Cuba Scouting Report

[Dan Roudebush]

Up at:

http://ussoccerplayers.typepad.com/ussoccerplayers/2008/10/scouting-report.html

Doing more with limited options, Cuba coach Reinhold Fanz has opted for a 3-5-2 formation in the hopes of clogging the midfield and trying to stop opponents from entering its own half of the field. Of course, that doesn’t always work – as their record shows – and in response, the Cubans will try to use the flanks to move the ball.

Anything in the Cuba press for those that have access?

[garbaggio]

Anything in the Cuba press for those that have access?

All the news that anyone in the Worker's Paradise could possibly need:

http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/principalingles.htm

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html

And in English, too!

[Dan Roudebush]

Mahalo garbaggio

How are things?

Here's some pertinent stuff from your sources:

Veteran winger Jaine Colome, who was unable to play in the game when the US beat Cuba 1-0 in Havana, passed the physical test and is expected to be in the lineup for the match on Saturday at the RFK Stadium.

The entire Cuban squad includes: Goalies: Odelin Molina and Danny Quintero; Defenders: Yenier Marquez, Reyxande Fernandez, Silvio Pedro Miñoso, Yusmani Caballero, Carlos Francisco Domingo, Jorge Luis Clavelo (captain), Joel Colome and Alianne Urgelles; Midfield Players: Jaine Colome, Pedro Faife, Luis Villegas, Alain Cervantes, Hensy Muñoz; Forwards: Leonel Duarte, Reynier Alcantara and Mario Ruiz, reported Prensa Latina.

The coaching staff is made up by the German head coach, Reinhold Franz, plus Raul Gonzalez Triana, Roberto Hernandez and Luis Seara, and physical therapist Lazaro Cordova.

[garbaggio]

That's odd. Unless US Soccer's game summary is wrong, Colome did play against the US in Havana.

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_9666560.html

I was mostly just poking some fun at your request for insights from the Cuban press.

[guamster]

Two Cuban Players Disappear (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/10/two_cuban_players_disappear.html)
- Steven Goff, washingtonpost.com


Midfielder Pedro Faife and forward Reynier Alcantara disappeared from the team's hotel in Crystal City in the past two days...

[garbaggio]

Faife came on as a sub in the 2nd half when the US played in Havana. When the Cubans played in Guatemala a few days later he started and was subbed out in the 63'.

Alcantara was an unused sub in both those games.

[Blitzz Boy]

Don't click on this if you work for the federal government. (http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/deportes/2008-10-11/seleccion-cubana-de-futbol-enfrenta-este-sabado-a-estados-unidos/)

Here's an article in Spanish, but there's not much here we don't know.

They have a forward out due to a red card.