World Cup spot beckons for USMNT against Panama
The USMNT face Panama in Orlando on Friday night in an all but must-win match if they are to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Bruce Arena was supposed to be a calming presence for the USMNT following the dismissal in November 2016 of Jurgen Klinsmann, whose final act as manager of the national team was to lead them to two losses in their first two matches of World Cup qualifying, leaving them with a big hill to climb in the Hex.
But while Arena has the U.S. on the brink of World Cup qualification with two matches to go in the group, things are anything but comfortable. The U.S. are fourth in the standings, a point behind third-place Panama, who they play Friday night in Orlando in a match that will go a long way to deciding who qualifies automatically for Russia 2018 and who goes to the playoff round.
Can they do it?
Recent meetings between the USMNT and Panama
This will be the second time these two sides have played each other in four months, with the first coming in the Gold Cup group stage in July, a match which ended in a 1-1 draw. The result was a mirror image of the first World Cup qualifying match between the two sides in March, even if the starting XI in the Gold Cup contest had been heavily rotated.
The U.S. were favorites going into both games, but Panama have proved to be stubborn opponents. In March, they outshot the U.S. 19-7, and had 54 percent possession. While USMNT legend Clint Dempsey struck first, the lead was short-lived as Gabriel Enrique Gomez brought Panama level just four minutes later.
The USMNT have an 11-1-6 (W-L-D) all-time record against Panama heading into Friday’s match, which reflects their superior quality. However, recent results between the two sides make it clear this is anything but a formality for the U.S.
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USMNT roster
Arena’s roster selection raised some unexpected questions. The most striking was why he decided to leave out Fabian Johnson. Johnson hasn’t been at his best in recent USMNT starts, and hasn’t been playing regularly for Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga, but he brings a sense of composure to the squad and is able to play in a variety of positions.
Johnson may not be in Arena’s starting XI, fair enough, but it’s hard to see how some of the other call-ups — Chris Wondolowski and a Benny Feilhaber in so-so form in MLS (not to mention Gyasi Zardes, who withdrew from the squad with an injury) — it’s hard to see how these guys offer more value in a non-starting role than Johnson.
The defense is also a concern, so much so that some have even speculated Arena will revert to the back five he used against Mexico in June. DeAndre Yedlin’s return from injury should strengthen the right-back/right wing-back position, while Jorge Villafana, for better or worse, appears to be the long-term option on the left side of defense.
But which combination of Omar Gonzalez, Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler and even Tim Ream Arena uses in the middle is probably the biggest personnel question leading into the match. It’s been an ugly qualifying process for USMNT defenders (and goalies), and the spotlight will be firmly focused on the back come kickoff on Friday.
Still, despite these questions, we’re likely to see a very familiar starting XI, especially in midfield and attack. Michael Bradley, Christian Pulisic, Darlington Nagbe, Jozy Altidore all feel like locks to start, while Bobby Wood and Kellyn Acosta seem likely to join them. These players haven’t always covered themselves in glory during the Hex, but they’ve been in difficult spots before and have shown the ability to perform under pressure.
Matches don’t get more high-pressure than this.
The World Cup beckons
Arena hasn’t quite been the safety net he was supposed to be, but the U.S. still have their fate in their own hands. If they win, they’ll still need to do the business against Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday, but that should be an easier test. There’s reason to worry, but not to panic.
The USMNT are a stronger team than Panama, and while recent matches between the two sides have been frustrating for U.S. fans, this one feels a little different. It’s at home (and unlike the Gold Cup game, the first-choice starters will be starting), and the stakes are pretty much as high as they can be in a World Cup qualifier.
A U.S. loss is unthinkable, and could lead them to fall behind Honduras and into fifth place in the Hex — out of the World Cup. A draw would be bad, but not a death sentence, especially with their final match coming against Trinidad & Tobago, the weakest team in group.
But the USMNT won’t be thinking about these scenarios now. In the words of the already-tiresome hashtag, the goal is simple: #GetThree.