1) Christian Pulisic should start against Mexico
Head coach Jürgen Klinsmann has friendlies against Cuba and New Zealand in October to fine-tune his line-up for the first Hexagonal game at home to Mexico in November, but it will be hard to leave out Pulisic for the showpiece 2018 World Cup qualifier based on his performances against Trinidad & Tobago, and St Vincent & the Grenadines.
It’s not only his pacy, direct running but his speed of thought that impresses, and makes him seem far older than his 17 years (he’s 18 in eleven days). Allied with solid technique, he has already shown he can score chances and create them. In his first international start he was not merely comfortable against Trinidad & Tobago – he was the best player on the pitch.
True, SVG and T&T are hardly upper-tier opposition, but there’s every reason to think that Pulisic could impress against tougher teams. He has the fearlessness that Klinsmann craves. The Borussia Dortmund man/boy also worked well with Fabian Johnson, which may reassure Klinsmann that he can continue to use the 28-year-old at the problem position of left back without entirely blunting his valuable attacking instincts.
For consequential matches, Klinsmann has adopted a safety-first approach, preferring to pick what he believes is his best XI rather than opting to give his greenhorns work experience that would prove valuable down the line. While Pulisic is young enough to get excited about going to see Justin Bieber in concert, he’s also unquestionably one of the US’s top 11 players. That, rather than fretting about whether Pulisic can handle the hype, should be the main guiding factor for Klinsmann when he selects his line-ups for the coming matches.
2) Mixed results up front
Jozy Altidore scored twice, and his first was a goal of some craftsmanship. Especially with Clint Dempsey absent because of tests for an irregular heartbeat, Altidore’s contribution was welcome – and his strikes saw him break Dempsey’s all-time record for most USMNT World Cup qualifying goals, which had stood at 14. After he missed the Copa America Centenario through injury, it’s easy to forget the key role the Toronto FC striker played for the US in the last Hex.
Though he developed a good understanding with Pulisic, Altidore’s partnership up front with Bobby Wood had all the chemistry of a busted Bunsen burner. It was jarring to see Wood looking ineffective, after his strong Copa, since T&T were defensively weak and because he worked well enough with Altidore against SVG only last week. Jordan Morris replaced him off the bench on Tuesday and was bright; along with Gyasi Zardes, Klinsmann has decent options in attack - if he can fit the puzzle pieces together.
3) Sacha Kljestan’s renaissance continues
Like many of his team-mates, Kljestan took a while to get going. When he did, scoring an opportunistic opening goal and looking lively in the second half, he underlined that his excellent club form with the New York Red Bulls has carried over to his unexpected return to the national team. Rewarded with a start following a notable cameo in St Vincent last Friday, against T&T he outshone his fellow midfielders, Michael Bradley and Alejandro Bedoya, who had little impact. And his combination play with Pulisic was one reason why the teenager looked so good in the past two fixtures.
Kljestan was not even on the 40-man preliminary roster for June’s Copa. Now, aged 30, is he ready to replicate his consistently good MLS performances at international level for a sustained period? And will Klinsmann give him the chance once Jermaine Jones is back from injury?
4) Who’s in goal?
The meeting with the hapless Vincy Heat or the clash with T&T – knowing that the US had (barring a miracle) already secured a berth in the Hexagonal qualification stage – might have seemed good opportunities to blood third-choice goalkeeper Ethan Horvath. The 21-year-old, who plays for Molde in Norway, has yet to win a senior international cap. Instead, we’re left wondering who the preferred goalkeeper is, after Tim Howard played on Tuesday while Brad Guzan was between the posts last Friday. This in a position where it’s normally considered optimal to have a clear first choice, especially behind a back four that has been chopped and changed.
5) Familiarity breeds victory
#TheHex schedule is set for the #USMNT. First up: #USAvMEX at home on Nov. 11. #RoadToRussia pic.twitter.com/F0jHgBBX6s
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) September 7, 2016
It’s been 30 years since the last World Cup without the US. Still, the US Soccer Federation is leaving nothing to chance. Finishing first in Group C means that the Americans’ opening Hex fixture is at home to Mexico, the other Concacaf powerhouse. According to reports, the game will take place in Columbus on 11 November, three days after the presidential election. Ohio may be a political swing state, but it’s safely red, white and blue when the US face Mexico: dating back to 2001, the US have played their rivals in four World Cup qualifiers at the home of the Crew and won each, 2-0.
It’s especially important to get off to a good start since what is likely to be the second-toughest road game, Costa Rica, follows only four days later, so a bad week would leave Klinsmann’s side playing catch-up. Mexico host the US on 13 June.
