Fridayââ¬â¢s World Cup 2014 draw was wildly panned by fans of the United States Menââ¬â¢s National Soccer Team (USMNT), as the team was selected into the foreboding ââ¬ÅGroup of Deathâ⬠alongside Ghana, Portugal and Germany for Juneââ¬â¢s world championships in Brazil.
The matchups alone are enough to give fans apprehensionâ⬔Ghana, the nation thatââ¬â¢s eliminated the USMNT from the last two World Cups, alongside perennial powerhouse Germany and Portugal, who feature one of the worldââ¬â¢s best in Cristiano Ronaldo. But the conditions in which the USMNT will play their games offers equal cause for concern.
Over the course of 12 days, the team will travel over 9,000 miles for their three gamesâ⬔more than any other World Cup squad. Whatââ¬â¢s more, the second of the three gamesâ⬔against Portugalâ⬔will be played in Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
Concerns about the conditions have already caused enough uproar to cause the game to moved from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. local timeâ⬔out of the worst heat of the dayâ⬔but this game promises to provide the USMNT with their stiffest test, in terms of conditioning.
ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s going to be difficultâ⬔for both teams,â⬠says Justin Shaginaw, MPT, ATC, whoââ¬â¢s worked extensively with the USMNT. He traveled to South Africa for World Cup 2010.
ââ¬ÅMost of Portugalââ¬â¢s players are playing professionally in Europe. Theyââ¬â¢re not accustomed to that climate either. If they were to be playing against a South American country in that environment, the South American nation would have an advantage because of their familiarity with the climate.ââ¬
Shaginaw adds that people canââ¬â¢t focus on the environment in Manaus as the only challenge the team will face. ââ¬ÅIt may not be as hot as the jungles,â⬠he admits, ââ¬Åbut those other two arenââ¬â¢t exactly going to be mild, either
In terms of travel, Shaginaw says that the advantage in South Africa was the ability to set a home base, and drive to and from each game. That wonââ¬â¢t be possible in Brazil, with games being played throughout the nation at points hundreds and even thousands of miles from one another.
It may sound funny, but at least with all the travel the players wonââ¬â¢t be cooped up indoors all day. Shaginaw explains.
ââ¬ÅThere are pluses and minusesâ⬔in South Africa, we couldnââ¬â¢t leave the hotel without security detailâ⬔and my understanding is itââ¬â¢ll be pretty much the same in Brazil,â⬠he adds. ââ¬ÅIn Europe, the players can kind of come and goâ⬔they can walk around town, have coffeeâ⬦ you canââ¬â¢t really do that in Brazil.ââ¬
The travel, he added, can be notoriously difficult on team staff members who are responsible for transporting about 10,000 pounds of gear to and from each game. ââ¬ÅWarm-up gear, cleats, Gatorade, etcâ⬦ shipping all that stuff back and forth can take a toll on you,â⬠Shaginaw says. ââ¬ÅBut for the players? They might like the change in venueâ⬔a chance to get out of that same hotel youââ¬â¢ve been in for the last 20 days.ââ¬
In the end, while Shaginaw admits thereââ¬â¢s a decided advantage for South American sides in this tournament, he adds that thereââ¬â¢s reason for optimism for USMNT supporters. ââ¬ÅIf they can make it out of that group, they should have a good shot of going pretty far in the tournament,â⬠he says. ââ¬ÅAll three of their opponents are strong teams, so if they can make it past that group, thatââ¬â¢s evidence youââ¬â¢ve got a pretty strong team.ââ¬