U.S. Soccer News & Notes, Guatemala Primer

The U.S. Men’s National Team enters the match Tuesday in Kansas City atop the World Cup qualifying group with Guatemala.  They will need a draw or win to advance to the next stage of World Cup qualifying next year.  There are other scenarios that include a loss and goal differential, but the team is also in need of momentum.  They return from a less than stellar performance in Antigua with only 19 available players, but will be on home turf in a brilliant new stadium.  Here are some particulars for tomorrow’s match.

Carlos Bocanegra or Michael Parkhurst will be tasked with left back duties.  It would not be a surprise to see Bocanegra slide back to the middle with Parkhurst starting as well, thus moving Clarence Goodson to a substitution role.  The Bocanegra – Eddie Johnson combination did not create much on the left side with two players out of position.  It is clear that Johnson is good with his head, so the left side could be a completely different combination starting the match tomorrow night.  Perhaps route one soccer will come into play if Johnson is moved up the middle along with Bocanegra at center back.

Jul 08, 2012; Bridgeview, IL, USA; Chicago Fire midfielder Marco Pappa (16) kicks the ball toward the goal against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the second half at Toyota Park. The LA Galaxy defeated the Chicago Fire 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

The role of Maurice Edu has become even more of a mystery.  He has been slotted at center back, but now may be needed at central midfield with Jermaine Jones out on accumulated yellow cards.  He played well with Geoff Cameron at center back against Mexico, but just recently made his debut with his new club, Stoke City.  His fitness becomes a question, but then again Clint Dempsey was used for two full matches without playing at all or even having a club team.

Guatemala, or Les Chapines, are not the fastest team in the group.  They are led by the sly veteran Carlos Ruiz and Marco Pappa.  Ruiz, the former MLS Cup MVP, can be full of theatrics, but knows how to score.  He has four goals in this qualifying cycle and can deliver in big games.

Pappa scored the equalizer in Guatemala in the earlier qualifying match.  He recently transferred to SC Heerenveen from the Chicago Fire.  He was awarded a bike from a supporters’ group upon his arrival in September.

News and Notes:

• Quotes from coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s press conference today:
  • On Fabian Johnson:

"Fabian has a really bad stomach flu. He was getting better. He trained Thursday with Hoffenheim but it got worse. They thought maybe it was a salmonella issue. So they sent him to the hospital. I was speaking with him, and he said, ‘I am just not there yet.’ So we said, ‘It just makes no sense traveling from Germany and having not trained for a week.’"

• On the Guatemala approach:

"It could be a very defensive one, it could be maybe they come out with a little more offensive ways. No matter how the shape is, they will be very, very physical. They will run and fight for every ball. It’s the game of their lives, really. The first 20 minutes against Jamaica, they went after everything. We are prepared for them."

• On the opponent’s attack:

"They try to draw fouls close to the box and they have [Marco] Pappa, who showed in the first game, he is an excellent free kick taker. So there are a couple of things to avoid: Don’t let Pappa the opportunity to shoot those free kicks and to keep Carlos Ruiz out of the game, if possible, which is a very difficult task. He is on a roll."

• Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders play a pivotal match on Wednesday with huge playoff implications.  RSL coach Jason Kreis says they are doing Seattle “a big solid” by flying Eddie Johnson back with Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando.
• Are the expectations of fans too high?  Players admit this team is still a work in progress.  
• ESPN has the U.S. match at 7 pm tomorrow, but will be showing plenty of World Cup qualifiers all day.