USA faces Mexico on Tuesday in a crucial World Cup qualifying match. The game starts at 8 p.m. ET. Watch the live stream HERE.
Team USA fell to second play in the Hexagonal standings on Friday after a 3-1 loss to Costa Rica, Goal.com reports. With Mexico's World Cup qualification at risk, Tuesday's CONCACAF qualifier has an added importance for both teams.
USA's Clint Dempsey expressed the importance of walking away with a win.
"Mexico is a team that has quality in it and we need to make sure we prepare properly," Dempsey said, via Goal.com. "Every game at home is a must-win game. You need to get those points at home if you have any hopes of qualifying for a World Cup, so we won't treat it any different than that."
Dempsey also addressed the team needing to have a sense of urgency on Tuesday.
"You don't want to be waiting till the last game, or having teams do you a favor because you couldn't get the job done," he said. "Ideally, we'd like to get that wrapped as soon as we can."
The Americans will be shorthanded, making the task of earning three points even more difficult. Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron all are unavailable for Tuesday night's qualifier, according to BlackAndRedUnited.com.
"I'm not concerned about (Tuesday night) in terms of switching things around, having another center back in there," USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann said, via Goal.com. "Making changes, if it's up front for Jozy (Altidore), or it's in the midfield for Michael (Bradley), unfortunately, because I think the players now really understand their roles. They kknow when they come in, what to do. They know how we want to play.
"We have a really strong core of leaders guiding them through that, therefore I'm very optimistic for (the game)."
