Friday’s soccer news starts with the obvious. The USMNT plays Panama tonight in Orlando in another game with three crucial World Cup qualifying points on the line. Plenty of people with plenty of opinions have already let us know about the potential pitfalls and scenarios should those three points not end up with the USMNT. Should the game go the USMNT’s way, it’s business as usual for a program still righting itself after a disruptive start to the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
Or something like that. The big picture issue for the USMNT right now is that obvious one. They need to qualify for the World Cup. Once in, then the focus can shift on what kind of team the USMNT can bring to Russia this summer. That’s a different scenario than drawing a direct line from a troubled World Cup qualifying campaign to the World Cup. Call it the Mexico exception, with El Tri showing in the last tournament that qualification only tells us so much.
Pro Soccer Talk’s Kyle Bonn stresses the importance of the USMNT back line. The LA Times’ Kevin Baxter on what three points against Panama will mean for the USMNT. The Daily Breeze’s Nick Green takes a look at the pressure on Christian Pulisic. The Guardian’s Steve Brenner previews USMNT vs Panama.
American Soccer Now’s Brian Sciaretta argues that there’s a generation gap for the USMNT. CONCACAF announced that the Costa Rica vs Honduras game is now on Saturday due to weather.
AP’s Rob Harris on England’s support issue following a lackluster but successful World Cup qualifying campaign. ESPN FC’s Mark Ogden on what he calls the England apathy problem The BBC’s Dan Roan has a leaked report concerning the 2022 World Cup.
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