Could the USA qualify to the WC out of Comnebol?

[soccerfan220]

This would obviously never happen, but could we do it?We know we can beat pretty easily without even our best lin-up the second worst team in comnebol. Last year we tied Ecuador but were unlucky not to win. We also played a second string Argentina team. We lost, but we weren't playing our number one team either. So what does everyone think? I think we could etch out a fourth place in the group.

[speedcake]

I think we'd be in it right til the end. Would we qualify? Who knows, but honestly, other than Argentina and Brazil I wouldn't feel overmatched against any S. American team.

[Kaiser]

top 3 easily

[soccerfan220]

Speedcake: Neiter would I. IMO, Brazil and Argentina are the automatic two for the upcoming WC, (although, as last years qualify showed us, you can never be sure, even about Brazil) and fourth place would be second among the rest, which is very good and i think very realistic.

[speedcake]

Brazil can't be expected to have the worst qualifying run in Brazilian history all over again. So yeah, I'd sill consider them automatic.

The whole continent is overrated. :O

[Metros Striker10]

I think the US could qualify playing in Comnebol. Brazil, Argentina and maybe Uraguay are the toughest teams in South America.

[Serie Zed]

Agree that the US would be in the second tier of about five teams fighting for the one of the last 2 1/2 spots.

The difference would be that we couldn't have a bad campaign and still get through (like we can do now).

[sch2383]

I think we could do it on paper, but I think the crowds down there would really hurt our chances. I realize the crowds are just as bad in Central America, but the teams are no where near as good.

[Footer Phooter]

I don't know. We wouldn't have much a home field advantage, and would probably stuggle on the road. I think we'd be close, but we certainly couldn't play like crap like we did the last time around and still qualify.

[Bruce S]

we would be favored against every team except the big two. Yes, I defeinitely think we would make it. It wouldn't be easy but it is not so easy now.

[hamlet]

There is no way US can win down there in a qualy match. Think about it! Try Bolivia at 3500 mts above sea. Chile at el monumental de Santiago? Forget it. At el Centenario de Uruguay? at the "Defensores del Chaco" at 40 degrees celcious? Even in Quito, at 2500 mts above sea level, no. Colombia in "El Camping" they will run for "their lives" don't forget what happen to Escobar... Peru or Venezuela you may tie them. Don't even think about AR or BR. So what do you have left, playing at home. More than one of those team are going to play to tie with you at home. So, unless a huge referee help under whatever circunstances. I don't give you a chance in between the 4 top teams.

[soccerfan220]

I think you are being a little harsh there....

[speedcake]

Originally posted by hamlet
There is no way US can win down there in a qualy match. Think about it! Try Bolivia at 3500 mts above sea. Chile at el monumental de Santiago? Forget it. At el Centenario de Uruguay? at the "Defensores del Chaco" at 40 degrees celcious? Even in Quito, at 2500 mts above sea level, no. Colombia in "El Camping" they will run for "their lives" don't forget what happen to Escobar... Peru or Venezuela you may tie them. Don't even think about AR or BR. So what do you have left, playing at home. More than one of those team are going to play to tie with you at home. So, unless a huge referee help under whatever circunstances. I don't give you a chance in between the 4 top teams.

real convincing, not!

I don't see the difference between most of those places and venues like Azteca stadium, Sasprissa, or Mazetenengo or however you spell that cruddy craphole of a venue. Not to mention having to face Honduras at home was absolutely no fun last time around. And frankly, facing Jamaica at the Office is just as daunting as anything Venezuela, Equador, or Peru could muster. You are totally overestimating the S. American confederation.

And I agree with the sentiment that we would probably not be able to afford the collapse we went through last qualifying round. Although its only relative to the situation in the qualifying group at the time of said collapse, so...

[Bruce S]

Originally posted by hamlet
There is no way US can win down there in a qualy match. Think about it! Try Bolivia at 3500 mts above sea. Chile at el monumental de Santiago? Forget it. At el Centenario de Uruguay? at the "Defensores del Chaco" at 40 degrees celcious? Even in Quito, at 2500 mts above sea level, no. Colombia in "El Camping" they will run for "their lives" don't forget what happen to Escobar... Peru or Venezuela you may tie them. Don't even think about AR or BR. So what do you have left, playing at home. More than one of those team are going to play to tie with you at home. So, unless a huge referee help under whatever circunstances. I don't give you a chance in between the 4 top teams.
wonder why you say this? I think you underestimate the difficulty of the jungle in Costa Rica or Guatamala, or Azteca. By the way, which COMEBOL teams, except Arg or Brazil, have done as well AT THE WC as the USA in the last 12 years?

[jamesf24]

If CONMEBOL only has 4 spots, and you give two to Brazil & Argentina...

Colombia - probably the next best right now, I can't remember our last result against them

Uruguay - we drew last time we played

Paraguay - we play 4/6/03, but beat 2-0 just before the 98 WC

Ecuador - we beat just before Korea/Japan 2002 in Alabama I think

Chile - we beat in Chile just before Korea/Japan 2002

Bolivia - we have never beaten

Venezuela - we beat yesterday

Peru - I think we beat in the Gold Cup a couple of years ago



These friendly results mean nothing, but I think we could pull it off.

Of course, every game played "at home" that wasnt in Columbus, would be the same as an away game.

James

[Bruce S]

Originally posted by jamesf24
If CONMEBOL only has 4 spots, and you give two to Brazil & Argentina...

Colombia - probably the next best right now, I can't remember our last result against them

Uruguay - we drew last time we played

Paraguay - we play 4/6/03, but beat 2-0 just before the 98 WC

Ecuador - we beat just before Korea/Japan 2002 in Alabama I think

Chile - we beat in Chile just before Korea/Japan 2002

Bolivia - we have never beaten

Venezuela - we beat yesterday

Peru - I think we beat in the Gold Cup a couple of years ago



These friendly results mean nothing, but I think we could pull it off.

Of course, every game played "at home" that wasnt in Columbus, would be the same as an away game.

James
and we are a WAY, WAY, WAY better team now.We are now ranked much higher than most of those teams for good reason. I ask my COMEBOL friends, which was the last COMEBOL team to reach the last 8 at the WC, except Brazil and ARG??

[condor11]

was the answer peru and uruguay?

anyways
you may rate urself highly who wouldnt after making the quarters

but qualifying is a whole different matter
think about its not 5 games at a world cup
or the 10 you play in the hex its 18 tough matches
the key is to win all your home matches and scrape as much as you can away and of course you have to consistant

if brazil struggled given the array of talent they have what makes you think that the usa would just stroll trough?

id say its very posible that you dont qualify all together

[Bruce S]

Originally posted by condor11
was the answer peru and uruguay?



id say its very posible that you dont qualify all together
yes, but Uruguay mus have been 60 years ago.
It IS possible we wouldn't qualify, I agree. I think the chances are excellent that we would, but you never know.
One thing I have noticed though is that COMEBOL people tend to look WAY down at Central American teams. I think you strongly underestimate Costa Rica and Guatamala, as well as Jamaica. WE have played every team in Central and South America in the last few years and I would put Costa Rica as equal to or better than every COMEBOL team except your big two. They have also done well at the big show- knocking Sweden and SCotland out in 1990, and tying Turkey in 2002( they lost to Turkey on goal diff for the 2nd round).To the USA, they are as difficult as Mexico.

[sch2383]

We know it wouldn't be an automatic qualifer like we are here, but I think we would have a chance.

On a related note, should we try and play more COMNEBOL countries down there to really give ourselves a test? I know it would be difficult to arrange and play, but a home and home aganist Brazil would really give us a measuring stick for our development.

[Rafael Hernandez]

Originally posted by speedcake
real convincing, not!

I don't see the difference between most of those places and venues like Azteca stadium, Sasprissa, or Mazetenengo or however you spell that cruddy craphole of a venue. Not to mention having to face Honduras at home was absolutely no fun last time around. And frankly, facing Jamaica at the Office is just as daunting as anything Venezuela, Equador, or Peru could muster. You are totally overestimating the S. American confederation.


No freaking way is Jamaica as tough as Ecuador or Peru. It ain't that easy. Yes Concacaf is a tough place to play but I people here are talking as if CONMEBOL was a piece of cake. I think its as tough or tougher. Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia and Ecuador are as good as Costa Rica or Honduras and playing at their home would be just as tough.

You always say the altitude affects you in Mexico City, well Colombia is as high and Quito and La Paz are higher. La Paz is near impossible to win there.