I'm not sure whether it is good or bad to have the hardest game(Guatemala away) in the first pair of games. The U.S. always seems to struggle in Guatemala City. It is probably good to get it over with right away because we won't have to face the prospect of needing a result in Guatemala to secure advancement.
For anyone that didn't watch the Antigua/Haiti game and wanted to see how it happened, I just added the highlights to my latest World Cup review.
The Semifinal Round Schedule is also listed by group at: http://www.ussoccer.com/Tournaments...FIFA-World-Cup-Qualifying/Round-3-Groups.aspx One particular item I like about this schedule for the US is that for the two games vs Guatemala, they both come on Tuesday on the heals of a tougher Friday match for Guatemala (v. Jamaica) relative to the US matches on Fridays (v. Antigua & Barbuda). And yes, this assumes that Antigua & Barbuda is the "easier opponent" relative to Jamaica in the group.
I wonder which of our players Guatemala will try to decapitate this time. I still cringe at that Cabrera's flying headbutt on Eddie Lewis.
why limit the speculation to Guatemala? Truly any team that thinks they have a legitimate shot at advancing out of a group with the US will likely play a very physical (and unbecoming) style against the "higher-ranked" and "better" teams (such as the US).
I don't blame you. I'm from Guatemala and I do too. Just a really stupid challenge. I did consider him a good defender in his prime but he doesn't contribute much to the Guatemala back line anymore and I also think he is an irresponsible prick (he abandoned training at his club the other day because he wasn't in the starting lineup for the next league match) so I sincerely hope he gets dropped from the national squad already. Occasional, lamentable incidents and individuals like the aforementioned aside, I would say the current squad is composed of more technical and more level-headed players, based on recent performances. Facing the US in WCQ, however, will probably continue to be a match that gets squad members heated up to play their hardest (while sportsmanlike, hopefully).
Well, given A&B's rise from the minnow pool, and Jamaica's recent run of poor form (over the last couple cycles), Guatamala has to feel they have an excellent chance to progress from this group. Though Jamaica certainly was improved at the Gold Cup and is currently in the top 50. Point being, I think Guatamala may want to avoid losing anyone to suspension because reaching the Hex seems a very attainable goal.
Quote: GROUP A Date Match Result/Time (ET) Venue Jun. 8, 2012 USA vs. Antigua & Barbuda Jun. 8, 2012 Jamaica vs. Guatemala Jun. 12, 2012 Guatemala vs. USA Jun. 12, 2012 Antigua & Barbuda vs. Jamaica Sept. 7, 2012 Jamaica vs. USA Sept. 7, 2012 Guatemala vs. Antigua & Barbuda Sept. 11, 2012 USA vs. Jamaica Sept. 11, 2012 Antigua & Barbuda vs. Guatemala Oct. 12, 2012 Guatemala vs. Jamaica Oct. 12, 2012 Antigua & Barbuda vs. USA Oct. 16, 2012 USA vs. Guatemala Oct. 16, 2012 Jamaica vs. Antigua & Barbuda Jamaica has to win that first and last game with guatemala. Since no doubt that Guatemala will bag both games against Antigua, they have to prioritize the head to head series against them, and get a point out of us.
there's too much football to be played to claim to know that Jamaica needs all 6 points from their matches versus Guatemala. there are (to varying degrees of) possible routes for Jamaica to the Hex that involve only taking 4, 3, 2, 1 or even 0 points from their two matches v Guatemala. All that teams need to do (to advance to the Hex) is finish in the top half of the group. (certainly the best and safest way to that goal would be to take at least 4 points from all three pairs of the H/A matches against the other teams in the group.) Assumptions that teams will bag all 6 points from "both games against Antigua" (or any opponent) are the types of assumptions that lead to expectations not being met and groups really being thrown into disarray.
Agree with the previous poster. But beyond that, 6 points from our first two games against A&B and Guatemala would set us up properly. We SHOULD be beating those two teams in particular, even if we are not home. Anything can definitely happen, but starting the group NOT against the other theoretically "stonger" team in the group - Jamaica - should be a plus for us. We should also be prepared for bunkerball knowing two teams from the group advance. Teams will be angling for a tie with us, and a win versus one another to be team #2. Breaking down 9 men behind the ball is crucial to be able to do before qualifying starts.