JUERGEN KLINSMANN did not even attempt to sugarcoat his reaction to the performance of his U.S. team after its 0-4 humiliation in a World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on Tuesday.

    The normally upbeat Klinsmann admitted the performance of his side, which mustered only one shot on goal in the Costa Rica capital of San Jose, had been unacceptable. “This is the defeat that hurts the most in my five years here, there’s no doubt about it,” he said after a result that leaves the U.S. without a point from two matches in the CONCACAF qualifying group.

    “It is a bitter pill to swallow.”

    Speculation over Klinsmann’s tenure as head coach was already rampant before the game, even as U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati remained publicly supportive.

    After the loss, Gulati called for a metaphorical timeout, as reports linked former head coach Bruce Arena to the job. “We won’t make any decisions right after games,” Gulati said. “We’ll think about what happened today and talk with Juergen and look at the situation.”

    (SD-Agencies)