Do you agree that Mexico and the United States are the best non UEFA or CONMEBOL teams?

Ghana's PK loss to Uruguay officially counts as a tie. I think, but I'm not sure, that the U.S.' extra time losses just count as losses.

 

Yes, standard convention is that losses in extra time are considered losses, while matches settled on penalty kicks are regarded as draws.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup#Tournament_team_rankings

 

Mexico annnnndddd then the U.S. .

 

Interesting thread, but what are we measuring exactly ?

Current form ? Historical achievements ? Because depending on what you actually mean by "best teams" the answer will be different.

Historically speaking, and in terms of consistent results then it would be Mexico. They are the only non UEFA/Conembol team to virtually make the knockout rounds every time. They do though have the advantage of virtually being handed a WC spot every 4 years, despite almost missing out last time. This is a massive boost for a team like Mexico and even the US.

Despite Mexico always making the knockouts, they have never progressed past the 2nd round without hosting the competition, and that quarter final appearance was back in 1986 when most of the teams in this discussion had never even once qualified for a WC. Teams like Nigeria, CIV, Ghana, Japan.

Senegal, South Korea, USA, Costa Rica, Cameroon, Ghana, have all made it further than Mexico in this regard, and that is with FEWER ATTEMPTS. So despite Mexicos consistent form its hard to really call them the best, when all the above mentioned sides have made the quarters more recently, AND WITHOUT HOSTING STATUS, something Mexico has never achieved.

If we look to single WC individual performances, standouts for me have been

Korea 2002
USA 2002
Nigeria 1994
Ghana 2010
Costa Rica 2014(results more than play)
Senegal 2002

Mexico again is always decent, but none of their displays really stands out to me, maybe 2014.


Who is the best team NOW, and not talking about over long periods of time. Hard to say.

The recent Gold cup did no favours to any concacaf sides. Costa Rica and US both looked horrible. Mexico was mediocre, except for their final game vs Jamaica, who while an improved side, are still not enough to raise Mexico's profile in this regard.

AFC was terrible at the last WC, clearly dominated by CAF sides.

Algeria played Korea off the park.
CIV defeated Japan convincingly.
Nigeria drew a bunkering Iran, but bested them in the group.

Australia are current champs, but were hosts.

In my opinion, and its just my opinion having watched the last WC, the entire 2015 ANC, and most matches of the AFC 2015 championship and 2015 Gold Cup, I would say Ghana are the best side outside of UEFA/Conembol.

They lost to CIV in penalties, but they are a much younger side who is only going to improve while CIV is getting older and IMO is rapidly declining, even evidenced at the last WC.


There are lots of teams that currently could give a decent shout for being best side outside of the big 2.

Algeria and Senegal are also strong squads. Senegal beat Ghana twice in the past year. (one at the ANC and the other a friendly)

I would also not sleep on Nigeria who have a massive young generation of footballers who should make them a very strong team for the next few cycles.

Nigeria has played Mexico 3 times in the last 5 years, all of them friendlies ending in draws. One was in Mexico, the other 2 in the US with overwhelming Mexican support. Basically 3 home games for Mexico where they have failed to beat the Nigerians.

USA needs to bring in new talent. Key players are aging, and from what I saw at the Gold cup, they are far from consideration as the best non big 2 confederations team.

Outplayed in back to back home games vs Panama. Beaten at home by Jamaica. Not good at all.

 

Over the last 3 WC's. I use 3 as a "magic number" because that was the beginning of Ghana's WC history. Ghana has been better than the US, probably Mexico too tbh. The best individual performances of the last 3 WC's have mostly been Ghana, though Mexico has had great games vs Argentina in 2006, dominating performance vs Croatia in 2014, and also a good game vs Dutch in 2014.

US standout performacnce in the last 3 cups was probably vs Portugal in 2014

 

So consistently getting out of the group isn't an achievement ?



Lol somehow ignorantly you stripped Mexico of a quarter final run "Because they were at home" but fail to state that Ghana had the entire Continent of AFRICA behind them in 2010 !

Ha ignorant fool .

 

You don't get to make a line in the sand , who are you

 

this is a stupid statistic because countries like Mexico and US have been playing in WC's far longer than most other sides and have played way more games, so this proves nothing.

 

I'ma make a new line in the sand .

Mexico & the U.S. both got out of the group in 2014 , Ghana didn't .

Mexico,U.S.>Ghana

 

Mexico has not been to the quarters since 1986.

Korea, USA, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Costa Rica have all made it more recently and without being hosts, and with far fewer attempts. The only one showing ignorance or foolishness is yourself.

South Africa is not Ghana. Not close in terms of geography or climate.

It is a FACT that Mexico has failed to win a knockout game without being hosts, and not for nearly 3 decades. Despite their guaranteed WC participation.

and I never said it wasn't an achievement to make the 2nd round always, I actually give Mexico props for being the most consistent side.

I don't think they are the best though. I think Ghana is better. I think Nigeria, now that we have a real coach, has more potential, and would beat Mexico on a neutral pitch.

 

Yes and by that stupid logic Mexico and U.S. are also better than

Spain
Portugal
England
Italy

Of course we all know that's true isn't it.

 

Mexico and U.S. have played far more games than any other side from concacaf, CAF, AFC,

So again this statistic is completely useless.

 

See how stupid it is to make a line in the sand now ?

 

Lets put it another way. What teams outside of UEFA/Conembol do I think could/will do the most damage in Russia 2018. I would say in no particular order.

Nigeria
Mexico
Ghana

 

Mexico is the best in CONCACAF right now, they were behind Rich Coast due to World Cup standing, but have now knocked them off their perch.

 

You statement about Korea making QFs without being hosts is wrong.

So to extend your QF logic, would you then admit that all Semi finalist one hit wonders, such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey (despite their abject failure since) are better than all African teams, none of whom have made it that far, despite more opportunities for many of them.

How many of those countries you named would trade their WC record for Mexico's (over the time frame since proposed country's first appearance). I would say all but probably Ghana. 2010 would be hard to let go of.

Ghana may be better than Mexico right now, or over the last 3 cycles. All the numbers in that time frame are about even. Ghana reminds me of Nigeria, who looked like they had really arrived in 94 and 98, only to truly disappoint in the next 3 WCs. The question is, will Ghana keep up it going or fall back like Nigeria did? I really hope they stay around and that Nigeria does also. I would rather see these entertaining teams advancing in the WC over the likes of some dull second tier Euro team.

As for who would win on a neutral field, who cares. What matters is how they do against the field. But while you think Nigeria would defeat Mexico, it is a FACT that Mexico has won their only two encounters with Ghana in the last few years, both in neutral territory. And to me that means very little, but surely more than your supposition about Nigeria.

 

agree. Algeria was pleasant surprise in 2014, especially after their showing in 2010 and the dismal showings of most N. African teams at previous WCs. Do you think they have much of a chance of a similar level of play in 2018, should they qualify. I know this is really early to speculate, but you follow the African teams more than I do.

 

Algeria has a hell of an attack with Djabou, Brahimi, Feghouli and Slimani, and a good goalkeeper in M'Bolhi. However, they will be without their 2010 and 2014 captain Bougherra, who retired from Int'l play. They need to stack up on their defense to be as good as they were in Brazil 2014.

 

Algeria should still be fairly similar, and I think they will continue to supplement their squad with young French born Algerian players, so should they qualify they will definitely be relevant, I just think Ghana and Nigeria have greater potential. Senegal is also a team to watch, as their Olympic side of 2012 will be at their prime. We may also see a resurgence of Egypt who also have some youth, and perhaps Mali can bring in their U20 players. Morocco is also a team with many talented individuals, who do have the potential to get their act together and produce an Algeria 2014 type team.