Ten years since last coaching the United States Men’s National team back in 2006, head coach Bruce Arena returns for his first meaningful match on the U.S. sidelines at a crucial time for U.S. Soccer.
With the U.S. sitting in last place in the competitive CONCACAF Hexagonal qualifying group for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a lot of catching up needs to be done after back-to-back losses to Costa Rica and Mexico put them in a less-than-ideal position to start qualifying.
Three points against Honduras on Friday, March 24 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, CA, could prevent a dire situation going from bad to worse as the U.S. look to grab a positive result and turn around a minus-five goal differential in the process.
Hexagonal Standings
Team |
PTS |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Costa Rica |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
+6 |
Mexico |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
+1 |
Panama |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+1 |
Honduras |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
+1 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
-4 |
USA |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
-5 |
Arena has elected to name an experienced squad to take on Los Catrachos, with a total of 19 players having previous World Cup Qualifying experience. Youth will also be present in the U.S. side, however; Arena named seven players to the team under the age of 24. “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. “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.”
The blending of youth and veteran players will be something to look for, as up-and-coming young stars such as Christian Pulisic and Jordan Morris should see the field at some point, along with the likes of veteran players such as Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, and Clint Dempsey (who returns from an irregular heartbeat that has kept him out of action since August).
With Jermaine Jones suspended for the Honduras match and injuries to key players such as winger Fabian Johnson and striker Bobby Wood, Arena’s tactics will be put to the test early on as he looks to build some consistency in the lineup he fields.
The U.S. hold a significant advantage in their history against Honduras with a 15-4-4 all time record and a strong 12-2-3 advantage playing at home. Honduras, however, should not be taken lightly, as the Central American side has qualified for the previous two World Cups (2008 and 2012) and feature an array of attacking talent that will no doubt leave the U.S. wary.
Former D.C. United midfielder Andy Najar, now playing for RSC Anderlecht in Belgium, headlines the roster for Honduras, who sit fourth in the group after following up an opening loss to Panama with a 3-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago. Many names on the roster should be familiar to the U.S. as a number of MLS players are featured, such as Sporting KC midfielder Roger Espinoza and Houston Dynamo trio Boniek Garcia, Romell Quioto, and Alberth Ellis.
Returning to the MNT with the all-time record for wins (75) and after coaching the team to the quarter finals in the 2002 World Cup, Arena hopes to capture some of his former magic and produce some much-needed positive results in his return to the fold. Following a month-long January camp for domestic players, Honduras presents the first real test since the coaching change on August 22, 2016. The team will travel to face Panama (third in the group with four points) four days later for another qualifier.
