HARRISON, N.J. -- The infrequency with which World Cup qualifying games are held often turns the journey into an emotional rollercoaster ride. Losses, in particular, can leave those involved looking for the Dramamine.
That also goes for assessing individual performances; there's precious little time to experiment and every personnel decision has to be weighed carefully. Is a poor game from one player reason to drop him from the lineup, or should the manager give a chance to recover? How much does team chemistry factor into things?
Maintaining equilibrium is a constant process and, as U.S. manager Bruce Arena addressed the media following Friday's 2-0 loss to Costa Rica, one could almost see him wrestling with this very issue.