Noah Davis: Okay. Initial thoughts about U.S.-Costa Rica?

Ryan O'Hanlon: Initial thoughts: I have to catch a flight at 8 a.m. the next morning, so I'm a little worried about not getting enough sleep. Also, wondering how cold it'll be up there. Do I bring a sweater, a jacket, or both?

Davis: It's supposed to snow, so todos. And no one cares about your sleep schedule. Plus, it's going to end by 10:30. You'll be fine. I think the U.S. plays well and wins 3-1.

O'Hanlon: Oh, wow. That's good to know. And yeah, I agree. They should win, and it would just be a really great thing for everyone involved—outside of Costa Rica, who it wouldn't even really be all that bad for—if they did.

Davis: That's your answer: "It would be good for them to win"? That's the worst freaking answer in what's been a litany of terrible answers. And you've had some terrible answers.

O'Hanlon: Fine. Whatever. Okay. Sure. Yes. Anyway, it wasn't an answer. I was just making an objectively true statement. They should win, and they'll outplay Costa Rica most likely, but there's always a chance they'll do that and still give up an unlucky goal or have a bad call go against them or whatever, and end up not winning. Basically: they're going to play Costa Rica in a soccer game tomorrow.

Davis: You're supposed to be an expert and have opinions. That's why we pay you the big bucks. But whatever. I think the Sporting News article and the subsequent dust up could be the best thing that happened to this squad. They needed some type of shock to the system, something to get them out of the rut. I know the players said they don't read the press, but they do. It's not like the status quo was really working, so perhaps this is a re-set. Then again, maybe not.

O'Hanlon: I'm not sure—this is a good way to start sentences—it's a bad thing or a good thing. Granted, the team could totally crater from this—but that says more about the team than the story. Shouldn't the Honduras game be more of a reason-for-reset—and I'm not sure it wasn't/isn't—than an anonymous-quote-laden story, though?

Davis: Sure, although I don't think it was. But I do think you're correct that the media/American fanbase is overblowing the impact that a story will have. (Which, I admit, is in direct contradiction to my previous statement.) But here's the thing: a lot of the issues expressed in the piece have been boiling just under the surface since last June. Nothing changed before the piece came out; maybe they will face them now. But when/if they win on Friday, I'm not sure any of it matters. And, for what it's worth, I love the U.S.'s odds going into Mexico.

O'Hanlon: Yeah, I don't mean to sound like things are totally fine—but they rarely are within national teams because they're weird entities. And I agree—I'm not totally confident in this US team's odds over the course of qualifying (less than I ever have been, at least), but I'm also more confident about them going in to Mexico City than I ever have been. I'm also a moron.

Davis: I think you're a moron generally, but not here. We talked about this before—I think?—but the U.S. plays best when it's not expected to win. That's been true under Bradley and Klinsmann. And I don't think anyone expects them to do anything good in Azteca, right?

O'Hanlon: Yeah, we spoke about it last week. See above: anyone who expects them do to good (that's a noun, grammar police) is a moron. I guess it all depends—how confident you and I are—on how the game goes Friday.

Davis: Which brings us back around full circle. Prediction for Friday night?

O'Hanlon: 3-1 sounds nice, but I'm gonna say 2-1 with a late Costa Rica goal to make the last five minutes terrible. Altidore and Gomez score.

Davis: Man, a late goal would set everyone off, wouldn't it? I love it. Great call.

O'Hanlon: This is weird, but thanks? Considering I called it, expect that not to happen. You'll see me dancing in the press box—the dancing bear—if it does, though.

Davis: There's no cheering in the press box, but there is Will Bruin.

O'Hanlon: Always, and forever.

Noah Davis and Ryan O'Hanlon do this every week for some reason.