Carlos Ruiz , Confident in Guatemala Quailfying to the Next World Cup (2010)

[Guatefc]

HE Believes Experience will play a major role, in Guatemala's Road to south Africa.
"Carlos Ruiz confía en que Guatemala clasificará para un Mundial próximamente"



Texto Efe, marzo 23/

Carlos "Pescadito" Ruiz, miembro del equipo de fútbol nacional de Guatemala, sostuvo hoy a Efe que el país centroamericano clasificará a su primera Copa Mundial en una próxima edición debido a la experiencia que la selección guatemalteca ha ganado en los últimos años.

Ruiz, quien actualmente se encuentra en Puerto Rico jugando con el FC Dallas, de la Liga de Estados Unidos (MLS), en un torneo amistoso junto a otros tres clubes, dijo que debido a que Guatemala juega en la misma región futbolística que México, EEUU, Jamaica, entre otros países, se les hace difícil clasificar al Mundial.

"Es difícil porque nunca se ha podido lograr. En el área de CONCACAF son grandes selecciones y tienen su boleto asegurado porque siempre han estado en los Mundiales", indicó Ruiz, de 27 años.

"Siempre peleamos contra equipos como Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Trinidad y Tobago y a Guatemala se le complica su clasificación por la falta de experiencia", agregó.

Ruiz, no obstante, miembro desde los 18 años con la selección guatemalteca, sostuvo que con la llegada del nuevo técnico colombiano Hernán Gómez y la permanencia de la misma escuadra, Guatemala logrará su objetivo de un Mundial por vez primera en su historia.

"Si se mantiene la base del mismo grupo de jugadores, llegaremos lejos. De lo que he escuchado y leído, el fútbol va mejorando en Guatemala. Es un poco más profesional y las estructuras están distintas. Nos estamos poniendo al nivel internacional, pero no como otros países", expresó.

"Ahora tenemos al técnico colombiano, Hernán Gómez, que clasificó a Ecuador al Mundial, y creo que teniendo un renovado cuerpo técnico, unido con una buena selección, podremos transmitirle al equipo las ganas de clasificar finalmente", añadió.

Ruiz, quien comenzó su carrera profesional en el 1995 a los 16 años con el club CSD Municipal en la Primera División de la liga de Guatemala y que luego jugó en la liga griega, fue reclutado posteriormente, en el 2002, por Los Ángeles Galaxy de la MLS, liga en la cual se ha mantenido por el momento.

Ahora, después de ser seleccionado a cuatro Juegos de Estrellas de la MLS y ganar un título con el Galaxy en el 2002, Ruiz quiere obtener otro campeonato con el FC Dallas.

"Tenemos un equipo joven, entusiasmado y con una mejoría durante esta pretemporada. Merecemos llegar bien y listos para el campeonato", explicó Ruiz, quien en la pasada temporada finalizó con 13 goles y cinco asistencias en 27 partidos


Discuss

[Crazy_Yank]

It's possible. They could pick up the 4th slot, but I don't see the top 3 changing. Dunno though. Honduras has some quality and could suprise some people. Guatemala could go on a run and beat out Costa Rica. I see Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, and Canada as contenders to book a ticket to South Africa.

[uclacarlos]

I don't know. It's sad that a country like Guatemala can produce such good first-teamers but the quality quickly drops off.

I saw their problems stemming from depth, not experience. That and the fact that he disappeared for a match or 2 in a diva-like fashion.

Mexico took it to their right back all night long in the Chapines' last loss in WCQ. The guy was in over his head.

The depth is where you see the chronic problems of poverty and malnutrition take its toll. :(

And wont Ruiz be like... 31 in 2010? It's a little old.

[Latin Pride]

It's possible. They could pick up the 4th slot, but I don't see the top 3 changing. Dunno though. Honduras has some quality and could suprise some people. Guatemala could go on a run and beat out Costa Rica. I see Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, and Canada as contenders to book a ticket to South Africa.

no T&T? :confused: :confused:

[R9Kevinr9]

Possible, very possible...but who knows. Wow he would be 31, he better still be fit.

[Guatefc]

I don't know. It's sad that a country like Guatemala can produce such good first-teamers but the quality quickly drops off.

I saw their problems stemming from depth, not experience. That and the fact that he disappeared for a match or 2 in a diva-like fashion.

Mexico took it to their right back all night long in the Chapines' last loss in WCQ. The guy was in over his head.

The depth is where you see the chronic problems of poverty and malnutrition take its toll. :(

And wont Ruiz be like... 31 in 2010? It's a little old.


i think you are right depth in the Bench was a factor in 2006 and what killled us, but bolillo (our coach) is trying to build depth with a hand full new players to provide help when Yellow card accumilation and injuries build up just like back then, as far as the forward posistion we would have Willie Sims and Hernan Sandoval young Strikers with size(Sandoval) and speed ( sims) and both have killer finishing. malnutrition, i don't think our NT has that Problem?? maybe poor Indian Kids living in rural villages:D .

Ruiz will be 30 during the World Cup Tournament but September 15 , 2010 he will be 31. who cares Ruiz by then will still be good, Dwight yorke was finally 35 , Brain McBride career in the Premiership didn't begin till he was 30??. he has a base around him that still play and is younger.
i just think this time around will be his time , this Ruiz's third time trying to get Guatemala to the Promise land i thins will be his time.

[MetroChile]

I don't see the top 3 changing, either: and the next 3 I think it's going to be a toss up. Could come from any of the following teams: Panama, Haiti, Guate., Honduras, Canada, Jamaica and TnT., and I will throw in Cuba as a possible "surprise" team.

Metro

[uclacarlos]

malnutrition, i don't think our NT has that Problem?? maybe poor Indian Kids living in rural villages:D
When you have a high % of boys in the country suffering from malnutrition and an even higher % suffering from chronic undernutrition, that affects the player pool and it also limits the quality of competition for those kids w/ transcendent talent, which stunts their growth.

[R9Kevinr9]

GuateFC you bring up a good point......your probably right, he will probably still be better.

[Guatefc]

GuateFC you bring up a good point......your probably right, he will probably still be better.

hey David Suazo and Ruiz are both born in 1979, both great players from Central America, but people are doubting Ruiz and Guatemala.

[R9Kevinr9]

I guess it's cause he has been more successful at a higher level.

[Guatefc]

I guess it's cause he has been more successful at a higher level.

yes but at the NT , Ruiz has done more with less, could you agree?

[Scotty]

One of the main factors that continues to hurt Guatemala's chances of qualification is that they struggle to compete physically against the other teams in the region.

Just looking at the size of their players you see that they have a hard time finding even a central defender over 6 feet tall.

[Guatefc]

One of the main factors that continues to hurt Guatemala's chances of qualification is that they struggle to compete physically against the other teams in the region.

Just looking at the size of their players you see that they have a hard time finding even a central defender over 6 feet tall.

yes , you are correct. However, Guatemala does have one very skilled Centre Back in Pablo Melgar who plays in Chile Top Flight for CD Antofagasta, but like you said he lacks the size, as he is only 5'10. we are introducing new players who are adequete players in size for the Center back who have emerged in the last few months that many don't recognize, Like Yony Flores who is 6,2 played a very solid game in the UNCAf and in the CCC versus Pachuca, he very good in the air and has good marking skills, we also have medina who is big but not as skilled as his counterparts.

in the middle we have found a true #6 in a Noriega(5,11) and Quinonez(6,1) who are both expierence in the WCQ from 2002, our coach has recongnized that physical size matchups and depth have been our trouble and he has been addressing that problem by calling up many players during the Uncaf who will provide help.

[Crazy_Yank]

no T&T? :confused: :confused:


No, I don't think they'll be in the mix unless they get another semi-final draw like they did last time. I don't think they would have advanced out of any of the other groups.

[jared9999]

yes but at the NT , Ruiz has done more with less, could you agree?

how many goals do each have on their nt's

[R9Kevinr9]

yes but at the NT , Ruiz has done more with less, could you agree?

In alot of ways, i could...because Honduras is overall a better skilled squad then Guatemala, and Ruiz has in some sort motivated the NT to give it there all and get better overall. See Ruiz is the best Striker basically in the States, and he has been successful, but Honduras is the same way but in better leagues. Nonetheless, your correct.....Carlos Ruiz has diffanetly done more with less.

[Guatefc]

how many goals do each have on their nt's

Ruiz Has 34 goals in 66 appearance playing for the NT since he was 18,'
'

Suazo???

[michiganfb]

When you have a high % of boys in the country suffering from malnutrition and an even higher % suffering from chronic undernutrition, that affects the player pool and it also limits the quality of competition for those kids w/ transcendent talent, which stunts their growth.

yes, exactly.

plus the sociocultural element: over 60% are indigenous Mayan; they don't get to play much soccer - or anything else. so from a total national pop. of ~15 million, that leaves less than five million men that might grow up to play soccer. (also, under ~five thousand black males that might play soccer)

plus the lack of accessible recreational facilities in places where they need them like the town of Livingston on the east coast and Zona 12 in Guate City. we honestly have better soccer facilities in my small town of Kalamazoo, MI than they do in their entire country.

it's amazing Guatemala competes as much as they do. they must love soccer.

[Guatefc]

yes, exactly.

plus the sociocultural element: over 60% are indigenous Mayan; they don't get to play much soccer - or anything else. so from a total national pop. of ~15 million, that leaves less than five million men that might grow up to play soccer. (also, under ~five thousand black males that might play soccer)

plus the lack of accessible recreational facilities in places where they need them like the town of Livingston on the east coast and Zona 12 in Guate City. we honestly have better soccer facilities in my small town of Kalamazoo, MI than they do in their entire country.

it's amazing Guatemala competes as much as they do. they must love soccer.
we are currently expanding our facilities Proyecto gol Part II, queztaltenago is currently the location for a new National Training grounds

here look from Guatemala's FIFA profile



http://fifa.com/GoalProject/images/GUA_2006_ENG_F1.web.jpg
The second Goal project

The Guatemala football associations second Goal project consists of two parts. Firstly, the associations previous Goal project a national technical centre in Guatemala City will be upgraded to incorporate dressing rooms, storerooms and a medical centre, and the pitch at the centre will be extended. Secondly, work will be done on the pitches at the regional training centre in Quetzaltenango in the nations highlands. The Goal Bureau approved these plans at its meeting on 3 December 2006 and work started in Guatemala on 1 January 2007.


http://fifa.com/GoalProject/images/GUA_2006_ENG_F7.web.jpg


Financing of Goal project

Project
Upgrade of technical centre in Guatemala City and regional training centre in Quetzaltenango

Project approved on
3 December 2006

Status
Implementation

Total cost
USD 400,000 Financed by



Goal
USD 400,000