After a full year of waiting, the moment of truth is finally approaching for the United States and their attempt to qualify for the Men’s Olympic Soccer tournament for the first time since 2008. Jason Kreis’ side kicks off Group A with an absolutely crucial matchup with rivals Costa Rica.
Can the U.S. exorcise their Olympic qualifying demons or will they once again be left out of another high-profile tournament on the world stage? Here are a few things to watch for when the Americans open up group play on Thursday.
Must-not-lose
While calling any opening match in a traditional group format a must-win would be a tad disingenuous, the USA must certainly not lose against Costa Rica in the opener if they want to advance to the all-or-nothing semifinal round.