USMNT's Impressive Summer And Costa Rican Revenge
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I’ll begin by mentioning that I’ve always been a critic of American soccer. I never gave much credit to the notion that soccer could ever become a major American sport with much more exciting sports like baseball around (ha!). Yet, with that being said, the United States men’s national team (USMNT) has impressed this summer and critics like myself are being forced to reconsider not only the talent of the team but also the rise of the sport’s popularity. 
Snow Game played in Colorado March 2013/U.S. Soccer
The USMNT played 12 games this summer, winning all of them, leading CONCACAF qualification for the World Cup next summer, and securing their first ever come-from-behind win on European soil. The team also picked up their fifth Gold Cup title, scoring twenty goals in six games (nine more than anyone else in the tournament) and only conceding more than one goal once the entire tournament.
The USMNT is playing great soccer, moving away from the traditional scrappy American style of play and connecting more passes, thanks in part to German head coach Jurgen Kilnsmann, who was hired in 2011. In the recent comeback win against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the United States boasted 59 percent possession and, in the second half, completely outplayed the 13th-ranked team in the world.
Recent form is a cause for excitement and support has been building behind the team, as shown by the 40,000+ crowd at CenturyLink Field for a qualifying match against Panama in June.
Riding a 12 game win steak, the USMNT heads into Costa Rica tomorrow in what Klinsmann is calling “the biggest game in the year 2013.” The last meeting between the two teams was the infamous “Snow Game” played in Colorado in March. The United States won 1-0, a result that Costa Rica protested heavily to no avail.
As if a game in Costa Rica isn’t hard enough (the US is 0-7-1 all time in Costa Rica) in an act of revenge, the Costa Ricans are determined to make this game as difficult as possible for the USMNT. Beginning with angry supporters lining the exit of the airport, chanting “U-S-A, no fair play,” the USMNT knew it was in for a rough couple days. According to Costa Rican reports, the USMNT has been denied training facilities and even balls to train with. Even the cab drivers in the city have agreed slow traffic while the national team is on the way to the stadium.
With first place in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying on the line, all I can say is this one should be fun.
Reach Staff Writer Gabe Quintela here.
