U.S.
on right track after tough 2015: Klinsmann
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[November 04, 2016]
By Erik Kirschbaum
ERFURT, Germany (Reuters) - Juergen
Klinsmann is targeting at least four points from two games against
Mexico and Costa Rica this month as the United States aim to get off
to a fast start in the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World
Cup.
In an interview with Reuters, Klinsmann said the United States were
starting to see the fruits of blooding young players into the side
in an up-and-down 2015 and that the experience gained at the Copa
America was invaluable.
“These first two games are huge -- we’ve got the two most difficult
games right away with Mexico and Costa Rica so we want to make sure
we get off on the right foot with points right away,” said
Klinsmann.
"It would be great to get three points against Mexico and at least a
tie in Costa Rica.
"Obviously to win both games would be awesome. It would be great to
get the results to finish off a year that’s been really promising.”
The United States host Mexico on Nov. 11 at the Mapfre Stadium in
Columbus, Ohio, where they have beaten the same opponents 2-0 in all
four previous games. They travel to face Costa Rica four days later.
In the final CONCACAF qualifying round, the top three from a
six-team group qualify for the finals in Russia, with the
fourth-placed team going into a playoff against a side from the
Asian confederation.
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Klinsmann, who on Thursday was named the fifth honorary captain of
the German national team and was lauded in a speech by Chancellor
Angela Merkel, said the "magic" of playing in Columbus was that it
was a true football stadium.
“Columbus is a special place for us,” Klinsmann said.
“There’s just such an aura about it with its home field advantage
and a strong belief that we can always win there. There’s a lot of
confidence whenever we play there.”
NEXT BIG STAGE
The 52-year-old took over as U.S. coach in 2011 and is trying to
guide the team to their eight straight World Cup finals appearance.
They had to endure a nervy fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying,
which encompasses teams from North and Central America and the
Caribbean, including a goalless draw against Trinidad and Tobago and
a 2-0 defeat to Guatemala.
However, they overcame that difficult start to finish top of their
group.
“We want some results at the finish of what has been a promising
year,” he said. “We had some hiccups in 2015 but we’ve introduced
some young players and we’re seeing them take over personality wise.
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![](../images/110416pics/sports59.jpg)
U.S. national soccer team coach Juergen Klinsmann gestures during
their international friendly soccer match against Germany in
Cologne, Germany June 10, 2015. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender
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"That’s what you want to see as a coach, a team that moves on and
gets ready for the next big stage.”
He said the Copa America had bolstered his team’s confidence and
pointed to the breakout performances by John Brooks, Bobby Wood,
Christian Pulisic, DeAndre Yedlin and Geoff Cameron. He added Jordan
Morris and Ethan Horvath had also had strong years.
“We have hope that there will be even more younger players coming
through,” he said. “There’s a lot of competition within the group.
We saw a lot of younger players who made huge steps forward, and
that puts some of the older guys on higher alert.”
As coach of the German national team from 2004 to 2006, Klinsmann
embarked on a series of reforms that initially drew much criticism
before they finished third at the 2006 World Cup on home soil.
He has had to endure another period of criticism in the United
States but said their showing against the top teams at the Copa
America's 100th anniversary tournament had impressed American fans.
“There will always be criticism when games are lost,” he said. "But
I think people in America are understanding more and more what the
international game is all about.
"People saw at the Copa America that teams like Argentina, Brazil
and Columbia are the crème le la crème.
"People saw these teams play and thought ‘wow’. It was huge that we
made it to the final four.”
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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