World Cup Qualifying resumes Friday and Tuesday, March 22 & 26, with games all over the world, including the U.S. hosting Costa Rica (Friday, 9pm, ESPN) in what has become almost a must-win game for the home side, after their first-ever opening game loss last month down in Honduras, and given that they turn right around and head down to Mexico City for a Tuesday night meeting with El Tri in the Estadio Azteca, which provides one of the most feared home-field advantages in the world (9:30pm, only on beIN Sport). There are a lot of question marks around the U.S. roster – especially at outside defender, where the top eight players who might have been chosen to start are all unavailable due to various injuries. That, in turn, will put a lot of pressure on the central defenders, who looked shaky already in the Honduras loss. It’s a long qualifying campaign – 10 games, continuing through October – but the U.S. already has their backs up against the wall.
Elsewhere, one of the most anticipated games has Serbia and Croatia meeting on the soccer pitch for the first time in their histories, Friday in Zagreb (noon, ESPN Deportes). Both national federations have agreed to allocate no tickets for their away fans in either game of the series, as there is thought to be lingering ill will between the two, due to their recent mutual attempts at ethnic cleansing. The return leg is Sept. 6 in Belgrade.
Austin Aztex countdown continues: They have their final, Open/Community tryout on April 6 (see www.austinaztex.com for info), heading toward the season opener in early May.
This article appears in March 22 • 2013.