Last game of this phase of qualification. Don't lose by a huge margin, and we are through to the next round.
Suriname was done in by that 2-1 loss to Puerto Rico. Had they won a victory over the U.S. without regard to goal difference would have sufficed. I'm interested to see whether this game will be the "toughest" of the group. They did beat T&T 2-0, although we now know that T&T wasn't anywhere near what we thought they might be.
Suriname does seem to have some talent. I saw that one of their players is at Feyenoord, for instance. I also love the fact that a bunch of their kids play for a team called FC Robinhood. Now that's a club name.
From the USSoccer preview: The two countries have met twice at the competition, with each team winning once. The first meeting came on Aug. 25, 1986 in Trinidad with Suriname edging the USA 1-0 in the final match of the first round. The teams’ last encounter was on March 29, 2011, with the USA claiming a 4-0 win off goals by Bobby Wood, Joey Gyau, Conor Doyle and Kelyn Rowe. Though 16 players are born in 1999 or 2000, the team also features three 16-year-olds in Ferando Hoepel, Damelcio Fer and Zerguinho Deira. https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...cacaf-title-defense-on-nov-1-in-bradenton-fla
There are quite a few '02s at this tournament -- plus two '03s, both playing for Sint Maarten. (Haiti is the closest thing to a "power" country to bring an '02 or younger.)
Lineup I’d use today. Scott Lindsey-Araujo-McKenzie-Real Servania Fontana-Mendez Dorsey-Akinola-Pomykal
I assume the coach sees things quite differently, although our advancing to the next round is beyond doubt. How can we inject meaning into this 'meaningless game, and use our time on the field to best advantage?
Looking ahead ... Today - final Group A game, USA v Suriname Tomorrow - add/release (up to) 6 players from the roster Tuesday, Nov 13 - [Watch] Honduras v Costa Rica Friday, Nov 16 - USA v Costa Rica Monday, Nov 19 - USA v Honduras Wednesday, Nov 21 - Championship Game v Mexico, Panama or El Salvador Group G USA Honduras Costa Rica Group H Mexico Panama El Salvador The top two teams in each final group will go to the World Cup, and the top team in each group will meet in the CONCACAF final. Interestingly, Honduras and Panama have the advantaged position (Games 1 and 3).
It's an opportunity to work on things like passing, dribbling, trapping, shooting, defense, positioning, tactics, strategy, conditioning, and other points of soccer. You're welcome!
Thanks, and that's not all. Let's assume the coach knows who's joining the team over the weekend (and that he's not just hoping for an early Christmas). There might be a couple of players (now on the roster) he wants to see one more time before he cuts them loose. He might want to see if a certain player can play/back-up a certain position. He might have a player nursing a bit of an injury, or one he feels he cannot risk being injured (in a game where the score is not really of consequence). He could give certain players specific instructions. Why not have our midfielders practice their long-rang shooting (in game-like conditions)? Or insist that our backs work the ball out - even under pressure - rather than blasting it out? And he should certainly be thinking ahead to games v Costa Rica and Honduras.
Check out @ussoccer_ynt’s Tweet: Unfinished business. Meet our starting XI playing to win the group at #CU20! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/PTbuFzjNBo— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) November 9, 2018
Dest and Amon are the only two I think are fairly certain. But I’m sure there will be more. Is Ledezma healthy now? Sotto would be great to have in, but who knows.
Dorsey wins a free kick 25 yards from the box. Mendez fires it into the net 1-0 US 7th minute Stream: https://www.concacafgo.com/cu20c/live/db8c39de-5d29-4a68-97dc-1c99fc414eb1 Game is also on Univision Deportes
Dollars to donuts Dorsey's leaving after this game, I'm not going to freak out over a bad PK. So long as he doesn't take the next one...
Pomykal and Gloster combine out wide. Gloster's then sends in a cross that is headed home by McKenzie. 2-0 US 26'