2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League USA vs Cuba November 19th, 2019 Truman Bodden Sports Complex Georgetown, Cayman Islands 7:30 PM (ET) FS1, TUDN, and UniMas The US need 3 points to qualify for The Nations League Semifinals.
Sweet!! All we need to do to qualify out of this group is travel down to a tiny Caribbean island and get a result against the bottom-of-the group team that we trounced earlier in the same competition at home. Coming off this latest solid result, we're a lock against this subpar competition. WHAT COULD GO WRONG??????
I am slightly nervous given our history in away matches. I'll never forget needing 90th minute heroics from Alan Gordon in order to beat an Antigua and Barbuda team who IIRC had a squad that was almost entirely composed of the worst team in USL. We'll win, but I think this will be closer to 2-0 and not 7-0.
On the serious, we've played away to Cuba twice In 2008 we played Cuba in the WCQ semis in Havana, and won a very nervy 1-0 result: In 2016, we played a friendly in Havana, and won 2-0. Good game from Julian Green, fwiw. And closer than the scoreline indicates; Cuba was in it all the way, hit the post twice. Canada trounced this Cuba team 6-0 at home, then won by a much more modest 1-0 in the Caymans. To whatever extent you can extrapolate from these results, they suggest we have the edge but don't expect another onslaught. Plus, can you imagine how stoked the Cubans would be to scrape the result that knocked us out of the tournament?
Add to that losing to Jamaica in 2012 WCQ semis; the Barbados game in 2000 WCQ semis that was 0-0 well into the second half before we got four goals; and beyond Couva a number of other times we've had rough results v T&T (0-0 draw in 2016 WCQ semis where we were outplayed, losing 1-2 in the 2008 WCQ semis). The Caribbean is a nice place to visit but not an easy place to play.
IF we do advance, there is no draw for the semi finals. The group winners will ranked 1 to 4 and 1 will play 4 and 2 will play 3. Mexico is going to beat Bermuda at home, so they'll be the 1 seed. If the US advances we will have 9 points which will put as no worse than 3rd with 2nd being a small possibility. Honduras is playing Trinidad at home, they should win that which would put them at #2. That leaves group D where Costa Rica and Haiti will play for the group. That is at The Saprissa, so you'd expect Costa Rica to win, but either way the winner of that group is likely going to be the 4 seed unless Trinidad stuns Honduras. So the semi final matchups are likely to be Mexico vs Costa Rica and Honduras vs USA
Cannon and Lovitz will both be automatically eligible for English work permits in January with an appearance in this game. Cannon allegedly has UK interest, so it would be awful man management for Berhalter to not play him. Lovitz, sure, give him a cameo. Everyone else is either already eligible or needs multiple appearances to be eligible.
Congratulations. You guys were clinical and earned the victory. Herdman got his tactics wrong and bad bounces and individual errors did us in. Canada has the talent to play with teams like the USA, but not the experience. More games are needed so the team learns how to manage big games and the emotions that come with it. Good luck in the semi final!
Thanks for coming in here with honest assessment. We still need to beat cuba, so hold on. Hopefully El Salvador screws up, because Canada deserves to be in the Hex.
Presumably somewhere in the US next June? Any hints as to where, or nothing yet? (Though I guess if they ever want to let Mexico host something again, this is as good an opportunity as any.)
My XI —————Sargent—————- Boyd—————————Morris —————-Lletget—————- ——McKennie——Morales—— Dest—————————-Cannon ————Brooks—-Long———— ——————Guzan—————— Subs: Yuiell - Morales - I came close to starting Yuiell, but it’s fair to give Morales his shot with the team. Yedlin - Boyd - I think he belongs at FB but I can go along with the wing thing for a game due to lack of superior options and want Dest/Cannon to go 90. Lovitz - to allow him to qualify for a WP and hopefully transfer abroad so we never have to see him again.
Morales and Yueill do not equate. Yueill gives you a much more compete player at that spot than Morales does.
No “should” about it. We win, we too the group; we don’t win, Canada does. Last nights game took goal difference out of the equation.
I think all five fullbacks need to start since only one started in the last game. Now be creative and build a team around them (hints - Cannon started the last FCD game at left winger, Dest used to be a midfielder, Yedlin has played wingback before etc)!
He should have come off the bench last night instead of Yedlin, for that purpose. Dest could have moved into the attack. If Berhalter doesn't play Cannon next week in a match where we should be expected to dominate the opponent and when he's been a reliable player, then he or someone else doesn't want him to go to Europe. Can't reasonably determine anything else. Although I'm sure some excuse would be made, like it's must win, Cuba threatens us, and he's a little behind others. Mind you, Berhalter claimed Pomykal needed to test himself in Europe before he was integrated to the national team. But not giving him more caps helped facilitating him staying in Dallas. And Gregg plays a plethora of MLS lifers or newbies with less potential to move than the likes of Pomykal or Cannon.
3-1 up with 10 minutes to go, I get bringing on Yedlin. Not as a winger, mind you, but I don't have a problem with Yedlin over Cannon there. This though, 100%. Cuba is basically a freebie - there really isn't an excuse not to play Cannon unless the reasoning is what you laid out.
I don't want to see the USA beat Cuba. I want to see the USA *crush* Cuba. 7-0 last time. I want to see a multiple goal shutout. No goals allowed. No breakdowns. No bad passes out of the back.