Bruce Arena leads the United States Men’s National Team into World Cup Qualifying action against Honduras in San Jose on Friday, March 24. Why is this game so important, what should you be watching for, and how can you catch the match?
After a horrendous start to their 2018 World Cup Qualifying campaign, the USMNT parted way with manager Jurgen Klinsmann and hit the reset button in preparation for the critical upcoming games in hopes of making an eight straight World Cup appearance. Here are a few things to keep in mind ahead of the match this week against Honduras.
Out with the old, in with the older.
Parting ways with Klinsmann was no doubt a needed change for the US side. But once that decision was made, many wondered if a competent replacement could be found in the middle of the qualifying cycle. Enter a familiar face.
Bruce Arena was brought back for a second round of managing the team, in part, because he brings a level of experience and stability. Arena also possesses a familiarity with many of the US players through both his previous stint with the team and his time spent in Major League Soccer.
What was old has been made new again, and in many ways this was exactly the change that US Soccer needed in this moment. It is a step away from a system and a manager that was not working to one that can breathe confidence into the players.
The focus is on winning.
There is no doubt that this team is in a tight spot. They currently sit at the bottom of the table with 0 points and a -5 goal differential. Many fans will simply take it for granted that the US will qualify for the World Cup, but it may not be that easy.
In the history of the hexagonal, only one team has come back to qualify from the position the US find themselves in. That team was Trinidad and Tobago in 2006, and they had to win a playoff match to make it in.
With CONCACAF only being guaranteed three spots in the World Cup, the US has some work to do. With eight games remaining in their qualifying schedule, the USMNT has the opportunity to earn as many as 24 points still. Looking at history, the magic number of points is 17, as no team with 17 points has ever missed the World Cup.
The team has to win at least five of their eight remaining games to get to that number. With a trip to Mexico in June, and a game at home in September against a Costa Rica team who blanked the US 4-0 in November, the team needs as many points as they can get in these upcoming matches.
The time is near. The objective is clear: #Get3.#USAvHON, Presented by @VolpiFoods1902, coming at you tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/E5Uibad9gl
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 23, 2017
Experience and known quantities prioritized over talent.
While Bruce Arena brought in a ton of young talent to the January camp, his roster for this round of qualifying is focused heavily on veteran experience. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the inclusion of DaMarcus Beasley, who many thought may retire following last year’s MLS season.
But the roster has taken some hits since being announced a few weeks ago. Key injuries have forced the inclusion of some less exciting names heading into these two games. Arena knows the pressure that is on him to get this team into the World Cup. He knows that he probably needs at least four points out of these two matches.
All of that has contributed to him playing it safe with this roster in hopes of achieving the expected results. Don’t expect these games to be all that exciting to watch. Arena is not focused on being entertaining this week. He is simply focused on taking the lowest risk to achieve victory.
Next: USMNT: Predicting the Starting Line-up against Honduras
How to Watch:
The USMNT will host Honduras in World Cup Qualifying on Friday, March 24, at 10:30 pm ET. The match can be seen on FS1, UniMas, and UDN.