TORONTO – It's business time.
The FIFA break now over, Toronto FC's internationals must quickly switch their focus back to the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and 92199227" tabindex="0">Tuesday's Eastern Conference Championship opening leg in Montreal (8 pm ET; ESPN in the US, TSN1/3, RDS in Canada).
For Armando Cooper's Panama, results were positive, picking up three points away to Honduras and earning a draw at home against powerhouse Mexico to put them in third-place in the early stages of the Hexagonal.
But for TFC’s American internationals, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, a pair of stinging defeats have left some bruises.
The USMNT saw their Hex begin with a dispiriting 2-1 home loss against the Mexicans, severely damaging the legend of Dos a Cero at Columbus' MAPFRE Stadium. They were then humbled on Tuesday by a 4-0 road dismantling at the hands of Costa Rica. They sit at the bottom of the table, already adrift of the pack.
“The way we lost 92199228" tabindex="0">on Tuesday is not something you just get over, not right away,” Bradley said from TFC training 92199229" tabindex="0">on Friday. “But part of the job is to be able to turn page quickly, to switch focus. We let ourselves down in the way we went about these two games. Reality is you can't do anything about it [now]. When March comes, there's some urgency to get results because our margin for error has gotten a lot smaller.”
Now with their full complement of players, TFC are busy preparing for next Tuesday’s first leg in Quebec. And though the threat of an international hangover looms, Toronto head coach Greg Vanney is confident his two Americans will be able to rebound from their disappointing USMNT stint.
“They're happy to be back,” Vanney said. “It's such a positive environment here, the opposite of where they came from. It's refreshing to come back, see their teammates, friendly faces, and to be playing for something significant right after such a difficult couple of games. I didn't see baggage on either [Bradley or Altidore]. They're disappointed, but they were quick to recognize they have to switch concentration. Sometimes you've got to separate one thing from the other. A couple days to get themselves turned around is important for us. They'll be ready to go.”
The end of the break also signaled the beginning of a countdown clock, with 92199227" tabindex="0">Toronto ramping up their Impact prep ahead of the opening of the East Championship.
“The last week and a half was just keeping the group going, keeping everybody in the right frame of mind,” said Vanney. “Now we're starting to lock in on preparation for Montreal. Having everybody back helps recognize that it's that time now.”
Added Bradley: “Now 100 percent focus, concentration, and energy goes to Montreal. Make sure we're ready to step on the field Tuesday night and go for it.”
