USA vs Guatemala pre game rant

[Wile Coyote]

well a US national team that has qualified has to finish off their WCQ schedual.... I hope now that its a done deal for us that we dont lose or tie I want us to finish 1st in the Hex... with that in mind a relaxed US team will win in guatemala 2-1..... Guatemala after the game will fire that loser "el primitivo"
a firing that should have been done a while ago.....

from here out its a let me see this guy and that guy for bruce arena... these games are perfect to bring in guys that dont have experience and a chance to experiment a bit....

Guatemala will come out on fire seeing how they are desperate after that embarasment vs the pathetic T&T....but it wont be enough they themselfs have all but already done damage to any WC dreams...

[InteristAmerica]

the game does not matter, other than the ruiz vs twellman and ruiz vs donovan matchups, if you even wanna call them that. i think us should win the game 3-1 or 3-2 with goals from donovan and ejohnson. twellman, good luck.

[pasoccerdave]

Except that Ruiz is out for this match . . .

[Adam Zebrowski]

arena after the mexico match said he wasn't all that interested in winning the hexagonal...

I suspect the major line-up changes is the initial step in selecting the squad for 2006....

and the new faces should be very eager to show arena...

right now, I see guatemala wanting to come out quick and see how usa reacts...

first 5 minutes should be a storm, but I suspect the match to settle, and I wouldn't be shocked by 1-1

[Brownswan]

I thought there was a misunderstanding about Ruiz' cards, and that he might be able to play.

We (US) may come in entirely too relaxed -- even mentally and emotionally drained after beating Mexico and qualifying. It seems we never get thgrough these qualifiers without at least one, severe shock or 'wake up call.' This could be one of those times, and a big chance for Guatemala to right their ship.

[passtheblizz]

We will win no matter who plays. The guys that are out there are going to be hungry as hell to prove themselves. This is a perfect situation that we were not allowed last time around. Guatemala is still fighting for a spot so the game means a lot to them, while we can make some changes without the possibility of screwing ourselves over.

[Adam Zebrowski]

teams that need to play well and get points are generally in a better position than a team whose clinched already...

the mental approach of guatemala will be more of desparation than that of usa...

now whether that pressures causes guatemala to play better or choke will be determined....

it'll be interesting to see is arena get get the subs to match the passion guatemala will show....

the cards just say let down match to me...

[Scoobs]

How is this a let down match? Only Donovan and EJ(who may not play) are assurred spots on the team. Everyone else will be scrapping.

[Papin]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the U.S. B/C team play a crappy game and end up losing in Guatemala City. The U.S. may have depth, but once the big players are left out of the starting lineup, the team does not play particularly well. Guatemala has a lot more to play for.

[Jabinho]

On "Fox Sports World Report" Monday, Bobby McMahon (Scottish guy) made a simple but good point.
He said that though the USA has now qualified their is a danger in taking the foot off the pedal in that winning becomes a habit and losing can slow a team's "mental momentum"..
Also keeping a good portion of the same team together in a WC year is important.. Hopefully we will have enough friendlies this year to build some cohesion for the WC..
I guess we trust Bruce.. ;)

[Papin]

one thing to keep in mind:

guatemala is a team fighting as a group so that the country can be represented in germany.
this u.s. team is a group of fringe players each playing for their own, individual interests (getting to germany).

we can't dismiss the fact that this is still a road qualifier in central america and that gaining a point with a b/c team would be a huge accomplishment.

[stinky]

there is no wake up call to be given to the US. we've qualified. i'm gonna sit back, have a beer, and enjoy this one.

i'd prefer bruce find replacements for our average players who are on the current team vs. finishing 1st in the hex.

with that being said, i want them to win, but won't be too surprised if we don't. i'll still read articles on the mexico game.

[USAClash]

The US has earned the right to rest their best players. Most of our best players play in Europe, and the travel for qualifiers takes its toll. The next 3 qualifiers give us a great chance to give fringe players and future stars experience in meaningful matches.
Guys I particularly want to see play a lot in the next 3 matches: EJ, Quaranta, Convey, Twellman, Dempsey, and Albright...maybe even Spector if he gets healthy.

[rgli13]

guatemala is the caliber team we put up a couple of goals on when they are bunkered- which is usually the case.

now that they will be pushing for goals ive got to think that (as long as we dont get too cute with our back four) then we should be able to put a few in the net.

[RevsRule]

We will win no matter who plays. The guys that are out there are going to be hungry as hell to prove themselves.

Exactly, many of those going are bubble players and this is their shot to show they belong. I suspect we'll do better then if we sent the entire "A" team. I'm just hoping that guys like Donovan play just as hard. Even though he has nothing to lose, his play could affect others chances. I suspect he'll be playing center mid and he might want to prove something in that position too.

We'll beat the Guats easily

[RevsRule]

The US has earned the right to rest their best players. Most of our best players play in Europe,


I don't agree that playing in Europe makes you one of the better players. Look what it's done for Tim Howard

[StillKickin]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the U.S. B/C team play a crappy game and end up losing in Guatemala City. The U.S. may have depth, but once the big players are left out of the starting lineup, the team does not play particularly well. Guatemala has a lot more to play for.
And what big players might that be? I seem to recall some good wins for the Nats without our "Euro" superstars. IMO, the ONLY major Euro player that will be missed is Keller. We've done mighty well without a lot - A LOT - of the rest of them.

How soon we forget. I'm getting a little tired of our MLS guys not getting the respect they deserve.

And we better not play a crappy game. Mexico did that after their "big" win at Azteca. I don't want us doing that. And I don't think we will. Our MLS guys are just fine.

[USAClash]

I don't agree that playing in Europe makes you one of the better players. Look what it's done for Tim Howard

I never said that. I said most of our best players play in Europe. You don't agree?

[Papin]

And what big players might that be? I seem to recall some good wins for the Nats without our "Euro" superstars. IMO, the ONLY major Euro player that will be missed is Keller. We've done mighty well without a lot - A LOT - of the rest of them.

How soon we forget. I'm getting a little tired of our MLS guys not getting the respect they deserve.

And we better not play a crappy game. Mexico did that after their "big" win at Azteca. I don't want us doing that. And I don't think we will. Our MLS guys are just fine.

did you watch the gold cup?

How soon we forget that when our regular starters don't play -- and most of them probably won't on wednesday -- our team often looks disjointed, sometimes even lost.
We managed in the gold cup -- barely (honduras semi) -- but this is a road qualifier, a completely different ball of wax.
We will have a gk who has never played a qualifier, a defensive alignment that probably has never played a match together, a midfield alignment that may well be a first, and a forward duo that may be their first time playing together for an important match.

When you send home Keller, Berhalter, Reyna, Beasley, Gooch, Lewis, Boca, and McBride and replace them with the likes of Marshall, Mapp, Garcia, and Reis, your team WILL suffer. Not because these players are no good, but because they have very little experience at that level.

[voros]

well a US national team that has qualified has to finish off their WCQ schedual.... I hope now that its a done deal for us that we dont lose or tie I want us to finish 1st in the Hex...
We did finish 1st, we were first to qualify/