Courtesy: NY Daily News
With the break in European football comes the International fixtures, including two World Cup Qualifiers for the USA Men’s National Team. Jurgan Klinsmann has both Dempsey and Donovan fit and in the squad along with positive signs that the three goal’s against Bosnia, Jozy Altidore could also be available.
First up on Friday is Costa Rica in the Estadio Nacional and officiated by Mexican officials and, while the Group is in American hands this for me is not a must win. What do I mean by that? Well if Altidore isn’t totally fit, don’t play him. The USA have never won away to Costa Rica and so a tie would not be the end of the world. That said knowing Klinsmann, he will want to be the coach to change that. Now there is a scenario where the USA could qualify for the World Cup after this match but it would require a USA win along with a Mexico tie and Jamaica getting points. Yes that would be nice even better I think would be to clinch qualification Tuesday, on American soil, against Mexico.
I do not expect Donovan to start in both games with the bench the most likely starting spot for him in the Costa Rica game. That said, it would take a brave man to do the same come game time Tuesday. Will Donovan and Dempsey switch? I think you have to have both guys on against Mexico but this a problem Klinsmann is glad to have after years of the Men’s National Team literally picking itself.
To that Tuesday game now and this one will be officiated by Jamaican officials. This is where I think the USA should and will qualify for the 2014 World Cup. A tied game against Costa Rica followed by a 3-1 win here would certainly be enough to see us over the line.
Is it coincidence that the exact same fixture against Mexico back in Columbus almost eight years ago to the day, clinched the World Cup qualification for the 2006 World Cup with goals from Ralston and a guy still in the squad in 2013, DeMarcus Beasley. Can the same man score against the same team at the same stadium eight years on to secure the qualification? The romantics in us say yes and it is storylines like that which has us loving this sport! England recently said they were planning on winning the World Cup in 2022, I think the US has a more realistic chance of that just by the way they are progressing, and that‘s coming from an Englishman.
