Disppointment aside, I like how this turn out. This will be the most important game for the U20 to date. Only in these kind of games, we can see the true stars of the future. I think the US have plenty of raw talent available but only a tiny precentage of those if any have that something to impose their will on a big game. I haven't really missed Dax until now. I think he would of brought that big game performance. More than ever, this team needs to play ball possession soccer. No stupid giveawyas. If the games is tied at the half, both team will play for a tie for the remainder of the game.
Not if Guatemala wins earlier. Then one of the teams (Pananma/USA) would be left out of qualifying by virtue of the tie. This game most likely, baring a Haiti win/tie of Guatemala, will be a must win for one side or the other.
If Guatemala wins, then Panama would be eliminated unless they win against the US. So the game will be a must win for Panama, but not the US, due to goal differential.
Dax did not have a "big game performance" in the Milk Cup final. Rongen is safe with Adu and Szelta in the middle. I expect these boys will step up today although the large crowd will be a shock for many of the college kids.
Can we please get a lineup with all of our best professionals on the pitch this time, Mr. Rongen? Can you find a way to start Altidore, Smith and Zimmerman? It would be nice to see how good we can be with our best players actually on the field...
I hope the players react well to the hostility. It should be a trial by fire and I look forward to the players getting fired up for this one. Poor performance against Guatemala and a crowd crying for their heads should make for some good motivation.
The USA’s final qualifying match against Panama is now going to be shown live by GolTV. http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_281631.html
Any word on the score of the Guatemala-Panama game? How can we follow that score online? Can we have an AIM chat for the US game with someone doing PBP?
I just started an AIM chatroom for the US game tonight to join, just invite yourself to a chatroom called "bigsoccerusa" hopefully someone will join with access to GolTV and can do PbP
Justice is done on woefully soft penalty award, as the spot kick goes straight to the Guat goalkeeper.
What a crappy way that would be for the US to advance. I would feel much better if we had to play well to qualify. Game discussion in AIM chatroom "bigsoccerusa"
But Haiti scores minutes later anyway and the Panamanians in the crowd go crazy!!! Edit: Which would be most of the crowd, given that the match is in Panama.
Altidore was sick, Smith had flown in a few days before, and Zimmerman's barely 18. There are reasons they were left off. Let's just hope they are all fit enough to start now (there is Rogers instead of Zimmerman, by the way).
---------------Seitz--------------- --Ward----Valentin---Sturgis---Kirk- -------Szetela---------Beltran------ ----------------Adu---------------- -------Smith------------Rogers----- ---------------Altidore-------------
Is that a guess or has that been announced? If it's official, I can live with it. BTW, can we get an update with a score and minute for the Haiti-Hwatamala game?