I'd like to throw this out to the board - It seems to me that Klinsman is everything we could have hoped for as head coach for the USMNT. He's changed the culture and style of the team for the better. They attack. He doesn't play favorites, he gives everyone a chance. "Stars" can't rest on their laurels, they have to work and produce to get PT. The players have responded in kind. Guys I have never heard of come in and contribute. It's exciting. Even though the team is through to the next round we will see their best effort tomorrow because the coach will insist upon it.
There are a lot of factors in play. There is a greater presence of soccer on television recently than ever before in the U.S. Greater television exposure snowballs into greater interest, and there are many, many, many millions of immigrant populations of people in the USA, for whom soccer is their primary sport.
Tonight, the USA men's national soccer team has a chance to do something it's never done before, and that is win 8 straight international matches. I hope to see it happen, and I hope that we continue to see the winning.
Winning and television exposure - a very powerful combination. Klinsmann, deserves a ton of credit, for generating the kind of play that it takes. It also helps that Low (klinsmann's protégé) agreed to serve up a sacrificial lamb of a roster for the USA to begin this ride this year, back in June.
Costa Rica will want pay back, for that snow game back in the fall, even if it is Gold Cup, and WC qualifying this time.
Should be a fun match to watch, and a great way to get the tailgate gear cleaned up and primed for a few weeks from now.
