The day has come. After losing the two opening matches against Mexico, Costa Rica, hiring Bruce Arena to replace Jurgen Klinsmann, the USMNT desperately need to gather three points today against Honduras.

The squad has gone through a ton of adversity, to say the least. Injuries have forced critical players such as Fabian Johnson, Bobby Wood, and DeAndre Yedlin out of the lineup for this set of qualifiers. Despite these injuries in mind, they will need to win the game on their own with the guys they have available.

Also, suspensions have taken a toll on the roster. Jermaine Jones and Timmy Chandler will be suspended for the match against Honduras. Chandler’s absence provide a huge hole at Right Back, as Yedlin and Chandler were in all likelihood the top choices for the position.

The USMNT will still have plenty of crucial players available for Arena’s starting lineup. Clint Dempsey (Irregular Heartbeat), Tim Howard (Groin Surgery), and Geoff Cameron (Knee) have all returned from injuries, which is a positive for the team. Along with that, rising star Christian Pulisic is coming back along with a healthy Jozy Altidore.

Defenders will be put on notice for the squad, as the defense will need to show improvement from their 4-0 loss to Costa Rica. The formation will be up to Arena, but impact players such as John Brooks and Cameron will need to step up in order for them to have a fair chance to compete.

Should the USMNT play well defensively and the attack is clicking, they should be able to win in San Jose against Honduras. If not, the team will be in deep trouble, and may be forced to watch the 2018 World Cup from their couches.