World Cup 2010 Qualifying group has been drawn

[John Jagou]

Mexico has drawn the absolute toughest group they could ever see in preliminary qualifying:

Pool 2a
Belize v. St Kitts winner vs. Mexico
Pool 2b
Bahamas vs Brtish VI winner vs. Jamaica
Pool 2c
Dominican Rep. vs. Purto Rico Winner vs. Honduras
Pool 2d
Canada vs St. Vincent

Logic says that Canada, Honduras, Jamaica, and Mexico will advance, then 2 from this pool make it to the hexagonal. It is going to be no cake walk. All 4 of those teams have the talent to make the world cup. It is a shame that two will be heading home early. As CONCACAF groups go, this is easily the toughest group I have ever seen.

[TheBigSleaZy]

Another way to look at this might be to suggest that at the very least, those that advance will have been somewhat challenged.

My chief complaint of the CONCACAF is that teams rarely face a consistently high quality of play when it comes to qualifying.

This doesn't serve them well in the WC.

[la fresa]

Tough group, we all saw how hugo sanchez handled playing Honduras in the Gold Cup. Dont think Jamaica is what they used to be, but neither is canada, in the sense that they actually look good now.

should be interesting

[UntamedOne]

kind of scary actually would hate to see mexico not make the wc
specially with i wouldnt say bad but not convincing results from mexico:)

first post on big soccer btw

[Panfilo]

We got Azteca and that is something to be thankful for.

I like it.

We are going to be challenged on the road and that is always a good thing considering we don't get many quality games usually in the qualifiers.

Bring it

[John Jagou]

Panfilo, that is a very good observation. Mexico should do well at home, but 3 big tests on the road can go a long way to making the young guys salt up.

[El Pipiripau]

I'm a little confused on how this works.

Will Mexico play against 3 teams or just the winner of St kitts and Belize?

[Rafael Hernandez]

I'm a little confused on how this works.

Will Mexico play against 3 teams or just the winner of St kitts and Belize?

Mexico will play the winner of St. Kitts vs Belize and if they win then they get this group. The same thing that happened last time when we first faced Dominica in a two leg series.

This is the group of death and its scary with Hugo. It's a tough group and we have to win all games in Azteca and get a win at Jamaica. Normally it would be good but our worst games with Hugo have been in Concacaf. The good thing is that if we get out of the group, then the hex will be easier since it would have either Canada or Honduras but not both. So last time we got the easiest group in history and now we have the toughest. Still Hugo better get his act together and people here should realize what a tough group we have from the start.

[Kaney]

Mexico will play the winner of St. Kitts vs Belize and if they win then they get this group. The same thing that happened last time when we first faced Dominica in a two leg series.

This is the group of death and its scary with Hugo. It's a tough group and we have to win all games in Azteca and get a win at Jamaica. Normally it would be good but our worst games with Hugo have been in Concacaf. The good thing is that if we get out of the group, then the hex will be easier since it would have either Canada or Honduras but not both. So last time we got the easiest group in history and now we have the toughest. Still Hugo better get his act together and people here should realize what a tough group we have from the start.

You guys paint a grim picture.

I'm sure it wont be simple, but I see no reason why we shouldn't advance. Even with Hugo as coach.

[wpuig02]

when is the qualifying going to be

[Panfilo]

when is the qualifying going to be

Aug. 20 – Game 1
Sept. 6 – Game 2
Sept. 10 – Game 3
Oct. 11 – Game 4
Oct. 15 – Game 5
Nov. 19 – Game 6

hmm for the first game if we make it to the Olympics (which are scheduled for August) we might miss some of our key players like Ochoa, Guardado, Vela, Dos Santos and the 3 over-age players.

Hopefully the first game is at home.

[el-choul]

Aug. 20 – Game 1
Sept. 6 – Game 2
Sept. 10 – Game 3
Oct. 11 – Game 4
Oct. 15 – Game 5
Nov. 19 – Game 6

hmm for the first game if we make it to the Olympics (which are scheduled for August) we might miss some of our key players like Ochoa, Guardado, Vela, Dos Santos and the 3 over-age players.

Hopefully the first game is at home.

And we play the first home-away games (Belize/StKitts winner) prior to this in June, right?


It looks like the Olympic semis are August 18/19, so we'd have a conflict if we do well.
http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/schedule/

Question- Clubs are required to release players for FIFA dates (like Aug 20), but will they be ok with them playing the Olympic semis and finals that late in August? Is the Olympic tournament an "official" FIFA event? (as opposed to the "unofficial" Olympic qualifiers, thus the problem with euro players for qualifiers)

[Otaku]

This is a tough group but lets not back down. It will be good to show we are still the kings of CONCACAF

[Rafael Hernandez]

The Mexican press has been real bad about this. Most of the news just focused on the game against Belize or St. Kitts and then talked about going to a group of 4. No talk about how tough and it looked like they had no clue the group had already been establihed. The only one I've seen is our Martin. The rest apparently have no clue about it just that we are facing either st. kitts or belize.

[John Jagou]

Not surprising. The Mexican press has absolutely no respect for soccer played in concacaf, and that includes the united states. It is the reason they convulse in their hatred spouting fits when Mexico has the nerve to allow a lesser team to beat them. Obviously, we are all much more informed and educated, so we can present a more objective argument. Let me begin.

Canada-- probably the team that has improved the most in CONCACAF, and have the most complete player that does not play for US or Mexico in de Rosario. Offensively, they are stout, but their defense leaves much to be desired. I can see them winning in Canada, but they will not be as successful in Mexico.
Points available: 6.
Happy with: 4.
Likely to get: 3

Jamaica-- It's another Bora reclamation project. He has changed them from a long passing english style to a more compact keep it on the ground passing. If they can play any kind of defense, they can cause some headaches. As much as I love Bora, I don't think he'll be enough

Points available: 6
Happy with: 4
Likely to get: 6

Honduras-- This team is wildly talented, but wildly incosistent. They have the type of players that give Mexican defenses fits. It will be interesting to see when and where the two teams play. It is the hardest team to predict. Are they going to lie down like they did for Bora in 2004? Suazo is easily the most talented player in concacaf, but he is also the biggest head case.

Points available: 6
Happy with: 4
Likely to get: 4

Mexico will go through to the hex, and those Canada-Honduras matches will be wildly entertaining. I give the edge to Canada becuase they are more disciplined, but it is a very slight edge. Whoever survives the group along with Mexico will qualify for the cup.

[Tello]

Some of you guys are getting way too worried, did you guys forget that our home guys are played at Estadio Azteca? We dont lose WCQ games at home, we just dont. If the only other decent team in CONCACAF can't beat Mexico at Azteca(USA) then certainly these three teams can't do it.

Think of it this way:

We will play 6 games. 3 Home. 3. Away

If we win all at home, which we will. Then all we have to do is win one away game. Mexico is a whole level higher than each of these teams. The only game i think we might lose is at Honduras. One loss is ok, but even then we will most likely beat them in Honduras.

You guys need to have more faith, our team will be much stronger in 08 than it was during the Gold Cup.

The Main differances will be:

1. Our rightback was Ricardo Osorio, Isreal Castro has been much better with El Tri than Osorio, i expect Castro to start during WCQ

2. Marquez didn't play untill the GC Final, barring anymore freak Injuries we should have him healthy for the WCQ's. It always helps to have a World-Class player on your team.

3. Nery Castillo didn't come out of his shell untill the GC Final, he is now comfortable with the team and that will translate to him continuing to show what he showed during the Copa America and GC Final, which is that he is one of the most Talent fowards that we have ever had.

4. During The GC we had a right-winger crisis, Alberto Medina was awful, come WCQ's we will have Fernando Arce and Giovani Dos Santos to count on, these two are a big improvement over Medina.

5. During the GC we didn't have a concrete Foward pair, we kept switching it around. Today we have our pair, Nery Castillo and Juan Carlos Cacho. These two work extremely well together. Even Nery said that there is no one he would rather pair up with than Juan Carlos Cacho.

6. Come WCQ's Memo Ochoa will be the Undisputed starting Goalkeeper, i respect Oswaldo but the Memo Ochoa of 08 will be 10 times better than the Oswaldo Sanchez of 07.

Consider some of these things before you freak out.

None of us should be losing any sleep because of this, i know im not.

[Rafael Hernandez]

Not surprising. The Mexican press has absolutely no respect for soccer played in concacaf, and that includes the united states. It is the reason they convulse in their hatred spouting fits when Mexico has the nerve to allow a lesser team to beat them. Obviously, we are all much more informed and educated, so we can present a more objective argument. Let me begin..

It's mot that they have dismissed the other teams, its that they haven't even mentioned them. They seem to think that the only draw that was made was for the St. Kitts/Belize game and that the group haven't been decided. I really think most of the press and people is oblivious to the fact that the group has been set and that Mexico is in the toughest group, etc.


Jamaica-- It's another Bora reclamation project. He has changed them from a long passing english style to a more compact keep it on the ground passing. If they can play any kind of defense, they can cause some headaches. As much as I love Bora, I don't think he'll be enough.

Bora is no longer coaching Jamaica.

[LMvCP]

respect and be cautious of every opponent? YES. Confident that we have a better team, more skill, more depth, and more tactically versatile than out opponents? ABSO-FCKING-LUTELY!

We have seen tougher groups and played against tougher teams (Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Portugal, etc) and have managed to advance in World Cups, Copa Americas, Confed Cups, etc.....no disrespect to Honduras, Jamaica, and/or Canada...Mexico should be there. I have faith in them.

I just think (and i think our owners are aware after the near disaster of 2001) that clubs have to do their part and help the NT. So if it takes having more double fixture weeks or doing away with Repechaje.... it should be done.... afterall the NT comes first

[la fresa]

Nery hasn't played consistently with his team. I wonder if that will affect his performance on the national team.

Not playing hasn't hurt Requilme, it seems, but then again, it's Requilme. Only time will tell, i suppose.

[John Jagou]

Bora is no longer coaching Jamaica.


Someone better let the JFF know then. It's time to update their website.

he's still there (http://www.jamaicafootballfederation.com/coaches.htm)