EvanJ
08 Dec 2004, 04:31 PM
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/041208/1/2rvq.html
'Everything is going to balance out' in CONCACAF
8 December 2004
by FIFAworldcup.com
Representatives from each of the six nations involved in the final round of North and Central American and Caribbean qualifying speak about the draw and the drama to come.
President of the Football Federation Hermes Navarro Vargas (CRC)
Given that it’s a six-team group with the same number of games home and away, the order we face the other teams doesn’t bother us that much. What really matters is preparing the side thoroughly, playing well and picking up the maximum number of points possible. We have the same goal as we had in the previous qualifiers: that is to finish first. As for our opening game against Mexico, I think it will be a good opportunity to show what we’re made of. Facing a team of their stature is always especially motivating. We have already had a series of meetings to plan these fixtures, and I have to say that everyone is feeling confident. With regard to the fans, they believe in this team, they know the side are improving fast and that they’ve done well.
President of the National Football Federation Rafael Salguero (GUA)
For us, the most difficult part comes at the end. Everyone wanted the number two spot in the draw but fortunately we got it. We have to face regional powerhouses Mexico and the USA in our final games, which is an advantage in that we take on what you might call the more manageable sides first. But that’s all just on paper. It will all depend on our players and their mentality.
General Secretary of the Football Federation Decio De María Serrano (MEX)
No sooner had we received news of the draw, than we began studying and planning the task ahead because we have to accommodate the dates of the internationals within our domestic league season. We are not unduly worried about the order in which we face our rivals. Our only objective is to reach the World Cup finals, and to do that we have to be capable of beating all the sides, regardless of the order in which we play them. Does being considered the favourites generate an extra pressure? I would say no. Everybody is clear about what our goal is and we’ll all work towards that.
President of the Football Federation Ariel Alvarado (PAN)
We’re thrilled to be facing a challenge of this nature. Our fixture list alternates our home and away games from start to finish. That’s good news as it will allow us have every second game at home, where we have the best chance of picking up points. Our opening tie is against Guatemala, for whom we have the utmost respect. However, having beaten them in our last few meetings, we’ll be hoping that history can repeat itself and that we can get off to a winning start. We’re a small country but we have some very talented players. Panamanian football is on the up. I believe we represent the new face of football in the region and now is our chance to prove it.
President of CONCACAF, Vice-President of FIFA Jack A. Warner (TRI)
It’s not a bad draw and, broadly speaking, one could say that all six teams have a chance of going through. Moreover, the six will come together in Zurich for a seminar dealing with matters such as security and fair play. As President of CONCACAF, I am delighted and would like to thank FIFA and its President.
Where Trinidad and Tobago are concerned, it’s different. Our first match is against the United States, which is going to be very tricky. But it’s a good start for us, insofar as we have an old score to settle with the USA. All Trinidadians still recall the match on 19 November 1989, when the Americans defeated us in Port of Spain (1-0) to end our hopes of going to the World Cup in Italy.
Having said that, the date of the match makes it even more difficult. We play them on 9th February, the day after the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. Our carnival is a great occasion where we sing, dance … and drink. Let’s just say it won’t make for an ideal atmosphere in which to prepare for such an important match, so I think the team should leave the island and prepare elsewhere.
Head Coach Bruce Arena (USA)
We are prepared for this draw. Since I’ve been manager, most of our games in the early going of qualifying rounds have been on the road, so we understand the process and the mentality. I was going to be indifferent to any scenario, because in the end everything is going to balance out. At the end of the day it’s going to be extremely difficult, and the teams going to the World Cup will likely be decided on the final day.
CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer (USA)
The opening is quite interesting, because it turns out that the teams are all from different groups as they were in previous rounds. So they get to face new opponents. Any competition with six teams provides for some tough competition. In the previous events, the results of who qualified were not known until the last day. And looking over this, I think we will experience pretty much the same this time. It’s a really exciting final round, and it should be a great spectacle for the fans.
With Panama, we have a new face -- it’s their first time in this final grouping. The rest are tough competitors. It will be a very hard competition. This system in our region has proved to be a workable one, with everybody to play a lot of matches. The goal we set years ago was that one of our teams will win the FIFA World Cup. That’s part of the process and maybe it will happen. We get closer each time. This number of games against good competition, that’s what each of the teams are waiting for.
'Everything is going to balance out' in CONCACAF
8 December 2004
by FIFAworldcup.com
Representatives from each of the six nations involved in the final round of North and Central American and Caribbean qualifying speak about the draw and the drama to come.
President of the Football Federation Hermes Navarro Vargas (CRC)
Given that it’s a six-team group with the same number of games home and away, the order we face the other teams doesn’t bother us that much. What really matters is preparing the side thoroughly, playing well and picking up the maximum number of points possible. We have the same goal as we had in the previous qualifiers: that is to finish first. As for our opening game against Mexico, I think it will be a good opportunity to show what we’re made of. Facing a team of their stature is always especially motivating. We have already had a series of meetings to plan these fixtures, and I have to say that everyone is feeling confident. With regard to the fans, they believe in this team, they know the side are improving fast and that they’ve done well.
President of the National Football Federation Rafael Salguero (GUA)
For us, the most difficult part comes at the end. Everyone wanted the number two spot in the draw but fortunately we got it. We have to face regional powerhouses Mexico and the USA in our final games, which is an advantage in that we take on what you might call the more manageable sides first. But that’s all just on paper. It will all depend on our players and their mentality.
General Secretary of the Football Federation Decio De María Serrano (MEX)
No sooner had we received news of the draw, than we began studying and planning the task ahead because we have to accommodate the dates of the internationals within our domestic league season. We are not unduly worried about the order in which we face our rivals. Our only objective is to reach the World Cup finals, and to do that we have to be capable of beating all the sides, regardless of the order in which we play them. Does being considered the favourites generate an extra pressure? I would say no. Everybody is clear about what our goal is and we’ll all work towards that.
President of the Football Federation Ariel Alvarado (PAN)
We’re thrilled to be facing a challenge of this nature. Our fixture list alternates our home and away games from start to finish. That’s good news as it will allow us have every second game at home, where we have the best chance of picking up points. Our opening tie is against Guatemala, for whom we have the utmost respect. However, having beaten them in our last few meetings, we’ll be hoping that history can repeat itself and that we can get off to a winning start. We’re a small country but we have some very talented players. Panamanian football is on the up. I believe we represent the new face of football in the region and now is our chance to prove it.
President of CONCACAF, Vice-President of FIFA Jack A. Warner (TRI)
It’s not a bad draw and, broadly speaking, one could say that all six teams have a chance of going through. Moreover, the six will come together in Zurich for a seminar dealing with matters such as security and fair play. As President of CONCACAF, I am delighted and would like to thank FIFA and its President.
Where Trinidad and Tobago are concerned, it’s different. Our first match is against the United States, which is going to be very tricky. But it’s a good start for us, insofar as we have an old score to settle with the USA. All Trinidadians still recall the match on 19 November 1989, when the Americans defeated us in Port of Spain (1-0) to end our hopes of going to the World Cup in Italy.
Having said that, the date of the match makes it even more difficult. We play them on 9th February, the day after the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. Our carnival is a great occasion where we sing, dance … and drink. Let’s just say it won’t make for an ideal atmosphere in which to prepare for such an important match, so I think the team should leave the island and prepare elsewhere.
Head Coach Bruce Arena (USA)
We are prepared for this draw. Since I’ve been manager, most of our games in the early going of qualifying rounds have been on the road, so we understand the process and the mentality. I was going to be indifferent to any scenario, because in the end everything is going to balance out. At the end of the day it’s going to be extremely difficult, and the teams going to the World Cup will likely be decided on the final day.
CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer (USA)
The opening is quite interesting, because it turns out that the teams are all from different groups as they were in previous rounds. So they get to face new opponents. Any competition with six teams provides for some tough competition. In the previous events, the results of who qualified were not known until the last day. And looking over this, I think we will experience pretty much the same this time. It’s a really exciting final round, and it should be a great spectacle for the fans.
With Panama, we have a new face -- it’s their first time in this final grouping. The rest are tough competitors. It will be a very hard competition. This system in our region has proved to be a workable one, with everybody to play a lot of matches. The goal we set years ago was that one of our teams will win the FIFA World Cup. That’s part of the process and maybe it will happen. We get closer each time. This number of games against good competition, that’s what each of the teams are waiting for.