non-US Concacaf WCQ's: Hex Edition {R}

[uclacarlos]

Soooooo... more than one game going on this Wednesday.

The 2 teams I'm most curious about are Costa Rica and El Salvador. CR b/c we're not too sure how good they're going to be, and ES b/c I think they're going to surprise a team or 2, especially if anybody takes them lightly.

They beat Peru a few days ago, and even though I wouldn't read a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g into that "result" b/c I'm guessing that Peru had none of its Europe-based players, I'm assuming that it shows a bit more depth than I anticipated from them.

More importantly, in those types of games coaches tend to use the game to challenge the team to get a result for the practice of buckling down and going for the result that they need.

I think that Panama got ****ed by the ref and that allowed ES to continue in the WCQ's, but hey... they've taken advantage and have begun to show improvement.

Again... guessing here, b/c I haven't seen them play since Gold Cup '07.

[bshredder]

Just so everyone knows, the three matches on Wedesday are

US-Mexico
Costa Rica - Honduras
El Salvador - TnT

That Costa Rica - Honduras match is going to tell us a lot about CR. I know that Honduras is good, but we will find out just what CR is all about because Honduras will be trying to make a statement.

[uclacarlos]

Just so everyone knows, the three matches on Wedesday are

US-Mexico
Costa Rica - Honduras
El Salvador - TnT
It's entirely possible that ES could be alone in first place after day 1. Prolly won't happen, but it's possible.

If they drop points to T und T then they are fried.

[Prime Time]

It will be interesting to see if Costa Rica can continue to be the #3 team in CONCACAF or if that spot will go to Honduras, T&T or (unlikely) El Salvador.

[FlashMan]

Honduras is without Palacios, Tottenham's high priced signing over the transfer window from Wigan, due to suspension (cards?), FWIW.

3 very tough games this week, arguably the top two teams playing each other, the second two squaring off, and the bottom two playing, if you are going by the pundits and the pre-hex hype.

[EvanJ]

It's entirely possible that ES could be alone in first place after day 1. Prolly won't happen, but it's possible.

http://www.fifa.com/ has a poll and the most voted for choice for first place after Matchday 1 is El Salvador.

[Bigrose30]

It's entirely possible that ES could be alone in first place after day 1. Prolly won't happen, but it's possible.

If they drop points to T und T then they are fried.

If Trinidad wilts in El Salvador, then they don't have much of a chance of getting points in Honduras, Costa Rica, or Mexico. And being as though their home stadium isn't exactly a fortress compared to the other hex teams, that won't bode well for them getting through.

That game will tell us a lot about both these teams' chances, as they both really need the points from each other to have a chance to qualify.

[TrueCrew]

http://www.fifa.com/ has a poll and the most voted for choice for first place after Matchday 1 is El Salvador.

I'd favor T&T to get a point (if not more), and I'd certainly fancy a winner in one of the other two games (actually, both)

I'll go with this after game 1:

USA 3
CR 3
El Salvador 1
T & T 1
Mex 0
Hon 0

[raza_rebel]

The other team I am most interested in is Costa Rica. The Ticos are pretty much an enigma. Honduras, position by position, is a stronger side but they are playing the Ticos at home. Rodrigo Kenton brought in Brescia defender Gilberto Martinez, who made his comeback last year after a 2-year layoff due to a knee injury. Gent has two Ticos, Roy Myrie and Byron Ruiz who are pretty good players. I am impressed with the Ticos keeper who plays for Saprissa, Navas.

[Bigrose30]

The other team I am most interested in is Costa Rica. The Ticos are pretty much an enigma. Honduras, position by position, is a stronger side but they are playing the Ticos at home. Rodrigo Kenton brought in Brescia defender Gilberto Martinez, who made his comeback last year after a 2-year layoff due to a knee injury. Gent has two Ticos, Roy Myrie and Byron Ruiz who are pretty good players. I am impressed with the Ticos keeper who plays for Saprissa, Navas.

It's all about the road points for Costa Rica. They got 4 in the 2006 cycle, with a 3-1 win over last place Panama and a 0-0 draw at Trinidad. They qualified in third place on the strength of their home record, losing only to Mexico...they beat the United States 3-0 at home after the US had already qualified.

If they drop points to Honduras at home, who looks to be their main rival for 3rd place, then they'd better learn to win on the road very quickly.

[I. Tristeza]

Are either of these going to be on U.S. television (either live or delayed)?

[fcdallas2314]

They are both going to be on Circuito Cerrado http://www.circuitocerrado.tv/
which is PPV for restaurants and bars only.

[El Naranja]

Just so everyone knows, the three matches on Wedesday are

US-Mexico 1914 CDT
Costa Rica - Honduras 2030 CDT
El Salvador - TnT 1900 CDT



Better set your DVRs folks.

[uclacarlos]

Better set your DVRs folks.
Nope, b/c...
They are both going to be on Circuito Cerrado http://www.circuitocerrado.tv/
which is PPV for restaurants and bars only.
... unless you're going to skip the US-Mex game in order to watch another game at a bar...

[El Naranja]

Nope, b/c...

... unless you're going to skip the US-Mex game in order to watch another game at a bar...

That's crap.

That said, I'm going to be at a bar to watch the game anyways. Doubt they'll have the other games but you never know.

[Cornballer]

If anyone wants to read up on our opponents, Luis Bueno put up some previews:
- Costa Rica (http://the-touchline.blogspot.com/2009/02/hexagonal-preview-costa-rica.html)
- T&T (http://the-touchline.blogspot.com/2008/12/hexagonal-preview-trinidad-tobago.html)
- Honduras (http://the-touchline.blogspot.com/2008/12/hexagonal-preview-honduras.html)
- El Salvador (http://the-touchline.blogspot.com/2008/11/hexagonal-preview-el-salvador.html)

[bshredder]

I am almost certain that the US, Mexico, and Honduras will qualify outright. It may not be in that order, but that'll be the top 3

Costa Rica will probably be the playoff team but T&T will challenge that

El Salvador will be at the bottom

[Adam Zebrowski]

should be noted espn2 is replaying usa-mexico at 3a,-5am est slot..

suspect telemundo does the matches over the weekend...

personally, i do like t&t to get road points in el salvador...it's more the sallies than the soca warriors...

and honduras will take costa rica to the cleaners...stunner here, as ticos go down...

usa and mexico might well be a 1-1 draw, which 'll make american fans pissed quite a bit

[Lord15]

I am almost certain that the US, Mexico, and Honduras will qualify outright. It may not be in that order, but that'll be the top 3

I agree with this completely.

[uclacarlos]

I am almost certain that the US, Mexico, and Honduras will qualify outright. It may not be in that order, but that'll be the top 3
If I were a betting man, I would bet this.

However.

The games need to be played. Wednesday just may give us a glimpse of what to expect.

Whereas I think T und T will be weaker than last time, I don't think ES is going to be a complete push-over.

The top 2 (US, Mex) are roughly the same as '05

#3 (Honduras) I think has the potential to be the best #3 from C'caf in quite a while, but definitely better than CR in '05-06 and probably better than '01-02. I really hope they get their shit together.

#4 CR probably better than T&T, which barely nudged out Guatemala in '05

#5 T&T is weaker

#6 ES is probably a shade weaker than Panama but may have a bit more of a home-field edge.