Summary: A lot has been gathered, interpreted and evaluated about the US National Team after collecting four points against Costa Rica in a snow storm and a resilient performance at Azteca against that history with Mexico, but joining us to discuss these topics is a former US legend who can speak quite in depth about these topics, Hall of Fame defender and now Colorado Rapids broadcaster Marcelo Balboa. Having played in three World Cups during the 1990s and becoming one of the top defenders in the short history Major League Soccer, Marcelo helps us analyze the performances of Matt Besler and Omar Gonzales, the challenges that lay ahead for a national team in search of a new partnership in the backline and some insight into the impact of MLS not only on CONCACAF but also the lack of real quality central defenders all over the world. This is not an issue unique to US Soccer so while finding that right collection of players for the next ten years is highly important, but so too is the lack of genuinely reliable wide threats who can deliver another level to this team in advance of Brazil 2014 and beyond. We examine the decision to play the match against Costa Rica in the snow, how playing the match on Tuesday in the Mexican evening factored into that performance. Also covered here are the early season problems for Colorado Rapids as an injury problem has surfaced at a very difficult time, compounded by a two game suspension for Drew Moor, and whether Edson Buddle was a good decision after letting Omar Cummings and Conor Casey depart this off-season. We close on the enduring history of the 1994 US National Team, what made it so very unique against the landscape of American teams and what lies ahead for Marcelo as a coach and figure in this game. Marcelo Balboa finished his career with 128 national team appearances, the first US player to reach the 100 match milestone and in 2005 was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI and elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
