How the U.S. men’s soccer team can clinch a World Cup berth Sunday

Within the final World Cup qualifying cycle 5 years in the past, the U.S. went into its penultimate recreation, in Orlando, Fla., needing a win over Panama to all however guarantee a spot within the match.

The Individuals received that recreation, however 4 days later they misplaced in Trinidad and Tobago, setting off a series of weird occasions that ended with the U.S. lacking the World Cup for the primary time in 32 years.

Gregg Berhalter remembers viewing that final recreation helplessly from his lounge in Columbus, Ohio.

“I used to be on my sofa watching it with a bunch of individuals,” he mentioned Saturday. “And clearly we had been disenchanted with it.”

He’ll have a greater view Sunday when, as coach of the nationwide staff, he’ll be on the sidelines because the U.S. once more performs Panama in its penultimate qualifier of this cycle with an opportunity to get again to the World Cup.

However historical past, he mentioned, received’t be on his thoughts or the minds of his gamers.

“I do know there are similarities to final time,” he mentioned “however we’re wanting ahead. I don’t suppose this can be a group that appears again. We acknowledge what occurred up to now; it’s a part of who we’re because the U.S. males’s nationwide staff.

“We’ve to forge your individual path. And tomorrow’s a great time to do it.”

They will do this Sunday as a result of a victory over Panama, mixed with a tie or loss by Costa Rica at El Salvador, would assure the U.S. a top-three spot within the CONCACAF qualifying match and a berth on this fall’s World Cup in Qatar.

Even a draw could be sufficient if fourth-place Costa Rica loses. And people are simply the straightforward situations as a result of, given the Individuals’ seven-score benefit over Costa Rica in purpose differential, even a loss to Panama wouldn’t maintain the U.S. from advancing supplied it wins its final qualifier Wednesday in Costa Rica.

That’s a state of affairs Berhalter vastly needs to keep away from, nonetheless, for the reason that U.S. is 0-9-2 in Costa Rica.

Nicely, due to that and the recollections of what occurred 5 years in the past in Trinidad, when coach Bruce Area’s staff let issues go right down to the ultimate match.

“I preach to the staff about only one recreation at a time, sticking to the method, doing the small issues, doing the process-orientated issues,” Berhalter mentioned. “It’s actually necessary to not get forward of ourselves. We are able to solely management what we are able to management.”

Defender Antonee Robinson mentioned the gamers have embraced their coach’s philosophy. However the nearer they get to a World Cup berth, the tougher it turns into to not look forward.

“The staff’s carried out a extremely good job understanding the prize that’s on the finish of it if we’re profitable. But in addition retaining our heads and retaining that one-game-at-a-time perspective,” he mentioned. “We all know that we are able to qualify tomorrow. So it’s clearly big.

“Going into it I don’t suppose a lot goes to vary mind-set-wise.”

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen agreed.

“Our focus is on getting three factors tomorrow. It’s obligatory at house,” he mentioned.

However, he added “the state of affairs we’re in, probably may qualify for the World Cup tomorrow evening on our house turf, that’s fairly particular.”

If Berhalter has had some success shaping his gamers’ psyche, he’s had solely partial management over who will get on the sector. And that’s changing into an issue.

4 starters Berhalter wished to name in for this qualifying window are absent due to damage. Two others — defender DeAndre Yedlin and ahead Tim Weah — are suspended for Sunday after choosing up yellow playing cards Thursday in Mexico. And out of doors again Reggie Cannon is unavailable after testing constructive for the coronavirus.

That leaves Shaq Moore, who wasn’t even on the unique roster for these qualifiers, as Berhalter’s best choice at proper again. And among the seven discipline gamers who performed 80 or extra minutes within the altitude of Mexico Metropolis two days in the past could also be restricted Sunday.

“You’re by no means going to have your finest staff. You’re all the time going to be lacking gamers,” Berhalter mentioned. “We’re way more intentional concerning the next-man-up mentality as a result of that’s actually what it’s.”

Lastly, there’s one other quirky little bit of historical past hovering over the U.S. that would come into play towards Panama as properly. Within the 4 earlier qualifying home windows on this World Cup cycle, the U.S. has did not win the second recreation every time, dropping twice — as soon as to Panama — and drawing twice.

Sunday’s recreation is the second on this window.

“It is a nice problem for us,” Berhalter mentioned. “Let’s win this recreation. That is the final window, final alternative to try this.”

If the U.S. does that, it will not be the one historical past that will get revised. By qualifying for the World Cup, the staff may additionally erase the frustration Berhalter felt sitting on his lounge couch 5 years in the past.