ASN: Prediction Time: 25 Names for the October Qualifiers

After securing only one level out of a doable six in September, the USA males’s nationwide staff’s World Cup aspirations will likely be in play throughout October qualifiers in opposition to Panama and Trinidad & Tobago.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
September 13, 2017
8:00 AM

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BRUCE ARENA NEEDS TO GET IT RIGHT. The 2 World Cup qualifiers subsequent month—at house in opposition to Panama on October 6 and on the street in opposition to Trinidad & Tobago 4 days later—are must-win video games and signify a very powerful matches since Enviornment re-claimed the reins of the U.S. males’s nationwide staff.

Whereas disappointment over the past two matches lingers, it is value noting that Costa Rica is an excellent staff in the course of a golden era. That is why the Ticos superior to the quarterfinals of the World Cup three years in the past. Additionally, a draw on the street in Honduras has by no means been thought of a poor Hexagonal consequence both.

In fact the U.S. ought to anticipate to win all house qualifiers and failure to take action will all the time disappoint followers. However a bit of historical past lesson is so as. The U.S. has flirted with qualifying disasters a number of instances over the previous few a long time.

In 2000, the USA was nearly bounced from 2002 World Cup qualifying within the semifinal spherical. It wanted a win in opposition to Barbados on the ultimate day of the group stage, on November 15, and that recreation remained scoreless till Clint Mathis scored within the 63rd minute—one of many extra underrated objectives in U.S. Soccer historical past. The U.S. was remarkably shaky that complete group solely managing to win one contest exterior of the Barbados video games.

The next 12 months within the Hexagonal, the USA suffered by means of a three-game shedding streaking, together with a 3-2 loss at house to Honduras. Within the second-to-last spherical, it took an inexplicable house loss by Honduras by the hands of Trinidad & Tobago to make qualifying a actuality for the U.S. (American followers ought to nonetheless be pleased about Stern John).

Regardless of rocky instances in each the semifinal and closing rounds of qualifying, Bruce Enviornment constructed a really strong staff for the 2002 World Cup. On the flip facet, the U.S. eased into qualifying for the 2006 event when it locked up a berth with 4 video games to spare. Together with an inflated prime 5 spot within the FIFA rankings, that created false optimism across the staff forward and led to a poor World Cup.

Ultimately, there was extraordinarily little correlation between World Cup qualifying performances and the way the squad does within the World Cup. The pessimism surrounding the U.S. males’s nationwide staff based mostly on its World Cup qualifying marketing campaign will not be utterly warranted neither is the drive to overtake the roster. Ultimately, if the staff crosses the end line, it might very nicely be positive.

That mentioned, crossing the end line received’t be simple. What sort of staff will Bruce Enviornment take for the ultimate two video games? Right here is my predicted 25-man roster.

Goalkeepers

1. Tim Howard2. Brad Guzan3. Nick RimandoIn the combination: Ethan Horvath, Luis Robles, Invoice Hamid, Jesse Gonzalez

The one debate right here is who Enviornment takes because the third goalkeeper. There are some attention-grabbing younger keepers on the market like Ethan Horvath and Jesse Gonzalez however Enviornment appears to choose expertise together with his third keeper. That is smart. If the third keeper truly sees the sector, one thing has gone horribly improper and a veteran presence may help be a relaxing drive. That’s the reason Enviornment took Tony Meola to the World Cup in 2002—over a promising teenager named Tim Howard.

Defenders

4. DeAndre Yedlin5. Graham Zusi6. Timothy Chandler7. Geoff Cameron8. Matt Besler9. Matt Miazga10. Tim Ream11. Omar Gonzalez12. Jorge Villafana13. Fabian JohnsonIn the combination: Matt Hedges, DaMarcus Beasley, Eric Lichaj, Walker Zimmerman, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Gregory Garza, Michael Orozco, Justin Morrow. Injured: John Brooks

That is the largest space of concern for the People. BArena wants to seek out stability right here and give you a mixture that works. A wholesome DeAndre Yedlin will go a good distance towards solidfying the backline and his return is on the prime of the staff’s wishlist.

As dangerous as Graham Zusi’s performances had been in September, it is laborious to see him going from beginning the final 4 significant video games to getting utterly dropped. However that does open the door for Timothy Chandler, nevertheless to lastly get a glance. The backup proper again job is open and Eric Lichaj, benched at Nottingham Forest and unable to crack the lineup behind Zusi, hasn’t boosted his case.

Central protection has been poor and there don’t look like any gamers able to step up and declare a spot. Maybe Cameron Carter-Vickers can show himself whereas on mortgage with Sheffield United, or Walker Zimmerman will crawl again into the combination. However as of proper now it appears too early for each.

Matt Besler confirmed nicely and Geoff Cameron rebounded properly in opposition to Honduras after a poor Costa Rica recreation. These two are the very best choices to start out and Cameron ought to be again for the October qualifiers after struggling a hamstring harm over the weekend. Omar Gonzalez and Tim Ream struggled however each had good video games over the summer season. Whereas this previous month would possibly relegate each to the bench, it shouldn’t bounce them from the staff altogether—particularly if Enviornment needs to go together with a five-man backline. And if Enviornment elects to convey a fifth central defender, it would come all the way down to Matt Hedges or Matt Miazga—whicever secures extra taking part in time over the subsequent two weeks.

Left again can also be very attention-grabbing. The sport in opposition to Honduras confirmed that DaMarcus Beasley won’t have any worldwide video games left in his legs. However it’s value noting that when Beasley appeared injured early in opposition to Honduras, each Jorge Villafana and Fabian Johnson started warming up. Johnson has supplied little or no the previous 12 months within the midfield for the U.S.; a return to left again could be on deck.

Midfielders

14. Michael Bradley15. Danny Williams16. Kellyn Acosta17. Darlington Nagbe18. Christian Pulisic19. Alejandro Bedoya20. Paul Arriola21. Cristian RoldanIn the combination: Dax McCarty, Jermaine Jones, Kelyn Rowe, Alfredo Morales, Joe Corona, Sacha Kljestan, Gyasi Zardes. Injured: Kenny Saief, Sebastien Lletget

It is laborious to see many adjustments on this space of the sector regardless of gamers struggling the previous two video games. Fabian Johnson supplied nothing in opposition to Costa Rica and could be greatest deployed as a defender. The true check will likely be discovering a technique to convey out the very best in Darlington Nagbe and placing Christian Pulisic ready the place he can shine (and keep away from brutal tackles).

Kellyn Acosta, Paul Arriola, and Cristian Roldan are works in progress however all three are youngish and will have a pleasant upside. Arriola brings wanted tempo on the wings and Acosta has been up and down however nonetheless seems proficient sufficient for this degree.

The one change proper now could possibly be Danny Williams in for Dax McCarty. Enviornment mentioned over the previous week that he’s excited by giving Williams a glance whereas McCarty hasn’t been capable of see the sector regardless of call-ups all year long.

Forwards

22. Bobby Wood23. Jozy Altidore24. Clint Dempsey25. Juan AgudeloIn the combination: Dom Dwyer, Chris Wondolowski. Injured: Jordan Morris

This space of the sector had appeared quite settled till Jordan Morris picked up a probably severe hamstring harm on Sunday that jeopardizes the remainder of his 2017. The Seattle Sounders ahead awaits the outcomes of an MRI however his involvement subsequent month appears unlikely and that may be a important blow to the nationwide staff. Morris may need been the fourth ahead however he was necessary as a result of he introduced a uncommon aspect of velocity to the place. Who replaces Morris will likely be a troublesome name however for now we’re going with Agudelo though it will not be stunning if Wondolowski joins as nicely. 

Outlook

I envision a tweaked roster for the October video games, however not a whole overhaul. Crucial addition can be getting Yedlin again, which might convey stability to a backline that wants it. The opposite additions—Williams and Chandler—make sense as a result of if both or each can slot in with the staff, they may see meaningul minutes.

Improved efficiency for the staff will principally come from gamers who’ve been a part of the staff for many of 2017 and Enviornment’s process is to place these gamers in a system that is smart. It has been a rocky street thus far, however the U.S. nationwide staff continues to be favored to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia—and it ought to.