World Cup 2022 Qualifying General Topic [R]

I remember that. They abandoned that in the second half and only paid for it with the equalizer from Tecatito.

They really should've gone for the three points last night.

 

Wrong subs came in… Blackburn (CF) was replaced by Guerrero at halftime bc of an injury and Guerrero is 2nd striker/winger… thus Panama released the pressure on the centre backs and lost depth. Mexico started to sub in everything they had to compound the attack and we looked tired and without options to release quick counter attacks…

I am not coach and could be wrong but that decision gave Mexico fresh air… unfortunately

 

A slightly different take on the standings after the first 3 match days. Using the conventional wisdom of winning your home games, and drawing on the road, who's dropped the fewest points so far or exceed expectations (-3 for a home loss, -1 for a home draw, 0 home win, -1 away loss, 0 away draw, +2 away win)? Although this doesn't account for quality of opponent, it does somewhat account for home/away schedule for where people should be.

Mexico: 0+2+0 = +2
USA: 0-2+2 = 0
Canada: -2+0+0 = -2
Panama: -2+2-2 = -2
Honduras: 0+0-3 = -3
Jamaica: -1-3+0 = -4
Costa Rica: 0-3-2 = -5
El Salvador: -2-2-1 = -5

That makes it look like the USA is in better position than many might think, and maybe Jamaica and Honduras aren't in as bad of shape as one might first think (Jamaica has their road game against Mexico done, and Honduras has already played the USA and Canada away).

 

I am hopeful Pepi continues to deliver, but as good as that was, I'd probably prefer to play with Pulisic at #9, and Reyna and McKinnie on the wings. I just think Pulisic has showed me a bit more in his career, playing up top for Chelsea in the CL final for example.

 

There's also the thought -- why would you ever want to play your two best players on opposite sides of the pitch? Also, why play either on the wings where they touch the ball less? I would prefer playing Reyna in central Mid and Pulisic at striker, with McKennie & Aaronson on the wings perhaps...

 

Are there any bookies which give odds on the probability that certain teams qualify for the World Cup?

 

Lots

 

https://www.wsn.com/international-soccer/concacaf-world-cup-qualifying-2022/

Everybody considers Mexico and the USA as shoe-ins. I'd agree.

 

Whoah, Pulisic and Reyna both out for the next set of WCQs. Terrible news.

At least those odds are reassuring...

 

It does suck to have those two missing.

That said, I am happy to see Weah finally get a chance. I also like that Zardes is back too.
I can certainly see him scoring in Columbus where he plays very well at club level.

 

Weah is in good form. Miazga missing is a shame.

Turner is Egg's keeper, at this point, so he should start. Steffen the #2.


Defense:

Arob should have earned the starting LB spot by now, with Bello as his sub.

The leaves Dest starting on the right, with Yedlin as his backup.

The CB pair is going to be an interesting one. I wouldn't play brooks away, truth is I wouldn't play him at all, the guy is as likely to be a liability as he is to be a good choice. But he's going to start the home games. In Panama, it's probably Ream, and to hell with Fulham.

The RCB is much clearer: Miles, with McKenzie as the #2.

Moore and Richards are there for depth/injury, I guess.


Midfield:

Adams is not 100%. I'd expect him to play only the last game of the three, and even that, likely as a sub.

So the anchor in the middle is going to be Acosta. That makes me a bit nervous, even though he did a good job in the GC final.

The complement in midfield has to be McKennie. Gotta get over what happened at this point, with Adams out we're going to need a Weston in full battle form. He may not be in form, though. So that's a tough one.

If McKennie is a no-go for any reason, the backup has to be Busio. It's a risky move, though, playing someone with little NT experience.

The other side, people here will be asking for Musah but I think Berhalter will rather start the more experienced Roldan. He's in good form, but this is a guy who always seems to come with an asterisk. Very uneven for the NT, he can become a ghost.

The #2 for Roldan should be De La Torre, but wouldn't be surprised if Egg uses Lletget in the home games to give the attack a push. The rivals are likely to be doing the bulk of defending.


Attack:

Without the two most technical players, we're going to rely more on speed (hopefully). Speed at this level requires control. So I'd say Zardes is out of the main group, only there in case of an emergency.

Aaronson is marked as a forward, and he should be starting wide in home games, saved as a super-sub in the other. The Covid factor enters into play here too, since Austria has its own restrictions.

The backup for Brenden could be Musah, but he's not one of the players Berhalter seems comfortable playing out there. I suspect we're more likely to see Lletget taking minutes there, or else Weah if he's not starting.

But I expect Weah to start. He's in good form, and could provide a great complement on the left. Arriola would be his backup, possibly starting one of the games.

The main striker role is a headache. I expect Weah to be the man, but when replaced (by Arriola) someone else has to take that role, and that won't be Hoppe but Pepi.

What Hoppe does will depend entirely on what he shows in training, since he's not played much since his transfer.


For the Jamaica game (too many variables at this point to attempt more):

-------------------Turner--------------------
Dest--------Miles------Brooks----Arob
------------------Acosta--------------------
--------McKennie-----Roldan-----------
Brenden-------Weah-----------Arriola

Subs:

Busio x McKennie (60')
Lletget x Roldan (70')
Hoppe x Arriola (70') (Weah to the left)
Yedlin x Arob (70') (Dest to the left)
Hoppe x Brenden (80')


This is more what I expect to see than what I want to see, BTW. They're similar, but not identical.


PS: I hope Roldan and McKennie are ON that day. They could be a giant issue, if both are not having a good day.

 

I gave up on Arriola years ago. He just is too inaccurate shooting the ball and his passing is not that great either.
I hope he plays well if he does start but I am very pessimistic towards him.

 

📊Honduras y Costa Rica jugarán este jueves su duelo número 24 en eliminatoria mundialista con saldo favorable para el combinado catracho

El dato✍🏼
10 victorias de 🇭🇳
5 victorias de 🇨🇷
8 empates
39 goles de 🇭🇳
33 goles de 🇨🇷

En Honduras; 7 triunfos de 🇭🇳, uno de 🇨🇷 y 3 empates pic.twitter.com/nYpDsiJAV6

— Julio César Cruz (@crumar92) October 6, 2021

 

Suarez>Coito though.
History is just history.

 

History is more than just history in CONCACAF. It's the context of a team's demise more so than not.

This is Costa Rica's worst moment since 08-09 when they hired Simoes to try and save their campaign and ended up dumped out in the intercontinental playoffs against Uruguay. End of a Golden Era with no like for like replacements on the horizon. No excuse for Coito not to get his first three points of Qualifiers tomorrow at home.

 

I agree that in the region history is important. (Part of the reason I keep firm with my views on Canada being lucky to get 4th.)

That said, if we were to base everything on history then Honduras would not have lost 4-1 to USA.

Crazy things can happen this cycle and exceptions to the rules can always occur if tactics are just right.

 

I expected them to show the door to Fabián right after the 1-4 to be honest.

 

I think history has been kind to America in Honduras. Compared to their history in CR, which will probably change cuz again, this CR team is quite frankly no good.

 

Don't think they'll can him any time soon cuz FENAFUTH don't have the $$$ to do so.

Gotta live or die by the Uruguayan.

 

Hey sorry for the newbie question, but does anybody know when the location of the January 27th qualifier between the US and El Salvador will be announced and what is the best way to get tickets?