However, the early tumble last fall under Jurgen Klinsmann left the U.S. team needing to make up ground this month. [FIFA suspends Lionel Messi for four World Cup qualifiers]The next U.S. qualifiers come in June: home against last-place Trinidad and Tobago, whom the Americans should defeat, and away against unbeaten Mexico, whom the Americans should not defeat. It’s going to be a battle for the second, third and fourth spots.”The Americans are among seven teams globally to compete in every World Cup since 1990. To get there this time, they will have to continue winning at home — on Friday, they routed 2014 World Cup entry Honduras, 6-0 — and pick up a few points on the road. Probably in club play your players are a little more protected than they are in World Cup qualifying.

Source: Washington Post March 29, 2017 09:47 UTC