Hostile environments are par for the course in the CONCACAF region of international soccer. Mexico and Central America are notoriously difficult places to play for visitors, who often leave less than happy with the match result.
The psychological edge given to the home sides by those environments seems massive when "giants" like the United States can't seem to leverage their superior talent into victories.
Costa Rica's Estadio Saprissa in San Jose is a notoriously difficult place for the Americans, and it looms large for Wednesday's qualifier. So here's the question:
Will Wednesday night be the breakthrough in Costa Rica?
The bottom line is that it should be. There is absolutely no reason that the top team in CONCACAF and fifteenth ranked nation in the world (for what that's worth) shouldn't come out of Costa Rica, regardless of environment or history, with a win.
When will the US get over the built-in excuse that it's hard to win at Estadio Saprissa? When does their superior skill and better team makeup takeover and result in wins? Are we there now, or will it continue to be an issue in World Cup cycles to come?
I'm cautiously optimistic about Wednesday. While I'm sure we'll see a conservative approach from Bob Bradley, and it's hard to argue against it, there should be enough in the attack to score goals. The issue then, is keeping down Costa Rica, a job that falls squarely to the US back line.
The make up of that back line is still to be determined. The center pair are as certain as anything can be, with Bocanegra and Onyewu both healthy and on good form. The fullback situation is a slightly different story; the DMB at left back experiment may or may not continue, as his lack of experience at the position makes putting him there an iffy proposition.
This is a game that the United States absolutely should win. Costa Rica will be motivated, the atmosphere will be electric and hostile, and conventional wisdom has things not going the Americans way.
But if this team, and the program as a whole, is going to take the next step, a win is the order of the day. No more excuses, no more wilting under the Central American pressure. Step up and play that way you're supposed to, taking apart an inferior team (because that's what they are) on the road. That's what the best footballing nations in the world do, and the United States is doomed to a be a middling power if they can't get over this hump.
The to-do list for the US Men's National Team looks like this:
1. Qualify for the World Cup
2. Put in a good showing at the Confederations Cup
3. Develop contributors ahead of 2010
Number one on the list isn't too difficult these days. Qualification, while not exactly a foregone conclusion, is made all the easier by the lack of depth in the CONCACAF region. Because of that fact, games like Wednesday's against Costa Rica on the road naturally carry less significance; while I'm not suggesting that Bradley and the team don't want to win, it's very possible that the players will be without the sense of urgency necessary to win.
It's my contention that, almost-a-sure-thing qualification or not, games like Wednesday's should be treated as must wins at any cost. Show the region and the world that the United States isn't just a giant on home soil in comfortable confines, build up road confidence in young players who will need it when competitions abroad come around, and put to rest the idea that the United States is a paper tiger.
No more patience. Win the damn game.
Let's hope it happens.
A few thoughts on Bob Bradley's stewardship and the gauntlet of the next month coming soon.
