USMNT: Why Did Klinsman Start the Bundesliga Boys vs Honduras?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: February 9, 2013

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Jurgen Klinsmann, head coach of the United States Men's National Soccer Team, started four Bundesliga players in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Honduras in the first match day of final-round qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On his bench were three Liga-MX players.

The Bundesliga is in Germany. Liga-MX is in Mexico.

Two days before the game Klinsmann expressed concern (per Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times) over the distance his European-based players had to travel to the game in Honduras' San Pedro Sula:

The challenge is definitely for us with a huge amount of European players on our roster is travelling—the time differences, the different locations, a lack of time to prepare them properly in meetings, get the tiredness out of their legs and get them up to speed also mentally...

Our Hessian mercenaries from the Bundesliga traveled at least 5,800 miles to reach the game, assuming they traveled in a straight line. The Liga-MX players didn't travel more than 2,100 miles.

Given Klinsmann's expressed concern over the effects of travel and his propensity for data-based coaching techniques, it was surprising that all four of the Bundesliga-based players started the game against Honduras while all three of the Liga-MX players rode the pine. 

When two of the Germans blew their motors and needed to be substituted, Hercules Gomez (Santos), Jose Torres (Tigres) and Edgar Castillo (Tijuana) all kept their warm-ups on. 

Even without the extra mileage, Klinsmann played right into Los Catrachos' hands. The Bundesliga boys play their games above 49 degrees latitude, which is two degrees north of Seattle.  San Pedro Sula is at 15 degrees latitude. 



Los Catrachos knew this and scheduled the game for the heat of the afternoon. Game-time temperatures approached 90 degrees with subtropical humidity.

This time of year, Bundesliga teams are playing on...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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