US Scheduling Tough Friendlies Almost Too Much

It seems the US Soccer Federation is eager to prove some of the critics of the game in this country wrong thanks to upcoming friendlies against Spain and potential friendlies against England and Argentina. Those critics who rightfully pointed out that between 2003 and 2006 we didn't play many tough friendlies on the road have no recollection of the type of scheduling that the US undertook before and after the 1998 World Cup disaster and the scheduling that almost killed the team in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.