This is Keller's 4 year cycle, then he retires and its Howard's job to lose. Howard has had no important games as the national keeper playing in a few friendlies and a meaningless qualifier when the US already clinched a spot. In a game against Poland last year the Poles had one real chance all game and Howard fumbled the ball and it ended up in the net.
I still stand by the fact that Mexico's homefield has been more a function of who they played. If it is so damn good, why don't they play most of their games there? They will play a handful of qualifiers there and that is it. Did you guys know Mexico's national team rarely plays home games in Mexico? Last year they played far more games in the US than Mexico. They played more games in LA than Mexico City. I bet they would play some qualifiers in the US if they could, but FIFA ruled they had to play home games in home territory unless they had circumstances that prevent it.
Mexico played solid, but not spectacular today, and the US looked green out there with Oguchi as a central defender. He is a solid young player with a very bright future, but he isn't ready for that role in big road games. Mexico can field a better team, they need to tell Blanco to get lost from the team he doesn't contribute. Mexico has better than him.
In the bigger picture though CONCACAF is extremely weak, the US and Mexico don't even need to field first teams to qualify. The only game that will get the two teams fired up will be the rematch in Columbus in September.
I still stand by the fact that Mexico's homefield has been more a function of who they played. If it is so damn good, why don't they play most of their games there? They will play a handful of qualifiers there and that is it. Did you guys know Mexico's national team rarely plays home games in Mexico? Last year they played far more games in the US than Mexico. They played more games in LA than Mexico City. I bet they would play some qualifiers in the US if they could, but FIFA ruled they had to play home games in home territory unless they had circumstances that prevent it.
Mexico played solid, but not spectacular today, and the US looked green out there with Oguchi as a central defender. He is a solid young player with a very bright future, but he isn't ready for that role in big road games. Mexico can field a better team, they need to tell Blanco to get lost from the team he doesn't contribute. Mexico has better than him.
In the bigger picture though CONCACAF is extremely weak, the US and Mexico don't even need to field first teams to qualify. The only game that will get the two teams fired up will be the rematch in Columbus in September.
Here's a question, who do you guys think will qualify for the third guaranteed spot and the fourth spot which would set up a play-in game with Australia. Even though they always play tough when I see them, I think we can rule out Trinidad and Tobago. Which leaves Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama. I think that Guatemala and Costa Rica qualify with Guatemala finishing 3rd and Costa Rica finishing 4th setting up the play-in game with Oceania group winner Australia.
I would say Panama will come in fourth and Costa Rica third. Part of that thanks to a "funny" ending in the last game. Panama almost scored in injury time. Then the Ticos get the ball and just fire the ball down the field and then with matador defense they get a wide open shot on the last play of the game. The goalie doesn't even move and watches the shot go in. Almost looked fishy to me, but nonetheless the Ticos are just hanging on for dear life. They will get to Germany though because the CONCACAF is so weak after the top two. Panama could end up being number three, they are actually halfway decent for a change. Guatemala has about two good players. Trinidad has two players who used to be good. We should be ashamed of our four potential spots and give one back.
Agree with the earlier comment though, US and Mexico could be quite good by next year. I think the US just needs to be healthy in back, they made it as far as they did in 2002 with the best defensive player out with injury. Otherwise there is an unprecedented stock of young fast players who all are getting experience playing in Europe. They may not get the same result, but they will be a better team in 2006.
Mexico needs to cut out a bunch of these overrated America and Chivas players and get some of the younger blood into the lineup regularly. I think Altamirano and Bautista are two guys that should be starting in the real games, not all the exhibitions. Borgetti, Bautista and Fonseca up front would be a very attractive frontline, three guys who could play in Europe if they weren't paid so well to start in Mexico.
Agree with the earlier comment though, US and Mexico could be quite good by next year. I think the US just needs to be healthy in back, they made it as far as they did in 2002 with the best defensive player out with injury. Otherwise there is an unprecedented stock of young fast players who all are getting experience playing in Europe. They may not get the same result, but they will be a better team in 2006.
Mexico needs to cut out a bunch of these overrated America and Chivas players and get some of the younger blood into the lineup regularly. I think Altamirano and Bautista are two guys that should be starting in the real games, not all the exhibitions. Borgetti, Bautista and Fonseca up front would be a very attractive frontline, three guys who could play in Europe if they weren't paid so well to start in Mexico.
First off I don't live in the States so this is not a biased opinion. But I really believe U.S. will win this group and are the better team then Mexico. Don't let the loss at Azteca last weekend fool you, pretty much everybody loses there (Costa Rica only team to record a win there since stadium built in 1966) U.S. will beat them back in the States. My Canadian mens team got placed in a very difficult group first round of qualifying with Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica,,, no easy games in that one. Guatemala looked very good and won the group, they came in very well prepared and shocked us on our own turf to start the qualifying process, even though we got them back in Guatemala , it was too late as they'd already won the group. Costa Rica defeated Honduras in the last game of the qualifying round to gain the second spot, and our Canadian team finished a few points behind Honduras. Guatemala has a very solid team with a couple very good strikers, I think they beat out Panama for the fourth spot. No way Trinidad and Tobago should be here, only reason is because they had an easy group in round 1, the Guats exposed them for the frauds they are with a 5-1 thrashing last weekend. My predictions:
1)USA
2)Mexico
3)Costa Rica
4)Guatemala - should be a very close battle with the Ticos for 3rd
5)Panama
6)Trinidad - no way they should be here, too bad Honduras was in a very difficult group with Guat, Costa Rica and Canada so they missed out.
1)USA
2)Mexico
3)Costa Rica
4)Guatemala - should be a very close battle with the Ticos for 3rd
5)Panama
6)Trinidad - no way they should be here, too bad Honduras was in a very difficult group with Guat, Costa Rica and Canada so they missed out.
Panama looked very good tonight. That goal they scored was a definite play of the year candidate. Still you could see Mexico had nothing tonight and played with 10 players for much of the second half and it took an amazing goal to tie it. Still the way Panama played in San Jose and then against the Mexicans make me think they could be the number 3. They have a very nice midfield and a decent defense. This group is so incredibly weak below the top two. The US and Mexico will be playing with mostly young guys before long, short of an incredible run of injuries neither will break a sweat in getting to Germany.
Agree on Trinidad, they have two washed up stars and nothing else. I still have no idea how CONCACAF set up the groups, that pathetic joke of a group they put Mexico in defied explanation. If not for a late goal in the last game by Trinidad, St. Vincent and the Grenadines would be participating in this hexagonal!
Agree on Trinidad, they have two washed up stars and nothing else. I still have no idea how CONCACAF set up the groups, that pathetic joke of a group they put Mexico in defied explanation. If not for a late goal in the last game by Trinidad, St. Vincent and the Grenadines would be participating in this hexagonal!
Wildbill, yeah Panama stepped up bigtime today,, that's gonna be a real dogfight for the 3rd and 4th spots.. I think Honduras or even our Canadian team should be there instead of T & T,, but when the big Concacaf guy Jack Warner is from Trinidad it's no coincidence that they get a mickey mouse group while we get stuck with Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica.. I would like to see you guys win this group, but the real dogfight will be for that 3rd place spot as mentioned before. I'm thinking of making the trip down to Seattle in July to watch Canada/U.S.A. and Canada/Costa Rica in the Gold Cup at Qwest Stadium..
