Bruce Arena during a USMNT practice: will he coach them to victory?
Photo by: John Todd
This is the first time since 2002 that the USMNT has been in danger of not qualifying for the world cup. After USA lost their first two matches of the final round of the World Cup qualifiers last November, the team said goodbye to head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and brought on Bruce Arena, hoping he could change the tides for the team.
The USMNT have two massively important matches coming up, the first being against Honduras on March 24th, and the next being against Panama on March 28th.They need at least four points coming out of these games, preferably six. The crucial matches will seal the fate of the USMNT, and Arena has just announced the 24-men on the roster who will take on these two teams in the coming weeks.
“We put together a roster that we think has balance and one that gives us an option in playing a number of different ways,” Arena said in a press release. He continued stating that “it’s a roster where the primary rationale is to help us be successful in these two games, but we’re also looking down the road and bringing in some young players that we think have an opportunity to be an important part of the National Team program as well. Our approach to these games is simple: we want to win.”
The roster boasts a lot veterans who have a surplus of experience, like Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, and Marcus Beasley who has already played in 4 World Cups. However, with many older players, several of whom have just recently recovered from injury, does the USMNT have enough speed and new talent to make it through?
The USMNT match against Honduras will be March 24th at 7:30 p.m. on FS1.
Tim Howard was a standout in the 2014 World Cup, however he has only been back playing for a week since he suffered a groan injury in November.
Photo by: John Dorton
Photos courtesy of ISI
