Relax, know what other coach barely made it to the hex in qualifying, avoiding a humiliating result by a caribbean nation and struggled in the hex (including our only home qualifying loss since 1985)? Bruce Arena. All we did once we DID make the World Cup was have our greatest run in modern history. We don't have to qualify in style, or even look good doing it. We just have to qualify. There have been teams that struggled mightily through qualification only to perform well in the World Cup (West Germany was a missed open header by Wales in 1989 from completely missing the 1990 World Cup. Brazil needed the last day of qualification to make the 2002 World Cup.). Same goes for vice versa (everyone remember how Serbia and Montenegro cruised through '06 qualifiers only to finish dead last at that World Cup?)
This whole thread is ridiculous, as well as all the other threads and posts that pretty much say the same thing. I think you think the US is better than we are. Fact is it is tough to play on the road on a narrow field, with the injuries to our better players, with horrible field conditions, in a driving rain and wind, against a scrappy, physical team that play ten guys behind the ball, with refs making questionable calls all nigh. And the A&B players are not slouches, either. So let's all relax a little bit and savor that we actually did win under these conditions. I was expecting a tie from the get-go.
Because Bradley had soo much trouble with Guatemala, and Barbados last cycle right? are you seriously telling me that Antigua, the team that couldn't beat Cuba in a two match series between the two nations last cycle has all of a sudden become a force in Concacaf? Don't give me that garbage about field conditions we should have easily handled a nation that has 14 members playing in the USL and only one 1 player playing divison 1 ball in europe.
We had better talent last cycle, hence why we were ranked #14 going into the World Cup and not in the 30's
No, they did the right thing by not waiting until the 90th minute to score the winner and not letting the opposition score on them. Shouldn't you be somewhere getting Chandler his coffee?
and lost to Guatemala 3-1 the US very nearly tied A&B last night but it had nothing to do with A&B's play. We looked like we had zero interest in the match. It was like watching the USMN play a highschool team in a scrimmage. Hopefully JK and the team wake up by Hex.
A lot can change between now and February. That goes for every team. As long as we get three points at home and a point on the road in most venues we will be fine.
they also beat Barbados by an aggregate of 9-0 and Cuba by 7-1. USA beat A&B by the aggregate of 5-2. Game 1 was 2-1 at home for quite some time and last nights match was 1-1 until extra time. I dont recall Cuba or Barbados ever actually being in the game.
I honestly think we will finish 4th in the hex unfortunately and have to try to squeak out of the playoffs. I (sometimes) like Klinsmann's tactics, but his player selection and forcing square pegs into round holes borders on stupidity most of the time. Regardless, I don't think anyone can argue right now that Bradley>Klinsmann.
Ummm, actually they did . . http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-N...g-8-0-Win-Against-Barbados-At-The-Home-D.aspx http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-N...linch-Berth-In-Final-Round-Of-Qualifying.aspx
I wouldn't call the 2002 semifinal qualifying round anything like this one. We went into our last two games that year only needing 2 points. And that group included a Costa Rica team that ended up winning the Hex and was infinitely better than any team that JK has faced thus far in qualifying.
LOL. The Barbados game was the return leg after a 8-0 thrashing where we basically sent a youth team. And it was still a shutout. That's something that JK has only been able to accomplish once so far in qualifying.