It’s been the elephant in the room for quite some time.
But the question must be answered: if the U.S. national team loses to Guatemala on Tuesday, should Jurgen Klinsmann be fired?
[ MORE: Fallout after U.S. loss in Guatemala ]
Since taking charge of the USMNT back in 2011 the German head coach has had plenty of ups and downs along the way.
Highs include making the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup and winning the 2013 Gold Cup. Lows include the entire 2015 Gold Cup tournament, struggles early on in 2014 World Cup qualifying and a worrying decline over the past 12 months.
[ MORE: Klinsmann takes the blame for defeat ]
U.S. national team fans seem to be divided. It’s almost split 50/50 in terms of who wants Klinsmann (who is also technical director of U.S. Soccer) out and who wants him to stay. U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati may have a very tough decision to make in the coming days if somehow the U.S. crumbles in their fortress in Columbus.
A loss to Guatemala in Ohio on Tuesday -- remember, the USMNT lost to Los Chapines for the first time in 21 years last Friday in Guatemala City -- will leave Klinsmann’s dreams of leading the U.S. to the 2018 World Cup in tatters and they’ll be in real danger of not making it to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.
They would need to win their final two games in the fourth round of qualifying (against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago) then hope Guatemala and T&T lose at least two of their remaining three games to make it in.
Forget the 2016 Copa America this summer, the U.S. is in a real battle to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and when the final two qualifiers come around in September we may have a new man in charge of the USMNT.
It’s time to vote on Klinsmann’s future. Let us know how you feel by participating below.
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