One CONCACAF Giant will fall

[chapin]

I have the feeling that either the U.S. or Mexico is not going to qualify 2006. Personally, I think Mexico is going to be embarassed at the end of the qualification round. The U.S. has proven extremely effective against Mexico; whenever they play, the U.S. succeeds in throwing off their game and making them look confused and weak. According to my Mexican friend, they are chokers: "Jugaron como nunca, perdieron como siempre." Mexico's era of superiority in the CONCACAF is coming to an end and giving way to the U.S and Costa Rica, even Honduras.

If the U.S. keep it up against Mexico, Costa Rica/Honduras/Jamaica can pose real problems as well. As for the U.S., the biggest challenge will be batting off Central American teams who are infamously dangerous at home.

2002 was some what of a fluke, the U.S. played over their heads; however, luck is not everything, they are a solid team in the making.

This round will be extremely interesting as smaller countries will play a huge role in the downfall of traditionally strong teams.

[juventino3]

I have the feeling that either the U.S. or Mexico is not going to qualify 2006. Personally, I think Mexico is going to be embarassed at the end of the qualification round. The U.S. has proven extremely effective against Mexico; whenever they play, the U.S. succeeds in throwing off their game and making them look confused and weak. According to my Mexican friend, they are chokers: "Jugaron como nunca, perdieron como siempre." Mexico's era of superiority in the CONCACAF is coming to an end and giving way to the U.S and Costa Rica, even Honduras.

If the U.S. keep it up against Mexico, Costa Rica/Honduras/Jamaica can pose real problems as well. As for the U.S., the biggest challenge will be batting off Central American teams who are infamously dangerous at home.

2002 was some what of a fluke, the U.S. played over their heads; however, luck is not everything, they are a solid team in the making.

This round will be extremely interesting as smaller countries will play a huge role in the downfall of traditionally strong teams.

The US is pulling ahead because their domestic league is improving and they are exporting players to big clubs in Europe. Costa Rica is not on that level yet. They have some good players, but less overall talent and much less depth then the US. No way Honduras qualifies over Mexico. They might not even make the Hex the way they are playing. The outside teams to watch are Canada and Jamaica. Jamaica has tremendous depth and talent at forward with Ricardo Fuller, Onandi Lowe, Fabian Taylor, and Damani Ralph.

[Levante]

Ummm.............. no.

Why don't you just go ahead and change your thread title to "Mexico will fall."

[gettysburg32]

I have the feeling that either the U.S. or Mexico is not going to qualify 2006. Personally, I think Mexico is going to be embarassed at the end of the qualification round. The U.S. has proven extremely effective against Mexico; whenever they play, the U.S. succeeds in throwing off their game and making them look confused and weak. According to my Mexican friend, they are chokers: "Jugaron como nunca, perdieron como siempre." Mexico's era of superiority in the CONCACAF is coming to an end and giving way to the U.S and Costa Rica, even Honduras.

If the U.S. keep it up against Mexico, Costa Rica/Honduras/Jamaica can pose real problems as well. As for the U.S., the biggest challenge will be batting off Central American teams who are infamously dangerous at home.

2002 was some what of a fluke, the U.S. played over their heads; however, luck is not everything, they are a solid team in the making.

This round will be extremely interesting as smaller countries will play a huge role in the downfall of traditionally strong teams.



I think the one very good point you make is that the US still has major problems getting points, let alone winning, on the road in Mexico/Central America. This is the one step the US must take to truly be a "giant" of Concacaf. This is also the one reason why the US cannot take qualifying for granted (especially once the hex comes around), as long as the US will probably lose at Mexico, at Costa Rica, and maybe even at Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, qualifying won't be easy. Yeah, the US is huge favorites to qualify, but if any US supporter says, "it'll be easy" or "we'll dominate everyone" type of thing, they are being either a fool or way too cocky.

If I had to pick any "major" upsets during the home and home series coming up in June, I'd pick El Salvador and Costa Rica to have very tough series. Bermuda is improving and El Salvador has been stuggling (on and off the field) recently. With playing a game in Havana, you never know what might happen/which ref might get paid off, so Costa Rica might end up with some pressure going home for the second leg.

About Mexico, they will cruise to the hex. They have the easiest path of anyone. Then, just like any other team, anything could happen becuase at least 5 of the 6, if not all 6, of the teams left by then are formidable. (The second team out of Pool C will probably be the weakest) Does Mexico historically have as much trouble playing on the road in Central America (especially Costa Rica and Honduras) as the US does? (I'm asking because I don't know off hand, I'm not being sarcastic, I could look it up but I'm too lazy right now, lol)

[Davids26]

To be considered a true giant, the US will need to do better in Central America and Mexico no doubt, but as long as they get the majority of their points at home, we'll continue to qualify for the World Cup.

Our record at home is pretty good in qualifying, only losing once since 1986, in a game where the US were at best a B team. As long as we continue to win games at home though, we'll qualify.

[numerista]

Does Mexico historically have as much trouble playing on the road in Central America (especially Costa Rica and Honduras) as the US does? (I'm asking because I don't know off hand, I'm not being sarcastic, I could look it up but I'm too lazy right now, lol)

Yep ... road record in
02 Qualifiers
US 2 W, 3 T, 3 L
Mexico 2 W, 3 T, 3 L

98 Qualifiers
US 2 W, 4 T, 2 L
Mexico 2 W, 4 T, 2 L

The difference is that Mexico tends to dominate at home, while the US doesn't.

[McKinney_Burn]

We also need not forget that the 4th place finisher in the Hex will still have a shot to qualify against the 5th place finisher from Asia. Granted that qualification for Germany will be different for that region (since Korea and Japan will have to qualify) this go around, but for 2002 Ireland squared off against Iran for a .5 spot. Pretty humbling thought for us.

That being said, I am expecting better results from our boys on the road this time around... with 4 years of experience to learn from. And stronger support at home matches to help on that end.

[EvanJ]

How can the second best CONCACAF team in the FIFA rankings not already be a giant of CONCACAF (the United States)?
The United States beat Mexico in World Cup 2002, Mexico beat the United States for a spot in the upcoming Olympics, and Costa Rica was first in CONCACAF World Cup 2002 Qualifying. That's bragging rights for all three countries.

[chapin crema 4 life]

A giant will fall in hexon group!! I Love seeing everyone has their favorites in group 3!! I keep seeing Honduras, Costa Rica to pass on to the next round. I also saw canada to pass to the next round. Now no one has pick guatemala to pass on to hexon group, and even a supportor of the Guatemala national team has stated they perfer guatemala not to go so they wont get beat like el salvodor did in 84 WC 12-0 by russia if remeber my correctly. I wouldn't care less if Guatemala was beaten 22-0 against France!!! The bottom line is that for one year Guatemala was 1 of the best teams in world that why the qualified to the world cup of Germany 06!!! Viva Guate hasta la muerte!!! Vamos Chapin no esean cabrones Apoye tu selecion hasta el mundial the germany 06.. Now if they make it to the hexon. I'll like to see what everyone will be saying then. Mexico year and year the give then cake walk team. We all saw what happen when they played in the last hexon they were almost out. Honduras roll over and played dead for them..
Let have a great time and cheer for our native or parent native land to make it... :cool:

[Autogolazo]

Not much chance of this with an extra half spot this time.

Plus, underwhelming T&T practically guaranteed to be in the Hex and finish at or near the bottom.

Costa Rica has a tougher road getting out of its group than in getting to the World Cup once it's in the Hex.

[paul51]

I definitely see one of the so called giants if not making it, then taking the fourth spot, Honduras might step up to the plate and CR dominated the past hex and dont forget they defeated the mexican and american teams for the coccacaf champion cup, so that shows their league is getting stronger(mexican league is definitely better, but the mls is not and thats a fact).So the possibility is there thats for sure..........

[nicodemus]

Our record at home is pretty good in qualifying, only losing once since 1986,

I was at that game, the only WCQ I've ever been to. Friggin' Honduras!

[numerista]

Plus, underwhelming T&T practically guaranteed to be in the Hex and finish at or near the bottom.

I agree that it's unfortunate how the draw came out unbalanced, but I still think you're being a bit harsh on T&T. They may not be very deep, but as Honduras learned in 2001, you can never write off an opponent with an excellent keeper (Hislop) and an exceptional forward (Stern John). And at this point, we also know that Cornell Glenn has a world of potential.

With John-Glenn leading the way, that team could really take off. <Ducks.>

[Jay510]

The difference is that Mexico tends to dominate at home, while the US doesn't.

how can you say that.....the USA dominates at home....theyve lost only 1 time at home in a qualifier since 1988 against Honduras 2 years ago.....

they may not win every game at home by 5, but they rarely lose

[gohb]

Our record at home is pretty good in qualifying, only losing once since 1986.

I was at that game, the only WCQ I've ever been to. Friggin' Honduras!

And I was at the game in the 1986 WCQ! It took place at El Camino College, Torrance, California. We lost 0:1 to Costa Rica, despite dominating play. I remember one shot was cleared off the line.

[dfb547490]

I don't think Mexico will fail to qualify. They'll have a tough time of it, sure--the US is unquestionably top dog in CONCACAF right now--but they'll pull it out in the end.

The CONCACAF giant that I could easily see falling is Costa Rica. They have a hell of a road to the finals--a first-round matchup with Cuba, then a semifinal group in all likelihood consisting of Canada, Honduras, and Guatemala. Any one of those 4 teams is very capable of beating Costa Rica, particularly when the Ticos are on the road.

I think Costa Rica will fall to Cuba in a shock upset, the US, Mexico, and Honduras will advance from the Hex with Canada defeating Saudi Arabia or Iran in a playoff.

[ZeekLTK]

I think USA, Mexico, and Honduras qualifying outright for the World Cup and then a Caribbean side (Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, or possibly St. Kitts & Nevis) make it to the playoff game and (hopefully) beat the Asian team to give us 4 spots.

In 2002 Costa Rica had to win a tiebreaker play-off game against Guatemala to get to the next round. This time around I think Guatemala wins that game.

[davide]

I'll predict that Mexico, Costa Rica and the USA will finish in the top three again. Honduras will place fourth for the berth in the playoff. These were the four best teams in the last cycle by a large margin.

I can't see any of the Carribean countries making much noise in the final round. They tend to fall apart at the first hint of adversity.

Cuba has no chance of getting anything in San Jose. IIRC, Canada beat Cuba in Havana in the last cycle. I don't see that upset as a reality.

Canada will not get any points on the road, so I don't see them surving a group with Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Honduras and Costa Rica have enough offense to win anywhere. Guatemala will be tough to beat at home, but they'll likely need a result in Canada and maybe a point somewhere else to make it to the next round. That'll be a fun group to watch, but I see Guatemala finishing just short again.

[Davids26]

and then a Caribbean side (Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, or possibly St. Kitts & Nevis) make it to the playoff game and (hopefully) beat the Asian team to give us 4 spots.




Please give me whatever you've been smoking...

[nicodemus]

Please give me whatever you've been smoking...
It had to be a joke, you know, just to see if we were paying attention?