In what has become a timely honored tradition, right when you are settling back into the rhythm of a new European campaign and/or enjoying the fast-paced final quarter of the MLS season, FIFA slams the brakes on everything with an international break.
But there's no reason to fret; it's not a lame slate of friendlies but rather a pivotal week of World Cup qualifiers on the docket, especially for the United States men's national team.
The old saying is familiarity breeds contempt, so by that logic the level of acrimony between the U.S. and Costa Rica should be at an all-time high when they meet this Friday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.