Tournament draw: Group 1 CF Pachuca (MEX) Real España (HON) Municipal (GUA) Group 2 Sporting Kansas City (USA) Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) Real Estelí (NCA) Group 3 New York Red Bulls (USA) Impact de Montréal or Toronto FC (CAN) FAS (SLV) Group 4 Tauro (PAN) DC United (USA) Waterhouse FC (JAM) Group 5 Olimpia (HON) Portland Timbers (USA) Alpha United (GUY) Group 6 LD Alajuelense (CRC) Cruz Azul (MEX) Chorrillo FC (PAN) Group 7 Club León (MEX) Isidro Metapán (SLV) Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) Group 8 Comunicaciones (GUA) Club América (MEX) Puerto Rico Bayamón FC (PUR)
It was funny hearing the Sportsnet announcers of the TFC game announce who was in the ACC champs' group. I hope Belmopan are allowed to participate. America has ZERO excuse for not getting out of their group this time, not that they had any last time. Silver platter, lightning better not strike twice. I hope Saprissa and their fans go full throttle since now they know how hard it is to qualify for this. It's never a guarantee, so they better play like it, and their fans have to live up to their rep, and then some.
So the Red Bulls get to play one new team. Hooray. Can I emphasize how much I hate the three-team groups again?
"...and Club Deportivo of El Salvador." Which one? I'm willing to bet Petke and your FO appreciate the new format much more than you do.
Group 6; Group of death no doubt. last season`s semifinalist, the current champ, and a panamanian team(most improved footballing nation in Concacaf)
Yes, tied 1-1. With away goals counting, Montreal are currently in the lead on that tiebreaker ahead of next Wednesday's return let at the Stade Saputo.
Most improved is easy to do when the whole country got literally zero points in 2012-13. Chorrillo had a -13 GD that year. Alajuelense v. Cruz Azul will be great, but I'd be shocked if Chorrillo do anything in this tournament.
Panama, like Croatia, are examples of countries whose NTs are far more competitive internationally than their club sides.
I told y´all group 6 was the group of death! don´t ever question me again guys. a bigger expert on the beautiful game than me...... there is none
So about mexico teams getting 3rd place in the FCWC from now on, do you still feel the same with this cruz azul?
The answer is appearing to be no. It all depends if they qualify to the mexican league playoffs. Of the 8 years mexican teams have gone to the CWC in the new format, only Monterrey finished in the top 3. And it was the only time in those 8 years that the CCL champ qualified to the playoffs in December.