By the time the October World Cup qualifying window is over, the U.S. men's national team will be nearly halfway through the road to Qatar. It'll have faced all but one of its seven opponents—Mexico, saving the best for last—while being equally exposed to the rigors of the road and the friendly confines of three games at home.
The opening window was a crash course. So much went wrong—both self-inflicted and inflicted by inspired opposition—that blanket calls for a nine-point week were quickly checked. There shouldn't be any arrogance or ignorance entering the upcoming matches against Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica, even if the ultimate goal of securing all nine points ostensibly remains the same.