How come? Shouldn't you guys have your A team? I think it would be important for you guys to take advantage and be Champions this edition as this year's champion will play next editions champion for a ticket to the CC.
Klinsmann has hinted at 2 teams this summer, one for qualifying and another for Gold Cup. So there's a possibility for fringe players to play in the Gold Cup. You are correct in that there is now a greater incentive to win because of the new format.
Folks, if you want to talk about the failings of a team's fans, regardless of the team in question, then you will need to find another forum to do it.
BarcelonaDos midfielder Jonathan dos Santos could be on his way to Liverpool after admitting he wants to leave the Nou Camp this summer
This is kinda OT, but does anyone else think there are several CONCACAF programs that should be a lot better than they are?? Canada and Puerto Rico in particular--I don't expect them to compete consistently with the US and Mexico but given their resources, population, sporting culture, and integration into the US league structure Canada should be a solid second-tier CONCACAF team (on par with Honduras and Costa Rica) and Puerto Rico should be at least as good as teams like Jamaica, Guatemala, and Panama. I realize soccer isn't the #1 sport in either of those countries but that's also true of Jamaica and T&T (cricket) and Panama (baseball). Strange to me.
Well, I don't have the quotes on hand but I remember people saying things like they were the best team in the western hemisphere.
There still is soccer culture in all of those countries you mention. Canada and Puerto Rico do not have an established soccer culture at all. But with MLS and the lower division teams it is slowly progressing for each respective country. I also think what has helped Jamaica and T&T is the fact many of their best players play in England. Jamaica especially benefits from having many of their players live most of their lives there. Panama I would say has benefited a lot by having many of their players play in Colombia. Most of their key players on their roster have either played in Colombia in the past (Perez, Baloy, Tejada) or currently do play there.
Does any other CONCACAF's non senior team scare anyone? I'm not versed enough in their teams to understand who we will face in the Gold Cup... Aka, do we think the other teams in CONCACAF will mix up their teams more or take advantage of senior team call-ups after the group stage? Wondering if that will impact qualifiers from the standpoint of injuries and depth. I was thinking about this the other day and wondering if some teams are going to have to play more tired players.
I don't think any team should scare us... ...BUT I do think Costa Rica and Honduras can still have competitive teams out there that are mostly comprised of domestic League players and U-23 kids. To be honest the teams I think can do the most damage in this Gold Cup are teams like Canada, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago if they decide to bring their very best players. Also a team like Martinique could be a surprise team reminiscent of Guadeloupe in 2007. They have a lot of talent playing in the French Lower divisions and other Euro Leagues.
Considering Mexico's upcoming schedule, and their sketchy form as of late, this will make Chepo look like either an idiot or a genius. Most likely the former
Without a doubt Canada should be much better. But their talented youth seem to prefer other nations, Holland included despite the challenges for that. Their soccer federation need to start from the bottom on solving their woes.
USA va. Honduras game in Rio Tinto.. my friend got some tickets. Expect quite a few Blue and Whites in the stands. Without the red ofcourse lol
With a combination of results Mexico could be out of the world cup after these 3 games, after a perfect run in the first round don´t know what it´s going on, but can´t wait to see what is going to happen if Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica manage to get positive results oh my godness! XD
While my schadenfreude levels would be through the roof if that occurred, I don't see it happening. I see Mexico getting at least 5 points from those three matches, even with their recent struggles
And even if they lose their games 4-6 of the Hex, I wouldn't put it past them being able to go W-W-W-W in their final 4 games to get to 15 points and still make it to Brazil with that total.
So, in the USA, who is broadcasting Jamaica-Mexico in English, and who is broadcasting it in Spanish?
Since the game is away in Kingston, I assume its Telemundo.. Don't think there will be an English call for it unless you have JTV which is Jamaican television.
I think Mexico is too good to not get in, but if they get anything less than 7 points in their next 3 matches they really start playing with fire
We have some relevant friendlies to track this week ... May 28 Canada v Costa Rica May 31 Mexico v Nigeria June 1 Panama v Peru June 2 Honduras v Israel Apparently Jamaica will jump right into qualifying, hosting Mexico on June 4 and the US on June 7.