UNCAF impressions of Hex opponents

[Delta Blues]

Guatemala- Not having the flopping fish showed. They had decent team speed, especially in back, but played very disorganized. Too much 1v1 and not very good vision. Frankly even with a full squad at their disposal I think we've got a good chance at 3 points down there.

Panama- Really, I thought they had the best team in the tourney. Size and athleticism everywhere, plus some very creative players. I think our ability to play to the wings, and our better organization in back than anything they faced in UNCAF gives us the edge. Plus Donovan, GAM, Beasley, Claudio, Mathis, and a few more are better than anyone they have in overall quality.

Costa Rica- Frankly they were simply LUCKY to get to the final match. Of course no Wanchump, or their other top striker played, but most of the rest were starters. They just don't look as good as the last Hex. Control the box, don't allow unmarked or freak rebound goals, don't grow arms out of our heads and I think Costa Rica could fall at Saprissa too. IMO we'll find out MExico's win there wasn't the big deal it appears to be.

I really believe an in-form all MLS USA squad would have easily won this tournament.

I couldn't see every minute of every match, so please give your impressions, and let me know if I'm full of it.

[USsoccerLA]

Guatemala- Not having the flopping fish showed. They had decent team speed, especially in back, but played very disorganized. Too much 1v1 and not very good vision. Frankly even with a full squad at their disposal I think we've got a good chance at 3 points down there.

Panama- Really, I thought they had the best team in the tourney. Size and athleticism everywhere, plus some very creative players. I think our ability to play to the wings, and our better organization in back than anything they faced in UNCAF gives us the edge. Plus Donovan, GAM, Beasley, Claudio, Mathis, and a few more are better than anyone they have in overall quality.

Costa Rica- Frankly they were simply LUCKY to get to the final match. Of course no Wanchump, or their other top striker played, but most of the rest were starters. They just don't look as good as the last Hex. Control the box, don't allow unmarked or freak rebound goals, don't grow arms out of our heads and I think Costa Rica could fall at Saprissa too. IMO we'll find out MExico's win there wasn't the big deal it appears to be.

I really believe an in-form all MLS USA squad would have easily won this tournament.

I couldn't see every minute of every match, so please give your impressions, and let me know if I'm full of it.


Yea i have to agree except when u talked about panama they werent ever that great of a team to begin with. i saw all the games and i felt honduras was probably the best team. Guatemala dissapointed greatly and the Ticos well they lacked the magic that wanchop creates. i think we can and should take all of them in the hex away or at home.

[purojogo]

CR seems to be back, judging from the drumming they gave Guatemala in Guatemala.... Then again, most if not all teams showed up with their A- or B sides....

[Adam Zebrowski]

I suspect maradiaga has guatemala focused on the hex and nothing else, so I'll take their uncaf play at less than 100% inspiration...

all along, I've been boosting guatemala for 3rd in the hex....

their tie AT PANAMA, where their defensive organization kept panama out of the goal, was the big key....

guatemala offense is RUIZ, and their huge edge is maradiaga, who has introduced a team concept where the sum of the parts exceeds the individual skill...

the comments about costa rica being a level below than past incarnations is true....also look at the number of yellows their carrying...ti will hurt them throughout the hex....

panama is athletically gifted, but I do question overall depth and committment to defending...

I still see usa, mexico , and guatemala advancing with costa rica in the play-off and getting to germany that way...

[AndyMead]

CR seems to be back, judging from the drumming they gave Guatemala in Guatemala.... Then again, most if not all teams showed up with their A- or B sides....

Actually, I take it the other way. I think Costa Rica is in trouble. Given their international play from the last year, combined with their mostly piss-poor play during the UNCAF tournament, they may not get one of the three automatic spots for Germany.

Except that neither Panama or Guatemala showed themselves well, either. How many goals did Panama score in the tournament?

I watched all but a couple games of the tournament, and boy was it ugly.

[law5guy]

Actually, I take it the other way. I think Costa Rica is in trouble. Given their international play from the last year, combined with their mostly piss-poor play during the UNCAF tournament, they may not get one of the three automatic spots for Germany.

Except that neither Panama or Guatemala showed themselves well, either. How many goals did Panama score in the tournament?

I watched all but a couple games of the tournament, and boy was it ugly.

Agreed... BTW... I couldn't help but thinking that they would have had better attendance if the tournament were held in the USA, say, MeadowLands, RFK, and the Orange Bowl? The staduim there seemed rather empty...

[AndyMead]

Agreed... BTW... I couldn't help but thinking that they would have had better attendance if the tournament were held in the USA, say, RJF and the Orange Bowl? The staduim there seemd rather empty...

Five match days (3 triple headers and 2 doubleheaders) in nine days is a lot of tickets.

Plus the stadium seemed to have big track around it, that will always push fans away from the lower seats (horrible view).

[California Jack]

Guatemala- Not having the flopping fish showed. They had decent team speed, especially in back, but played very disorganized. Too much 1v1 and not very good vision. Frankly even with a full squad at their disposal I think we've got a good chance at 3 points down there.

Panama- Really, I thought they had the best team in the tourney. Size and athleticism everywhere, plus some very creative players. I think our ability to play to the wings, and our better organization in back than anything they faced in UNCAF gives us the edge. Plus Donovan, GAM, Beasley, Claudio, Mathis, and a few more are better than anyone they have in overall quality.

Costa Rica- Frankly they were simply LUCKY to get to the final match. Of course no Wanchump, or their other top striker played, but most of the rest were starters. They just don't look as good as the last Hex. Control the box, don't allow unmarked or freak rebound goals, don't grow arms out of our heads and I think Costa Rica could fall at Saprissa too. IMO we'll find out MExico's win there wasn't the big deal it appears to be.

I really believe an in-form all MLS USA squad would have easily won this tournament.

I couldn't see every minute of every match, so please give your impressions, and let me know if I'm full of it.


I cheated by watching most matches on 3x or faster, stopping and rewinding the goals (sorry, but 13 additional games on top of the usual fare of Euro matches was undoable at normal speed), and I thought Honduras was very impressive. I know they played light opposition in the group round, but Milton Nunez and Wilmer Velasquez played outstanding and beautiful football. They also played very well against CR, which is said to be the best C.Am. side, pushing the Ticos to PK's in the tournament final. I believe they drew Guatemala in group play, in Guatemala.

Since Honduras is probably the best side not playing in the World Cup, the Gold Cup is the biggest prize in their sights right now. I expect they will send their best players to the USA in July and they may surprise some Hex participants, especially Panama and T&T. I predict a third-place finish for Honduras in the Gold Cup.

I think they may surprise the US in the Albuquerque match, esp. since I doubt we'll have our top players there for it. I'll predict a competitive 2-2 result.

I know this is about Hex opponents, but I have to think that the US will have a relatively easy time in the Hex, and I'm glad we have Panama and T&T instead of Honduras and Jamaica.

Just my two cents.

[AndyMead]

All games at Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores in Guatemala City

Results:
2/19
Honduras 5:1 Nicaragua
Guatemala 2:0 Belize
Panama 1:0 El Salvador

2/21
Honduras 4:0 Belize
Guatemala 4:0 Nicaragua
Costa Rica 2:1 El Salvador

2/23 - Meaningless games, semifinalists decided on 2/21
Guatemala 1:1 Honduras
Nicaragua 1:0 Belize
Costa Rica 1:0 Panama

2/25 - Semifinals
Honduras 1:0 Panama
Costa Rica 4:0 Guatemala

2/27 - 3rd/1st
Guatemala 3:0 Panama
Costa Rica 1:1 (7:6) Honduras

[AndyMead]

Panama- Really, I thought they had the best team in the tourney.

In four games, Panama mustered one goal - and that was against El Salvador.

They got beat and shutout by Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

[Delta Blues]

In four games, Panama mustered one goal - and that was against El Salvador.

They got beat and shutout by Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

I meant beside Honduras. I should have specified "of the hex teams." Honduras was by far the best team there. Panama was so unlucky. They couldn't buy a break. Finishing wasn't there, but overall quality was. Of course you don't win if you don't finish, but I think they're at least the equals of Guatemala and Costa Rica, who won two matches they were thoroughly outplayed in. Of course that could be an argument that they are good, because good teams tend to win games they have no business winning.

[TeamUSA]

I watched over half of these matches. Was hoping Belize might do something, as I've never seen them play before.

All of the teams didn't look super enthusiatic or maybe they just played down to the lesser team on the pitch. I too believe an all MLS side representing the USA could have walked through this tournament and won it all. One thing to consider for Honduras was the timing of their matches, they practically had no rest. They will try and give the USA a real run in the friendly because they aren't in the hex......something to prove. Costa Rica just ain't what is used to be.

[ETSC]

In four games, Panama mustered one goal - and that was against El Salvador.

They got beat and shutout by Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

Thin striker pool. Roberto Brown wasn't there and the Dély Valdés brothers retired. Two potential partners for Brown are out. Nicolas Muñoz(CD F.A.S) was el máximo artillero de la Liga Salvadoreña until a broken leg and José Garcés is doing a twenty month turn for attempted murder.

José Hernández has done a nice job but losing two promising forwards for the duration is going to be a tough go.

[California Jack]

I meant beside Honduras. I should have specified "of the hex teams." Honduras was by far the best team there. Panama was so unlucky. They couldn't buy a break. Finishing wasn't there, but overall quality was. Of course you don't win if you don't finish, but I think they're at least the equals of Guatemala and Costa Rica, who won two matches they were thoroughly outplayed in. Of course that could be an argument that they are good, because good teams tend to win games they have no business winning.


I'm glad someone else shares my opinion of HON. My only hypothesis as to why this occurred is that PAN and CRC might have been holding back since they have qualifiers, while for HON, placing well in UNCAF and earning a trip to Gold Cup is their biggest goal at present, so maybe they played their best starters and others didn't? I know GUA didn't have the Fish, but I don't know the other sides very well.

I agree with another poster, HON will have something to prove in Albuquerque and they could surprise us if we show up with a B-side and are not prepared.

HON will tear TRI to shreds in the Gold Cup, and, I predict, finish no lower than 3rd place.

If UNCAF was what we can expect from GUA, CRC and PAN, qualifying for Germany will be easier than I thought.

[Adam Zebrowski]

is this the same hondiuras who lost to t&t in honduras during the last hex...

there are some times when honduras just throws in the biggest clunkers...

and then there are times they look like the best of concacaf....