I wish they'd just dock three or four points from the offending team, like they do in sailing, so that the other teams aren't affected. Honduras should have two points, and FG should have -2.
Ali struggled against Ken Norton, but no one's calling Ken 'the greatest'. Mexico's record across three major competitions has been inferior to the US's in recent times.
You guys should just make out already. Mexico is weak. Feeble. A road-apple. Really, they looked vulnerable to Curacao. Yeah, Mexico had a couple of attacks down the flanks, but by and large they were outplayed, especially in the midfield. I think part of the problem was that they didn't seem to have good spacing between the defense and the midfield. Too much space for Bacuna and company to run around. Mexico gave up a lot of chances, and Curacao were unlucky not to get at least a goal out of it. If the other teams don't reinforce like we have, I will expect a Gold Cup win.
Panama won't call new players. Bolillo wants to give minutes to non-regular players who could help in the last 4 hex matches.
Halftime: Costa Rica 0-0 Panama The QFs and SFs will go to PKs if tied after 90 minutes (dumb rule, IMO).
Horrific miss by Giancarlo Gonzalez on a header 4 yards in front of goal for Costa Rica. The Panamanian defense lost him and Calderon was stranded, but Gonzalez skied it.
Good game actually. Very tactical, Costa Rica is the superior team, but Bolillo managed to embroil them for most of the game. I really want Panama to go to Russia now.
OK I was not able to watch either game. How does CR look? More like the one that stormed into the quarters of WC14 or that went out with a whimper in the group stage of CA15? Because from what I read about how the US looked v El Salvador, unless it's more like the latter we may be in trouble.
Any team with a solid defense like CR has right now, and a guy like Bryan roaming the front is going to spell trouble for our current team. Wasteful in attack due to poor technique on the ball, and leaky as a sieve at the back, Not a great recipe against the current CR team.
CR always gives us trouble. Though, their recent form's been pretty mediocre. If we can get the CB pairing right (I don't think there's much of a difference either way for any of our fullbacks available this tournament), I think we win 2-1 or 1-0.
Canada v. Jamaica underway. The Dominion Cup?(Or is it Commonwealth) I feel they are evenly matched. If we meet Canada in the finals it will be a preview of the Camp Cupcake friendly.
They've been saying Canada is vulnerable in the back. A guy I don't understand in terms of playing for Canada is Bekker who is now in NASL Zambrano should take a look. I think he could help.
Davies-Larin-Hoillett is actually a pretty decent front 3 in a 4-3-3 for Canada. This could be a real back-and-forth game.
I don't understand your Acosta hate but I agree completely with you on Bekker. He plays hard but like a chicken with his head cut off. I can never fault a player who goes all out but I can question the coach who plays him or the GM who trades for him.