<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
<p>Three of the four games during <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/06/09/usmnt-search-for-a-striker/">this June window</a> have gone quite well for the USMNT.</p>
<p>First, Cincinnati hosted a solid 3-0 friendly win over World Cup-bound Morocco. Then, there was a 0-0 friendly draw with quality South American side Uruguay in Kansas City.</p>
<p>After that game, the mentality change slightly. Friendlies finished, and competitive games loomed on the calendar. The first of those competitive games was a decent, workman like performance in the Nations League opener. The U.S. dispatched Grenada, 5-0, in Austin. Now comes the most challenging game of the summer. The U.S. takes a trip down to Central America for a competitive Nations League fixture against El Salvador.</p>
<h3>USMNT road struggles</h3>
<p>The argument can be made that the Uruguay game was the toughest game of the window for the US. After all, Uruguay is the 13th-ranked country in the world. Plus, some of its players apply their trade in the European club game. However, that was just a friendly. Moreover, it was in front of a home crowd.</p>
<p>This game against El Salvador is tougher beyond the sense that it is a competitive game. It is a road game where the U.S., historically, struggles to get results. The last American win in El Salvador came in a World Cup Qualifier all the way back in <a href="https:\/\/www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/158795">October of 2004</a>. That year, Brian McBride and Eddie Johnson each scored to earn three points for the US on the way to Germany 2006. In fact, wins on the road have been something of a challenge for the USA for several years now.</p>
<p>During the current cycle, November 2017 to present, the U.S. posted a record of just two wins, seven losses and six draws in true road games. In the previous cycle, from September 2014 to October 2017, the USMNT road struggles persist with a record of 6-7-4.</p>
<p>The best teams in the world are able to go into hostile environments and get results. If the U.S. wants to become one of those teams, this trip to El Salvador would be the perfect time to start.</p>
<h5>El Salvador</h5>
<p>El Salvador proved to be a tough out for the U.S. during the most recent World Cup Qualifying campaign. The two games between the two sides yielded a scoreless draw in San Salvador before a 1-0 win in Columbus. That did not prevent the Salvadorians from being pretty poor overall.</p>
<p>El Salvador finished seventh in the eight-team qualifying group with just 10 points from 14 games. However, they decided to stick with former US international Hugo Perez as their manager. He provides a level of stability lacking in El Salvador for quite some time. Allegations of match fixing and consequent suspensions and fines transpired.</p>
<p>Their roster features six players based at U.S. clubs. Goalkeeper Tomas Romero represents LAFC, and Darwin Ceren plays for Houston Dynamo. The other four players all play in the USL Championship. They are Ronald Rodriguez (FC Tulsa), Eric Calvillo (El Paso Locomotive), Roberto Molina (Las Vegas Lights) and Joaquin Rivas (FC Tulsa).</p>
<p>El Salvador leads CONCACAF Nations League Group D. However, it has two games to its resume, while the U.S. has just one.</p>
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<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow">
<th>Nation</th>
<th>Points</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">Record (W-L-D)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><em>El Salvador</em></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1-0-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><em>United States</em></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1-0-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><em>Grenada</em></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0-2-1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h5>
When, Where</h5>
<ul>
<li>Tuesday, June 14, 2022</li>
<li>Estadio Cuscatlan</li>
<li>San Salvador, El Salvador</li>
<li>10pm ET</li>
<li>FS1, Univision, TUDN</li>
</ul>
<h5>All-Time Series</h5>
<ul>
<li>USA leads 19-0-6</li>
</ul>
<h5>Last Meeting</h5>
<ul>
<li>Thursday, January 27, 2022</li>
<li>Lower.com Field</li>
<li>Columbus, Ohio</li>
<li>USA 1-0 El Salvador</li>
</ul>
<h5>Current FIFA Ranking</h5>
<ul>
<li>USA: 15</li>
<li>El Salvador: 74</li>
</ul>


In the CONCACAF Nations League, the USMNT has a chance to tackle is road struggles on Tuesday night in El Salvador.

Preview: USMNT road struggles on center stage at El Salvador - World Soccer Talk

Preview: USMNT road struggles on center stage at El Salvador

<p><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Keane1.jpg"></a></p><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Keane1.jpg"></a></figure></div><p></p>
<p>Anybody could tell you that Ipswich Town’s 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Derby on Saturday was a vital result. Defeat or another draw from the team and the alarm bells may of been ringing frantically at Portman Road, but 15 games into the 09/10 season and the Suffolk outfit have finally put a win on the board. Although they remain at the foot of the Championship table, fans danced in jubilation after the final whistle had gone at the weekend; and this hard fought one goal victory will lead them on to piecing together some decent form.</p>
<p>Ipswich’s poor season has surprised quite a lot of people this season. Many people backed Roy Keane to take the club on to the next level and bring success, but quite the opposite has occurred in Keano’s first full campaign in charge. The team has struggled both at the back and front this season, holding the second worst goal difference in the league with only Plymouth keeping them off the bottom spot by one goal. Counago, Walters, Priskin and Stead have accumulated seven goals between them this season and the players at the back have often lacked concentration when under pressure.</p>
<p>Keane certainly has had backing from the board and fans alike. Many other boards would have dismissed a manager who had failed to get a win in 14 games; particularly with the amount of financial backing Keane was given. But it appears that Ipswich are looking at the bigger picture and see this season as part of a jigsaw that will hopefully be completed with the club in the Premiership at some point. Fans have often said that they trust Keane and have kept a lot of optimism throughout the rough period. And why not, its obvious when looking at the clubs squad that they have a lot of quality, including a lot of players Keane knows well and who have a lot of Championship experience.</p>
<p>And I am sure the fans have no doubt that their next fixture away to Reading is just as important, if not more, than the Derby game. Reading are also flirting with the bottom of the table, but managed to beat Coventry convincingly 3-1 and although Coventry also have poor form, nothing should be taken away from their victory. The Madjeski stadium has seemed more like a ruin than a fortress this season, with only 1 goal scored by the club at home in the last 5 games there. Reading must also be aware that although Ipswich just picked up their first victory, they have only failed to score once away from home this season.</p>
<p>But after such a great victory on the road why wouldn’t Reading players feel that Saturday’s game is the perfect opportunity for them to give the home fans something to celebrate about? Over coming a team like Coventry by a comfortable margin will give them all the information they need to let them know that they can come out on top against the teams in a similar situation to themselves. They will look to <a href="http:\/\/www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2060022_grzegorz_rasiak_hungry_to_score_for_reading_fc">the hungry Grezgorz Rasiak</a> to fire them to victory on Saturday, as he appears to be one of the only players at the club who has a finishing touch. In their last home game the club had seventeen shots against Leicester and ended up losing 1-0; manager Brendan Rodgers has no doubt attempted to solve their goal shyness.</p>
<p>Ipswich fans will hope that their team will start to finally pick up form and a win at Reading would be the perfect way for the club to do this. Another draw will do nothing special for the club and they really need to beat the teams close to them so they can get away from the foot of the table as soon as possible. The next step for the club is to pick up their first away win of the season and if they can beat Reading on Saturday then it will also help them gain confidence which nobody can doubt the importance of. Jonathan Walters put in a good shift against Derby and Roy Keane will be hoping he can do a similar sort of job and also bag a goal or two when they face Reading. Keane has certainly moved quickly to bring his players back down to earth,&nbsp;<a href="http:\/\/www.ipswich.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=175911">criticising their overall performance against Derby</a>.</p>
<p>I would encourage any football fan to keep an eye on this game, even though it could end up being a tense and tight affair it could so easily go the other way. Both teams have just recorded much needed victories and both will see each other as the ideal opponent to get their season back on track. Defeat could see Brendan Rodgers lose his job and despite <a href="http:\/\/www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11673_5655564,00.html">Sir John Madjeski apparently backing him</a> 16 wins without a win at home may prove too much for the Reading board. Ipswich can’t let a club like Reading get further away from them and they definitely need to string results together to get out of their situation at the bottom of the table. Many people would consider this a ‘6 pointer’, even in November and it will be interesting to see the aftermath of the game; a good result for either team can help kick start their season.</p>


Roy Keane's team record overdue victory: how important has Reading V Ipswich become? - World Soccer Talk

Roy Keane's team record overdue victory: how important has Reading V Ipswich become?

<div id="attachment_647" style="width: 217px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-647" class="wp-caption-text">Southgate: Shown The Door</p></div>
<p>After winning 2-0 on Tuesday night, Gareth Southgate was relieved of his duties as manager hours after the game. Despite being quite a popular player for the club, Southgate could never quite get the same level of support in his time as manager; despite a number of hardships being put on him such as the sale of top striker Yakubu. It may come as a slightly surprise that the Boro board decided to sack Southgate moments after a win rather than Saturday where the club, at the time, suffered it’s 3rd straight home defeat at the hands of a Watford side currently struggling for form. It is most likely that Gibson and the Middlesbrough board had only fully committed to a change in leadership on the Monday.</p>
<p>An outsider to the championship may wonder how a manager who’s team sits 4th in the 2nd tier table can be sacked but <a href="http:\/\/www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_5642338,00.html">Steve Gibson’s proclamation Wednesday afternoon</a> certainly suggests that it has been building up for some time; and anyone who follows the club can relate to that. One of the most notable things in Gibson’s decision may well be the constant dip in attendance. Even though the club has been relegated and would expect smaller crowds, Boro’s home form has been woeful and left a lot of fans questioning the point in turning up to</p>
<p>You could feel some sympathy however for Southgate. Steve McLaren was a tough act the follow after all of his success. McLaren’s bid to gain success for the club cost the team, and despite selling a number of key players to balance the books on Southgate’s arrival, the club still suffered<a href="http:\/\/www.football.co.uk/middlesbrough/southgate_reveals_boro_debt_278124.shtml"> heavily from debt</a>. Southgate, even recently in the championship, has been forced to field a number of players who have came through the clubs academy. Despite Boro having one of the strongest youth teams in the country, it was hardly surprising that they were relegated from the Premiership.</p>
<p>It can’t be denied however that Southgate had no resources. He could be accused of putting all his eggs into one basket when signing Alfonso Alves for what is believed to be almost £13 million. Alves turned out to be a poor piece of business, lacking the finishing touch that the likes of Yakubu and Viduka had brought before him and was largely lethargic in his Boro days. Many questioned the price tag before he had even signed. Alves abandoned ship just before the close of the summer 2009 transfer window; his lacklustre attitude may be better suited to the sweltering heat of the Middle East. He could happily retire early with the amount of money I imagine he is making out there.</p>
<p>After the clubs relegation, they opened the Championship campaign with a 0-0 home draw to Sheffield United and were booed off the pitch by the supporters. Many people criticized the fans for this, but it wasn’t just about the result; fans had already lost confidence in Southgate and a 0-0 draw all but justified this. Southgate never appeared to have a charismatic edge as a manager and sometimes seemed too accepting in defeat. Many within the game saw him as a bit of a push over and someone who could easily cave in.</p>
<p>I myself consider Steve Gibson one of the best Chairmen in the country, a patient man who doesn’t hit the panic button at the first time of asking. He is one of a dying breed in world football; an owner who was brought up in the local environment supporting his club. Boro fans will always have a gratitude of debt towards the man, as Gibson is one of the men that saved the club from Liquidation when they almost folded towards the end of the 20th century. His decision to let Southgate go was the correct call and I believe it has come at the right time. Gibson wants the club to bounce straight back the Premiership at the first time of asking, most likely to help the club balance the finances once again. He gave Southgate every possible opportunity, something most managers don’t get. The club is sitting in a great league position and the right appointment can help give the club an initial boost and help the club realise it’s ambition of promotion at the first time of asking.</p>
<p>The only problem is who will take the job? The objective is clearly to get the club promoted this season as another season in the Championship may result in the club needing to make more cut backs. Gordon Strachan’s name has once again been churned out by the bookies as a favourite – an ideal candidate for the club, but is Boro an ideal opportunity for Strachan? If any manager is tasked with getting promotion they are going to want resources to do so and Boro lack a lot of funding. Their young squad lacks experience and any high profile name manager will want to bring in tried and tested players. If it is to be Strachan then Gibson and the board would have to take a massive gamble, put whatever they’ve got left into the club and pray that he can get the job done.</p>
<p><a href="http:\/\/www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,16478_5642286,00.html">Milan Mandaric has ruled out the fantastic Nigel Pearson</a>, but you can never say never in football. I’m a big fan of Pearson and I’m not surprised that the Leicester chairman is so keen to keep hold of him. Kevin Keegan is the bookies 2nd favourite to take the job (maybe becoming a Toon heretic?) as well as Alan Curbishley being up there. However, these are two managers who would demand they’d be given resources; particularly after their most previous employers relieved them of purchasing duties.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be surprised if Gibson takes his time with this appointment, as mentioned before he is a man with a lot of patience and likes to be 100% sure before his makes a big decision. Middlesbrough’s situation makes their next managerial appointment a difficult one to call, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up being an intriguing appointment. One of the best things about Steve Gibson as a chairman is that he has the right mix of being a fan and an owner, so whoever he and the board decide on is most likely to be someone the fans can put faith in.</p>


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CONCACAF Nations League

Preview: USMNT road struggles on center stage at El Salvador

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Roy Keane's team record overdue victory: how important has Reading V Ipswich become?

Leagues: Championship

The Inevitable Axe Of Gareth Southgate Confirmed: What Now For Middlesbrough F.C?