After Matchday 3[R]

[Sachin]

We're roughly 1/3 of the way through the Hex.

Here's how things stack up

Team MP W D L GF GA PTS
Mexico 3 2 1 0 5 3 7
USA 3 2 0 1 5 3 6
Guatemala 3 1 1 1 5 3 4
Costa Rica 3 1 1 1 3 3 4
Panama 3 0 2 1 2 3 2
TandT 3 0 1 2 2 7 1

Obviously, the USA and Mexico are in the driver's seat.

Mexico has a real advange with the win in Saprissa, a feat the USA is unlikely to duplicate. El Tri has the inside track to the first qualification spot. USA still has the inside track to the second.

Where it gets interesting is in the 3-5 spots. I would have penciled in Costa Rica and Guatemala for 3 and 4 respectively, but those dropped points in Port of Spain could come back to cost the Ticos if Panama starts finding their confidence and winning the odd match. All three teams should start looking for Uzbekistan on their maps.

Thoughts,

Sachin

[Toolhead]

Where it gets interesting is in the 3-5 spots. I would have penciled in Costa Rica and Guatemala for 3 and 4 respectively, but those dropped points in Port of Spain could come back to cost the Ticos if Panama starts finding their confidence and winning the odd match. All three teams should start looking for Uzbekistan on their maps.

Thoughts,

Sachin

Actually, Uzbekistan is crapping the bed over in Asia, it's more likely to be Kuwait or Bahrain as it stands now.

[IASocFan]

...
Where it gets interesting is in the 3-5 spots. I would have penciled in Costa Rica and Guatemala for 3 and 4 respectively, but those dropped points in Port of Spain could come back to cost the Ticos if Panama starts finding their confidence and winning the odd match. All three teams should start looking for Uzbekistan on their maps.

Thoughts,...

I don't think Uzbekistan will be of interest to anyone in the Western world. They have 1 point from 3 matches (3 matches to go). More likely is Kuwait or Bahrain.

Key games for positions 3-5 are probably the home and away match up between Costa Rica and Guatamala. Guatamala has the early edge with 4 points on 1 home game, while the Ticos have had 2 home games.

Panama and Trinidad meet in Trinidad on the next match day. If Panama is to make a move, it will need to start here.

After hosting Panama, Trinidad travels to Mexico and the US! :(

[bshredder]

We're roughly 1/3 of the way through the Hex.

Here's how things stack up

Team MP W D L GF GA PTS
Mexico 3 2 1 0 5 3 7
USA 3 2 0 1 5 3 6
Guatemala 3 1 1 1 5 3 4
Costa Rica 3 1 1 1 3 3 4
Panama 3 0 2 1 2 3 2
TandT 3 0 1 2 2 7 1

Obviously, the USA and Mexico are in the driver's seat.

Mexico has a real advange with the win in Saprissa, a feat the USA is unlikely to duplicate. El Tri has the inside track to the first qualification spot. USA still has the inside track to the second.

Where it gets interesting is in the 3-5 spots. I would have penciled in Costa Rica and Guatemala for 3 and 4 respectively, but those dropped points in Port of Spain could come back to cost the Ticos if Panama starts finding their confidence and winning the odd match. All three teams should start looking for Uzbekistan on their maps.

Thoughts,

Sachin

Good analysis but I disagree on a little..

The us has a much better shot in winning in Saprissa than they ever have. I wouldn't say that they are unlikely to win there based on how CR has been playing. The game is now on turf so luck won't be as big of a factor.

The US still has a great chance of winning the Hex, not that it matters. Mexico still has to come to the US just yet.

[Owen Gohl]

I don't count out Panama. I thought Guatemala would finish ahead of Costa Rica, but now I'm not so sure Panama won't as well. even though they have to make up 3 points.

Of all the hex teams, the Ticos have been by far the most disappointing. Had Panama won at Saprissa on Saturday, as they easily could have, the standings would look like this and Costa Rica would be in trouble with only 3 home matches remaining:

MEX - 7
USA - 6
PAN - 5
GUA - 4
C R - 1
T&T - 1

Of course you can play this game with any result, but this shows that of the 9 hex matches played thus far, CR's incredible win was by far the most significant in terms of the overall standings.

Both Panama and Costa Rica are on the road in the next round. If Panama beats T&T and the Ticos lose to the US, then Panama will move up to 4th, or even 3rd if Mexico wins at Guatemala.

As the US goes to CR in Round 9 and Panama finishes here in Round 10, those results may have a deciding impact on who finishes 4th.

Here are the schedules, which I think slightly favor Panama, as they still have two shots at T&T plus the return CR match at home:

CR------------------PAN

at USA-------------at T&T
GUA---------------USA
at MEX------------at GUA
at PAN-------------CR
T&T----------------at MEX
USA----------------T&T
at GUA-------------at USA

[MoRado]

CR always start bad in every WCQ, it's too early to start thinking that CR will be out, How was the first round?, we were very close to eliminated, but NO!, we came big in the last games and WON the group, you guys can get a big surprise in the next matchdays
Costa Rica is still alive.

[Bluecat82]

I think Panama's in bigger trouble than most people think...they've dropped 4 points from their two home matches and still have to travel to Azteca and wherever the USSF decides to put them (Boise? :) )...

Thay have to get three points at T&T, or they're toast.

T&T is already toast.

[ursula]

CR always start bad in every WCQ, it's too early to start thinking that CR will be out, How was the first round?, we were very close to eliminated, but NO!, we came big in the last games and WON the group, you guys can get a big surprise in the next matchdays
Costa Rica is still alive.

I don't know if CR always starts out slow but they do go through down periods. (Last time every team had down periods.) As such they are going through their down period now. I also fully expect them to play better as the summer winds along.

[Footer Phooter]

I don't know if CR always starts out slow but they do go through down periods. (Last time every team had down periods.) As such they are going through their down period now. I also fully expect them to play better as the summer winds along.


The problem with going through one early is that it puts a lot of pressure on you to get results later, especially at home.

[jared9999]

Originally Posted by Bluecat82
I think Panama's in bigger trouble than most people think...they've dropped 4 points from their two home matches and still have to travel to Azteca and wherever the USSF decides to put them (Boise? )...

i don't think panama will play mexico at azteca. mexico wants the nt to play in other parts of mexico. i believe i heard that mexico will play costa rica and guatemala at azteca. panama and t&t somewhere else

[El_Mae]

CR always start bad in every WCQ, it's too early to start thinking that CR will be out, How was the first round?, we were very close to eliminated, but NO!, we came big in the last games and WON the group, you guys can get a big surprise in the next matchdays
Costa Rica is still alive.

VAMOS VAMOS VAMOS... TICOS!

[MoRado]

The problem with going through one early is that it puts a lot of pressure on you to get results later, especially at home.
Thats exactly what we need/want....preassure, thats the only way that CR will improve (unless, they fire Pinto)

[truetrini]

Panama will have a difficult time beating Trinidad in T&t and even in Panama.

Historically, Trinida has had Panama's number.

Wth their new coach and Latapy coming back, Yorke playing graet ball agin...anything can and will happen in this hex.

[MoRado]

.anything can and will happen in this hex.
i agree.... everything can and will change in a few matchdays....