Garrick
Awesome, lid.
Well that went better than expected.
The glorious USMNMNMNMNT decided to show up for the first time in… A while, and with that 4-0 thumpin’ of Costa Rica puts us in the driver’s seat for knockout qualification. Let’s run down the scenarios quick.
A win ensures qualification as at least the runner up. It is technically possible to still win the group if Costa Rica win and the goal differential is made up on Colombia.
A draw ensures qualification as runner up with a Costa Rica/Colombia draw, a Colombia win, or even most reasonable Costa Rica wins (They’d have to beat Colombia by 6 goals).
A loss and we’re out.
Easy enough yet. Get a result against CONMEBOL Honduras and we’re in. Except, Honduras’ing against South American giants is a different prospect than Honduras’ing against CONCACAF foes. It’d be easy and cheap to label Los Guaraníes as a physical bunch that’ll grind you down to get a result, but there’s more talent there than meets the eye, if Victor Ayala’s wonderstrike vs Colombia is any indication.
They outplayed Colombia in the second half of their match, and dominated two thirds of the pitch vs Costa Rica. Perhaps they were unlucky to not get better results, but after a certain point “unlucky” turns into “lack of a good offense,” and we’ll see which way the Paraguayans are trending later tonight.
Enough about landlocked South Americans though, onto nations with blue-water navies and copious amounts of FREEDOM.
A stunning display against Costa Rica gives us all, once again, the hope that perhaps Klinsmann’s US side is coming together. Funnily enough, it came after Jürgen decided for the first time in years to use the same XI in consecutive games. That doesn’t tell the whole story though, as the offense really only started clicking after the side switched to a 4-4-2 with Bedoya on the wing and Dempsey second striking for Wood.
There’s a distinct possibility though that Klinsmann won’t be able to use the same lineup a third time, as Dempsey picked up a knock midweek and his current condition is unknown. Moreover, Bedoya and Zardes have had a lackluster tournament so far and it’s getting increasingly hard to justify them in the lineup with Zusi and Pulisic waiting on the bench.
Everything’s calmer now, but the business ain’t done just yet. Underdogs vs Colombia, favorites vs Costa Rica, this one’s rated as even. Thankfully we’re in pole position, and therefore cautious optimism is permitted.
For now.
THE YANKS ARE COMING.
