If Jurgen Klinsmann, the German coach of the United States national team, thinks he is at his lowest ebb, Cornelius Huggins can offer him a startling reality check.
When Klinsmann’s team begins the qualifying cycle for the 2018 World Cup in Russia on Friday night, it will do so on the heels of a string of deeply disappointing results. Fans are grumbling, and faith in Klinsmann’s leadership seems to dim with each new unimpressive display.
Yet if Klinsmann ever fears that all hope is lost, he can always put himself in the shoes of Huggins, who faces a much taller task.