Travel chaos saw US forward Alex Speed miss crucial World Cup match due to flight delays. Speed was supposed to fly into Doha on Thursday morning but was forced to spend the night in a Dubai hotel after his Emirates flight was grounded due to a technical issue. The 22-year-old’s absence meant a major blow for the Americans, who were already reeling from the loss of key midfielder Ryan Jackson to injury.
The final day of the round of 32 was always going to be a crucial one for the US, and Speed’s absence only added to the pressure. With just three spots up for grabs in the round of 16, the Americans knew they had to come out firing if they were to avoid the ignominy of an early exit. But without Speed’s pace and creativity, it’s a miracle they managed to scrape a 1-0 win over Costa Rica. Alex Trujillo’s 65th-minute goal was enough to send the US through, but it was a far-from convincing performance.
Back in the States, Speed’s fans were left devastated by the news of his missed match. “I was so looking forward to seeing him in action,” said 25-year-old fan Emily Wilson, who had traveled from NYC to watch the match. “I was texting him all morning, but he didn’t answer. I knew something was up.”
The US will now face a nervous wait to see who they’ll be facing in the round of 16. With two matches still to be played, there’s still everything to play for. The US will look to pick up momentum in their final group game against Panama on Sunday.
The final three spots in the round of 16 are still up for grabs, with Group B leaders France, Group A second-placed Morocco, and Group C winners Germany all still in contention. The stakes are high, and the tension is palpable.
As the US prepare for their final group game, they’ll be looking for a major turnaround in form. After a lackluster performance against Costa Rica, Graham Harrison’s men will need to show a marked improvement if they’re to stand any chance of getting out of the group. With Speed’s absence still a major talking point, the pressure is on.
In the other match of the day, Italy edged out Argentina 2-1 in a thrilling encounter. Goals from Alessandro Berardi and Filippo Fabbri gave the Italians a crucial win, but it was a far-from convincing performance from a team who are still getting to grips with their new ‘tiki-taka’ style.
The US will be hoping to avoid a repeat of Italy’s struggles when they face Panama on Sunday. With a spot in the round of 16 still very much up for grabs, the Americans will need to show a marked improvement on form if they’re to stand any chance.
The World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Will the US be able to get out of the group? Only time will tell.
