, for practical purposes, locked up, the Americans do have incentive.
“Now going into hexagonal with a big chest, saying, ‘OK, let’s take on Mexico in the first game, ‘ with a lot of confidence and respect, obviously”, Klinsmann said. Its place in the six-team final round was all but sealed prior to kickoff.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s side had needed only a point to be sure of reaching the final round of qualifiers for Central America, North America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF).
They can only hope it continues against Mexico. Costa Rica is three points ahead of Panama and will host the Panamanians on Tuesday in San Jose.
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As for Kevin Molino and his countrymen, well, they also qualified for the Hex by finishing second in Group C.
