Aged people like myself remember the absolute disaster in Olympic qualifying for 2004. An absolutely loaded roster for us, and we sailed thru the group stage. Played Mexico in front of 60k in Guadalaraja. We totally wet our pants (worse than when Beasley did actually pee on Mexico). Mexico toyed with us and 4-0 was flattering. We were hoping that the pressure of playing in front of a crowd like that would be too much for the Mexico boys, but it was the exact opposite. I expect disaster in this Mexico game. But as long as we take care of business against Costa Rica, a team I know little about at this level, then the Mexico game is somewhat irrelevant.
I don’t care about winning the group and aside from putting in a show for the home crowd I doubt Mexico will either. Both teams, if they meet expectations, will have secured advancement and it should be a dead rubber match. Of course, the reality could be we go in needing a win and that would be a big problem.
The Olympic Qualifying tournaments are run by Concacaf and they also own the TV rights. We are aware they are working on a broadcast deal for both Olympic Qualifying tournaments for the Women and the Men. Once determined, we will make sure to share with everyone!— U.S. Soccer Comms (@ussoccer_comms) January 15, 2020
It would make sense if it was on the Olympic Channel that is owned by NBC and maybe Telemundo which is also owned by NBC.
The reason to win the group is to face the #2 team in Group B in the all important semi-final. I actually like being in Mexico's group in some ways because we can't gave them in the inky true elimination game. Group B is likely much weaker-- the #2 team could end up being much easier than the winner. Then again, who knows with youth teams.
Latest qualifying tournaments to the Olympics, CONCACAF, results: 2008 - Winner = Honduras. 2nd place = USA. 2012 - Winner = Mexico. 2nd place = Honduras. 2015 - Winner = Mexico. 2nd place = Honduras. In 2012 and 2015, for whatever reason, the USA was kept in its own group and Mexico and Honduras were put in the other group. IMO, this time it's fair: it should be evident Honduras and Mexico are the powers in the region at this level.
Did you read the tweet? USSF has zero control over the broadcasting of Olympic qualifying for men’s and women’s tournaments. That’s how it is with all CONCACAF tournaments.
Worse. They don't have the players. But there's a psych factor. Had we to play them in semis, I'd be careful.
Care to give us an overview of the Honduras tea and pool, perhaps in this thread, @Catracho_Azul? https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/co...ll-team-and-tournament-news-and-info.2108362/ Here's a recent callup list on Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras_national_under-23_football_team#Current_squad (This goes for anyone with info to share on the other CONCACAF squads, too. I'm looking at you, @CANPRO...)
He rather just troll and say silly one liners as he usually does in this and other forums that have little or nothing to do with Honduras.
If silly one-liners are on the outs, I may have a problem. I would be glad to learn about the Honduras pool/team from anyone who has knowledge they care to share.
If Pulisic, Adams, McKennie, Reyna, Vassilev, Sargent, Antonee, Dest, Weah, and Palmer-Brown are unavailable and no overage players selected. GOALKEEPER: 1. JT Marcinkowski 2. David Ochoa 3. Matt Freese Back-up: Brady Scott Contenders: Damian Las, Chituri Odunze, Jonathan Klinsmann, Trey Muse Comments: By far, our weakest position. It’s extremely worrisome that goalkeeper, historically our strongest position, has become so weak. So much for the US always produces elite goalkeepers. RIGHT BACK 1. Reggie Cannon 2. Julian Araujo Alternate: Sebastian Anderson Contenders: Brooks Lennon, Joseph Scally, Kyle Duncan, Manny Perez, Dylan Nealis, Matthew Olosunde, Jaylin Lindsey Comments: I’m still hoping Cannon goes abroad, but right now, right back should be a position that most USMNT fans should feel comfortable (not including Dest, but Yedlin, Chandler, Lichaj, and some others could hold down the fort to let Cannon concentrate on u23) CENTER BACK 1. Miles Robinson 2. Cameron Carter-Vickers (might be unavailable) 3. Chris Richards (might be unavailable) 4. Justen Glad Back-up: Mark McKenzie Contenders: Auston Trusty, Aboubacar Keita, Donovan Pines Comments: We’ve seen an unfortunate regression at center back. Hopefully, things will pick back up in 2020 LEFT BACK 1. Niko Hamalainen (might turn down call-up, might be unavailable) 2. Chris Gloster (might be unavailable) Back-up: Sam Vines 2nd Back-Up: Aaron Herrera Contenders: George Bello, Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Travian Sousa Comments: Hamalainen is my wild card starter. Although, any thing could happen at Left Back. There’s a lot of talent. But it’s all unproven. #6 MIDFIELDER 1. Jackson Yuiell 2. Owen Otasowie (might be unavailable) Back-Up: James Sands Contenders: Chris Durkin, Brandon Servania, Edwin Cerrillo, Hassani Dotson, Justin Haak, Bryan Kayo, Jack Maher, Josh Atencio, Johnny Cardoso Comments: Now that Adams is healthy, and Morales provided sufficient cover; it’s time for Yuiell to concentrate on the Olympics. #8 MIDFIELDER 1. Paxton Pomykal 2. Brenden Aaronson Back-up: Keaton Parks Contenders: Christian Cappis, Alex Mendez, Frankie Amaya, Cole Bassett, Danny Leyva, Alan Sonora Comments: I’m holding my breath that Paxton returns in 2020 with all his injuries. But Aaronson and even Parks are promising. #10 MIDFIELDER 1. Richard Ledezma 2. Gianluca Busio Back-up: Djordje Mihailovic Contenders: Matko Miljevic (might be unavailable), Malik Tillman (might be unavailable), Taylor Booth (might be unavailable), Luca de la Torre (might be unavailable), Omir Fernandez Comments: I had to promote Reyna; which means Ledezma earns the reigns of this team at CAM. Busio can be his understudy. RIGHT WING 1. Emmanuel Sabbi (might be unavailable) 2. Ulysses Llanez (might be unavailable) Back-up: Nick Taitague (might be unavailable) Contenders: Sebastian Saucedo (might be unavailable), Griffin Yow, Josh Perez Comments: Sabbi has done well in Denmark, and I could see him rewarded with the starting position. Llanez is on his heels though. LEFT WING 1. Jesus Ferreira 2. Konrad de la Fuente (might be unavailable) Back-up: Niko Gioacchini (might be unavailable) Contenders: Jonathan Amon (might be unavailable, injury history), Tim Tillman (might be unavailable), Mukwalle Akale (might be unavailable), Matteo Ritaccio (might be unavailable), Thomas Roberts, Lagos Kunga, Jonathan Lewis Comments: Where is Ferreira’s best position? Right now, it’ll need to be at LW. FORWARD 1. Jeremy Ebobisse 2. Mason Toye Back-up: Sebastian Soto (might be unavailable) Contenders: Ricardo Pepi, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Haji Wright (might be unavailable), Josh Pynadath (might be unavailable), Maurice Malone (might be unavailable), Charlie Kelman (might be unavailable), Cameron Harper (might be unavailable), Johan Gomez (might be unavailable), Jalen Hawkins (might be unavaialable), Brandon Vasquez, Robbie Robinson, Daryl Dike, Jack DeVries, Ayo Akinola, Justin Rennicks, Benji Michel, Matthew Hoppe (might be unavailable), Justin Butler (might be unavailable) Comments: Almost, I put Ferreira at FW. But I believe Ebobisse and Toye should fight for minutes; with hopefully Soto having a resurgence in his career after a disastrous start to the 2019/2020 season. The Starting XI Ferreira———Ebobisse————Sabbi ———————Ledezma—————— ————-Pomykal———-Yuiell———- Hamalainen—————————-Cannon —————-Miles———-CCV————— ———————Marcinkowski—————- Captain Contenders: 1. Pomykal 2. Carter-Vickers 3. Robinson 4. Yuiell 5. Cannon 6. Ferreira 7. Ledezma
Good work. Personally, I’m not planning on any Euro based players to be released. So my best guess is the following: Toye/Ebobisse Bofo Ferriera Parks/Aaronson—————Pomykal Yuiell Vines Mackenzie Robinson Cannon RW is tough for me. I want Ferreira on the field, but where would he play? Lennon won’t be effective, imo, so I don’t want him out there. I like the idea of offensive firepower with Pomykal and Parks/Aaronson out there, but I wouldn’t be opposed to Servania for a bit more defensive cover. The midfield gives me hope, we have some real game changers at this level.
My notepad right now 1) Marcinkowski 2) Ochoa 3) Cannon 4) Araujo 5) Richards (if no release, Trusty or Glad) 6) Robinson 7) CCV (if no release, McKenzie) 8) Gloster (if no release, Vines or Herrera) 9) Robinson (if no release, Vines or Herrera) 10) Yueill 11) Servania 12) Cappis (if no release, Dotson) 13) Ledezma (if no release, Mendez) 14) Pomykal 15) Aaronson 16) Llanez (if no release Toye) 17) Saucedo (if no release, Toye ) 18) Lewis 19) Ferreira 20) Ebobisse
I'd say over USA B/C. Look at the those rosters and by and large, they were not reflective of our best 23's due to call up issues.
Any decent team has to play the qualifiers with a B/C/D team, since the better you are, the more youngsters you have actually playing in top leagues, and the less likely they get released. That's just the way it is. Last time the European qualifiers winners were the Swedes, while England, France and Spain didn't make it. Everybody knows the strongest youngsters are from those three countries, though.
thats precisely the problem - the european countries with the strongest developmental pipelines are the ones sending the b/c teams. concacaf countries without them are sending a teams vs our b/c team despite the fact development here doesnt touch development in those three countries listed.
Well, thing is, unlike Mexico who keeps youngsters in their league for a lot longer to develop them and sell them for good $$$, we don't have a league good enough to do that and our possible best talent leaves early. An unintended consequence of this is that our possible better players won't be released for the OG quals. Of course it could all be a mirage, and our possible better players in Europe may never amount to anything. That you're in the Bayern or City academy doesn't really mean as much as some seem to think.