Perhaps even more shocking than the loss was the coach's reaction. Bruce Arena said that no major changes are needed, the U.S. has all the good players it needs, it was just one of those games.
Can anyone imagine Geno Auriemma saying something like that after a loss to the equivalent of Providence College? Could you imagine Coach Geno suggesting that nothing needs to change?
After Tina Charles was beaten to a basketball pulp by Sylvia Fowles in LSU's victory over UConn, Auriemma read the riot act to Tina. He didn't say that, well, Fowles is two inches taller, and, you know, she's really good. He told Tina that UConn didn't have a center right then, and if she wants to be a real center and a real All-American, she needs to dramatically up her act.
Tina did.
Do you think the US men's soccer team will? I'm guessing that there will be another coach soon, and that the head of US Soccer will soon resign, or face firing. This entire qualifying season has been an unmitigated disaster.
Geno would know what to do.