MEXICO CITY – At the start of U.S. national soccer team training camp in Denver, Bruce Arena told his players they shouldn’t expect a normal routine. The circumstances, after all, were hardly normal.
The Americans would have to play two World Cup qualifiers in 72 hours at altitude in two countries – demands that required both enhanced preparation and an unusual number of starters.
Typically, from match to match, a coach will make a few lineup changes. In this case, after a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday in Colorado, Arena planned to swap out at least seven and perhaps the entire group.