USA vs. Guatemala, 2018 World Cup qualifying: Live coverage and score updates

Jurgen Klinsmann thinks that fan and media comments about him have crossed a line. He’d like people to be more respectful toward him.

But Klinsmann also thinks we’re not a real soccer nation until y’all abuse players in the grocery store?

That’s just mean. That’s alley-oop-off-the-backboard-when-up-20 stuff. That’s a huge batflip off a solo homer late in a game that’s already won. That’s showboating into the endzone at the end of an 80-yard touchdown.

If only we saw more of it from the USMNT. This team needs to be cruel like that more often.

That’s a fantastic delivery by Michael Bradley and an equally great run and header by Geoff Cameron. Jurgen Klinsmann said that Graham Zusi was brought into the team for his set piece delivery, but apparently he was overruled by the captain. And that captain has delivered.

Guatemala took out Gyasi Zardes as he tried to get to a route one ball, but they used two defenders to do it. That left Dempsey completely unmarked, which is not smart. This is his 49th goal for the USMNT, and his sixth career goal against Guatemala. It put the USMNT up 1-0 in their crucial World Cup qualifier.

The United States men’s national team is in a familiar, but uncomfortable spot. If they don’t beat Guatemala on Tuesday, they’re almost certainly going to miss out on the 2018 World Cup.

On Friday, the U.S. lost in Guatemala City, turning in an embarrassing performance. Their 2-0 loss was their first to Guatemala in World Cup qualifying ever, and their first in any competition in nearly 30 years. They now have just four points from three games, while Guatemala has six and Trinidad and Tobago has seven. A win puts the U.S. in the drivers’ seat for qualification, a draw leaves them with a ton of work to do and a loss makes it nearly impossible.

If you’re a casual soccer fan with a patriotic fervor to match, welcome back. On Tuesday night, the USMNT faces a make-or-break World Cup qualifier against Guatemala (7:25 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

A lot’s changed since 2014, when Julian Green looked like the future of US Men’s National Team soccer and Tim Howard inexplicably kept the US in a game against Belgium, one of the best teams in the world.

Are you a USMNT fan frustrated with John Brooks’ injury? Hertha Berlin is frustrated too. He showed up to US camp hurt, but feeling like he could play. Now he’s returned to Berlin more hurt, and their sporting director isn’t happy.

“It was all a bit curious and certainly not ideal,” said Michael Preetz. “John boarded the plane without any acute problems and returns injured. It raises a few questions ... It might have made sense to keep him here in Berlin for one more day to see how things developed. Instead, he now has 30 flight hours in his bones. And the U.S. association keeps him on site for four, five days without any real examination.”

It was just a few short days ago that the United States men’s national team suffered a humiliating defeat in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying at the hands of Guatemala, a team they’ve traditionally battered in the past. Widely regarded as a new low in the recent history of the USMNT, the team now needs to find a way to bounce back and recover quickly from that disappointment to avoid putting themselves in a precarious position for their qualification efforts.

Halfway through the last qualifying group stage before the Hex, the U.S. are sitting in third place, three points behind Trinidad and Tobago and two behind Guatemala. They absolutely cannot afford another loss, and to be honest even a draw won’t be enough. There’s no time for further setbacks now -- the team’s ability to qualify is on the line, and another loss could prove catastrophic.

On Friday night, the United States men’s national team turned in an awful performance, losing 2-0 away to Guatemala. It was their first loss to the Guatemalans in any match since 1988 and their first loss to the Blue and Whites in World Cup qualifying ever. Naturally, fans are looking for answers.

There’s a theory going around that the USMNT’s struggles are more down to a player pool that is thin and lacking in quality than the decisions of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Here’s a simple counter-argument.

Now, Howard is an aging shell of the player he once was. Guzan’s quality has fallen off a cliff this season. And that pipeline of young talent? It’s looking a little dry.

The situation has come to such a head that Jurgen Klinsmann can’t decide which of Howard or Guzan should be the starter in goal anymore, and will instead platoon them in the United States’ upcoming friendlies. An optimist might think that Klinsmann can’t decide which goalkeeper is better, but someone who’s watched them with Everton and Aston Villa this season would realize that the question is more one of who could potentially hurt the USMNT less.