USA takes first step toward World Cup 2018 against Czech Republic
PRAGUE
The shell of a new building stood on the far end of the training field where the United States men's national team proceeded through its first post-World Cup training session on Monday afternoon. The concrete framing rose behind the far goal and stood watch over the proceedings below. Like the team practicing in its shadow, the structure boasted the sturdy underpinnings necessary to carry the eventual load without the requisite finishing work to comprise the finished article.
United States coach Jürgen Klinsmann will continue the construction process for his squad against Czech Republic (live, Wednesday, 2:15 p.m. ET). It is the first in a series of friendlies and tournaments designed to cultivate a deep and diverse group capable of navigating through qualifying and thriving at the World Cup four years from now. It is the first landmark on the path back toward the knockout stage and toward the overarching goals still looming in the distance.
"It's the first game after the World Cup," USA winger Julian Green said after the hour-long session with all 22 players wrapped. "It's the first step toward Russia."
Klinsmann blended the old with the new for this test to reflect the hard work ahead over the next four years. He included 10 members of his 23-man squad from the Brazilian excursion to provide the firm base required to experiment with a crop of familiar faces and young prospects trying to push their way into the pool. Geoff Cameron reduced the number of World Cup holdovers to nine through injury, but the balance still remains to mix and match in a fashion helpful to both groups.
Measured turnover critical component of continued success at the interval level. The chopping and changing to facilitate the evolution started promptly after the final whistle against Belgium. Tim Howard officially stepped away from his duties until September 2015. Other players will voluntarily or involuntarily step away as age and form erode their standing within the ranks. New stalwarts will emerge to fill the void.
The players gathered together in Prague possess the first chance to stake a claim for a place in this evolving squad. For some, it is perhaps their best opening to impress with every MLS outfield player left at home for scheduling reasons. For others, it is the opportunity required to consolidate the gains already made or continue the growth achieved in the buildup to the World Cup.
"It's always an exciting time when you start a new cycle," USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. "Obviously, we have some new faces in camp, but we've set the standard for ourselves with the last four years. It's something you want to continuously build upon."
Guzan is one of the returning fixtures in line to press his case for a more considerable role over the next four years. His battle with Nick Rimando (the only MLS player selected) to replace the absent Howard looms as one of the more important during the set of four friendlies scheduled between now and the end of November. The emergence of potential interlopers elsewhere could create other conflicts in need of resolution.
This particular matchday -- crammed into a day-and-a-half of preparations with the squad before the date at Generali Arena on Wednesday and truncated by the loss of the anticipated meeting with Colombia next Tuesday -- does not provide the ideal setting to make those sorts of long-term judgments. It does, however, serve a significant purpose. The circumstances create a stern test with the makeshift Americans finding their footing and the Czechs preparing their full squad for the start of Euro 2016 qualifying against Netherlands on Sept. 9.
No such competitive litmus test beckons for Klinsmann and his players until next year. There is time to sort through the pool and test potential alternatives, but the urgency still exists for players trying to pry their way into Klinsmann's thoughts or stay firmly within the reckoning now.
"Ultimately, the goal is four years from now," Guzan said. "We do everything with 2018 on our minds, whether it's the first game against the Czech Republic, next year's Gold Cup, the Copa America, whatever. Everything has a bit of an emphasis towards the World Cup in 2018. And, ultimately, that's what we'll be looking for."
It takes time to build the sort of structure worth keeping intact for the next four years. It isn't in place yet. Nor will it emerge over the next few days. But the process has already started with the completion date and the final objective already in mind.
