By IVES GALARCEP
COMMERCE CITY, Colo.– It might sound strange for the second match of a 10-match tournament to be considered “Must-win” but that is what the U.S. Men’s National Team faces tonight when they take on Costa Rica at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park tonight (10pm, ESPN/UniMas).
Amid a swirl of controversy surrounding the team following the publishing of a scathing article by the Sporting News, which included several unnamed national team players allegedly criticizing Jurgen Klinsmann’s coaching methods and claiming divisions in the locker room, the U.S. team has had to fend off that distraction and prepare for a match with a team missing several players due to injuries and lack of playing time on the club level.
The list of absences is considerable. Tim Howard, Fabian Johnson, Timmy Chandler, Carlos Bocanega, Steve Cherundolo, Michael Parkhurst, Jose Torres and Danny Williams are all missing the match, leaving Klinsmann to try and build a patch-work defense capable of containing Costa Rica’s attack.
SBI will be providing live commentary from tonight’s match, as well as a two-hour pre-game tailgate, so feel free to join us before the match, and during the match, to talk all things USMNT as well as all about tonight’s showdown in Colorado.
Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions, before and during the match, after the jump.
Enjoy the action (and join us on the SBI Match Night Commentary after the jump):