It’s stick or twist time for US Soccer. There is less than a month before World Cup qualification starts yet manager Jurgen Klinsmann is looking increasingly hapless and worryingly unable to stem the raging tides of crisis.
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When the TV cameras panned towards the German and No. 2 Berti Vogts as an excellent Costa Rica side strolled to victory in New Jersey on Tuesday, the duo looked utterly helpless and totally bereft of enthusiasm.
It wasn’t the friendly defeat to Los Ticos though which had sapped the once buoyant US manager but the devastating extra-time loss to Mexico last Saturday in front of an incredible 92,000 in Pasadena which put an end to hopes of appearing in next summer’s Confederation Cup.
The warm-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia was seen as vital for the American team. There won’t be riots in England if Roy Hodgson’s men aren’t at that particular party – considering they’d need to win the Euros, it’s highly likely they will be on the beach anyway.
Yet the US, such sticklers for preparation, were desperate to be there. That their bitter rivals from Mexico helped end that particular dream made it all the more difficult to swallow.
Adding salt into the gaping wound, the U-23 attempts to qualify for the Rio Olympics hit the buffers on the same day. They face Colombia next March in a winner takes all clash following defeat to Honduras. Talk about being kicked when you’re down.
Everyone knows about the laser fast progress of soccer in these parts. MLS continues to grow, though with the serious spike in interest comes new pressures to deliver internationally. Klinsmann is being accused of a myriad of faux-pas which could be put an end to his four year tenure.
The core of the squad which reached the last 16 in Brazil is ageing with no heirs apparent in sight. Too much meddling, not knowing his best team, playing players out of position while belittling others in public and not using enough domestic talent are all accusations thrown his way.
The sight of Jozy Altidore, an honest striker who isn’t international class, fruitlessly toiling away said it all. The German will correctly counter that young stars like LA Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes haven’t produced. Sympathy however recedes with every hare-brained decision.
He was crucified earlier in the year for playing Alejandro Bedoya as a holding midfielder against Brazil despite the Nantes star normally operating as a winger. Klinsmann then had the temerity to point the finger at the player himself.
Certainly his axing of Fabian Johnson for the Costa Rica match smacked of a man under pressure, lashing out wildly to prove who’s still boss.
Johnson, the Borussia Monchengladbach defender , who ironically is the only member of the squad to play in the Champions League, was sent home following last weekend’s crushing defeat because Klinsmann thought he was faking an injury which saw him leave the field in extra-time. Fresher legs seemed like a good idea. The German, though, was furious.
“I had a very severe word with Fabian Johnson, and I sent him home,” he said. “He can rethink his approach about his team. He said he couldn’t go anymore. He just feared to possibly get an injury, but he was not injured in that moment. He got all stiffened up. It’s normal.”
Tim Howard, on Klinsmann: “We support him 100 percent. He stood by us, we stand by him.” #usmnt
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 14, 2015
Johnson was packed off back to Germany yet his club manager attempted to set the record straight.
“It’s the responsibility of the team and himself to have him subbed off,” said Andre Schubert. Make no mistake It was an extraordinary claim from Klinsmann.
Disagreements happen all of the time yet almost exclusively in the confines of the dressing room. Johnson had played 110 minutes on what was a typically sultry, sweaty Californian evening. For Johnson to be thrown under the bus spectacularly should have alarm bells ringing in the offices of association head Sunil Gulati.
The US simply cannot afford to miss out on the World Cup and although their campaign starts off next month against St. Vincent & The Grenadines, nothing can be taken for granted.
The German’s ship clearly isn’t a happy one. The critics have become more vociferous – a piece on the CBS website called for an American manager instead of an import – and it’s only going to get worse.
Yet with a lucrative deal signed in 2013 which takes him through to 2018, will Gulati bite the bullet and cost US Soccer millions of dollars in a desperate bid to plug the ever widening cracks in the camp?
NFL
There are some NFL stars who simply cannot avoid the spotlight blaring into their eyes at every given opportunity. Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel – Johnny Football to his friends – is out of rehab but never out of the headlines.
His latest brush with the law and the borders of acceptable behaviour came at the start of last week and involved a wild argument which saw his girlfriend attempt to jump out of a moving car.
Johnny Manziel pulled over after a domestic argument escalated earlier this week. Police say alcohol was involved, but he was not charged.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 16, 2015
There was, also, an admission of drinking earlier in the day which predictably went down like a lead balloon with Browns officials who are desperately trying to keep the 22-year-old on the right road after sending him for 70 days in a Pennsylvania rehab center earlier this year.
Police didn’t make any arrests, allowing the couple to leave the scene together though the warning signs are flashing once more for a player who should be doing everything to keep his nose clean.
“Colleen and I got into a dumb public argument but it probably looked more interesting than it was and I know I would stop and check if I saw a couple arguing on the side of the road. It was embarrassing,” he said. Indeed it was.
MLB
The post-season has thrown up some incredible series and fantastic storylines which have captivated the baseball world.
Certainly, the extraordinary fifth game decider between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros had enough drama and controversy to last a lifetime.
The roar which greeted Jose Bautista’s winning homer really was quite special. Yet when it comes to heartwarming tales, you need look no further than Mets manager Terry Collins.
All postseason, pretty much everything Terry Collins has done has worked perfectly. Incredible. Mets are nine outs away from a 2-0 NLCS lead
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) October 19, 2015
The 66-year-old has done the hard yards since starting coaching in Pittsburgh in 1992 and had sat through an incredible 1688 games before, finally, reaching the playoffs this season.
The dramatic win over the LA Dodgers means Collins is now one series triumph away from finding himself in the World Series.
No wonder he leapt into the arms of delirious New Yorkers on Thursday night. One fan couldn’t help himself and grabbed him close before kissing Collins smack on the cheek declaring : “I love you.”
Many in the Big Apple felt the same.
