The United States Men's National Team return to one of their most familiar venues of all time for their final match before the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying opens next month.
With massive matches against Mexico and at Costa Rica looming, coach Jurgen Klinsmann will get one more chance to evaluate his players when the Yanks host New Zealand at historic RFK Stadium in the nation's capital. The USA are 15-3-5 all-time at United's home and have not lost there in their last 14 visits. They most recently defeated Peru last September 2-1 behind a Jozy Altidore brace.
The Kiwis might not appear the most daunting of foes. But they played Mexico tough in Nashville on Saturday – and the race for places in next month's games means the USMNT should be chomping at the bit to make an impression.
History
Tuesday's clash marks the third meeting between these two nations. They first met in the group stage of the 1999 Confederations Cup in Mexico, the US triumphing 2-1 via goals from Brian McBride and Jovan Kirovski en route to a third-place finish in that tournament.
Four years later the US defeated the “All Whites” – a nickname derived from their uniforms, in contrast to rugby's All Blacks – by the same scoreline in Richmond, Virginia, in the Yanks' final tune-up match before that year's Confederations Cup in France.
Competing for Columbus and Costa Rica
Thanks to their first-place finish in Group C of the semifinal round of CONCACAF qualifying, the US face their toughest opponents in the first two games of the Hex. First, they face Mexico at MAPFRE Stadium on Nov. 11 before visiting San Jose, Costa Rica, four days later where they are winless (0-8-1) all-time in qualifiers against Los Ticos.
Klinsmann has repeatedly urged those called to the current roster to “make their case” for a role in those crucial games, whether in training or on the field against friendly opponents Cuba and New Zealand. To that end, he sent home nine players and called in seven others (including Black-and-Red goalkeeper Bill Hamid) after Friday's 2-0 win in Havana.
“These friendly games are about getting our group ready for Mexico and Costa Rica,” said Klinsmann. “For the guys coming in, it’s a chance to prove their point. ... When it comes to roster spots for November, the fight is on.”
Big fish in a small pond
A nation with a domestic population of less than five million, known for more devotion to rugby than the round sort of football, New Zealand nonetheless manage to make some noise in the beautiful game. They've qualified for two World Cups, 1982 and 2010, and surprised the pundits by going undefeated in South Africa six years ago, holding Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia to draws – though it wasn't enough to earn them a spot in the knockout stages.
It's both a blessing and a curse that the Kiwis compete in the minnow-heavy Oceania confederation. With Australia having bolted for Asia in 2006, New Zealand always have the inside track on qualifying for major international tournaments ahead of their smaller, humbler island counterparts. But their regional competition does little to truly prepare them for global opposition, and entails long down spells between events.
That said, a cohesive team collective anchored by talents like Marco Rojas and Winston Reid could make the All Whites a tough out for the US.
North American ties
MLS has been home to several Kiwis over the years, most notably former United star Ryan Nelsen, well-traveled midfielder Simon Elliott and Columbus cult hero Duncan Oughton.
Several members of the current All Whites ply their trade in North America. San Jose Earthquakes defender Kip Colvey is in the current New Zealand squad and played more than 20 minutes against Mexico on Saturday. Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson was called in but subsequently ruled out of Tuesday's game because of “a minor groin injury,” according to the New Zealand FA.
Deklan Wynne plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps' USL team, while his fellow defender Sam Brotherton is a sophomore for the University of Wisconsin. Head coach Anthony Hudson began his managerial career in the US, with now-defunct USL side Real Maryland.
Rosters
USA
GOALKEEPERS (3): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), William Yarbrough (Club Leon, Mexico)
DEFENDERS (6): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting KC), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca, Mexico), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana, Mexico), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle, England)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana, Mexico), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland, England), Perry Kitchen (Hearts, Scotland), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Danny Williams (Reading, England)
FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Terrence Boyd (RB Leipzig, Germany), Julian Green (Bayern Munich, Germany)
NEW ZEALAND
GOALKEEPERS (3): Stefan Marinovic (SpVgg Unterhaching, Germany), Tamati Williams (RKC Waalwijk, Netherlands), Jake Gleeson (Portland Timbers FC – withdrawn due to injury).
DEFENDERS (8): Andrew Durante (Wellington Phoenix, NZ), Sam Brotherton (University of Wisconsin), Michael Boxall (SuperSport United, South Africa), Kip Colvey (San Jose Earthquakes), Themi Tzimopoulos (PAS Giannina FC, Greece), Winston Reid (West Ham United, England), Deklan Wynne (Whitecaps FC 2), Liam Graham (Chesterfield FC, England).
MIDFIELDERS (7): Clayton Lewis (Auckland City FC, NZ), Michael McGlinchey (Wellington Phoenix, NZ), Matt Ridenton (Wellington Phoenix, NZ), Te Atawhai Wihongi (Auckland City FC, NZ), Henry Cameron (Blackpool FC, England), Moses Dyer (Eastern Suburbs AFC, NZ), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle, Netherlands).
FORWARDS (5): Kosta Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix), Chris Wood (Leeds Utd, England), Monty Patterson (Ipswich Town FC, England), Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory FC, Australia), Rory Fallon (Truro City FC, England)
