Pre-match: WCQ Game 11. USA vs Honduras. 02/02. 1930ET. Saint Paul, MN.

the most important thing i want to see tonight is after the final whistle somebody better have a cooler of gatorade to dump on gregg.

thawed or a giant ice chunk, either way.

 

The Athletic's reporters are noting that Honduras only practiced indoors on Tuesday.

 

El Salvador players publish a statement declaring they won't play against Canada tonight.

They say they feel disrespected and have not gotten bonuses. #CanMNT https://t.co/ygbg2zKWH5

— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) February 2, 2022

Canada catching a break....?

 

Not fair, Canada doesn't need a break. We are the ones that need a forfeit to go our way!

 

wow. thats shocking.

i think canada would have been ok, though...

 

It's crazy how we've had 4 straight coaches who's teams have looked worse on the road than at home.

But obviously there's nothing to those games

 

They were fortunate against Honduras in their only Central American away game so far, I think the Cuzcatlan would be rocking...oh well I was looking forward to the game just to see how they looked. And get a preview of how they might look at Costa Rica and Panama in the next window... when we might need their help.

 

I'm considering Canada as good as qualified as they have a 4 point lead and the easiest remaining slate of the teams in contention. I would like to see them still having something to play for in the last window, but I have a hard time seeing then not being qualified prior to the last two match days. Their only real utility for US qualifying is against Panama, because if we end up worrying about CR, the wheels have already come off the bus.

 

Posturing. Bet they play in the end.

 

Maybe Honduras will lay down. Let’s get the victory and hope for no injuries.

 

Now I want to figure out who CP would have called in that GGG didn't. Obviously Reyna and Busio, but they're unavailable. I think it's possible he would have gone with Brooks over McKenzie, Scally over Lennon, Sargent over Ferreira, maybe KDLF over Arriola. Not sure there's a huge difference, though.

 

Wuhhh?

 

Take your hot plate outside when its cold. Turn it to 55 degrees. Hold your hand 3 feet above it.

 

No chance for a coach that cares and not an idiot?

 

Even if already eliminated and with the players obviously sick of Bolillo, I bet the Catrachos come out with everything to make our lives difficult as a matter of principle.

 

He would have benched himself. Especially in Minnesota.

 

Rough Translation of Salvies NT statement, weird, looks like they complain about Federation giving up on their WC chances:

First of all, we want to thank you for the unconditional support you have given us during this beginning of the process, for us it is a pride to be able to represent the country and give everything on the field for you and our families.
We have been presented with some very relevant and negative events, which we cannot let go as professionals. It is important that we unite as players, so that both we and future generations can have the reasonable conditions that a national team player should have and even more so when they are competing for a higher team World Cup.
We have lacked respect as professionals and people. This morning, President Hugo Carrillo and the committee chose the worst moment to distract us and recriminate that they had talked to the press about cold implements that we bought in Columbus. Using this as a distraction, to later say that they will comply with the prize agreement agreed in September when the Octagonal began. Mentioning that although there are mathematical possibilities, for them there are no real possibilities.
Given these events:
As a united group, we have made the decision to step aside and not suggest being part of these efforts by the federation. We will not play this game, to set a precedent and this will not be repeated for us, nor any selection from El Salvador.
We ask the president and committee of the federation to take action in order to give the player the treatment he deserves and should have, without putting other needs first. This not only for this group, but for all the national teams that do not have the conditions to compete.
Sincerely,
Senior soccer team of El Salvador

 

Minutes before the federation news conference the El Salvador players announce they WILL PLAY tonight v. #CanMNThttps://t.co/RqvbJM4l1n

— Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) February 2, 2022

Maybe they were hoping to fake out the Canadiens

 

it's not a road game, it's a home game. defining it as not being "afraid" of the conditions you are creating by your own site selection is like jumping into rain puddles. the idea is usually instead something more like comfort or advantage. not tolerance or damage limitation. we could be playing in florida or california. under tropical conditions we won away 4-1.

i keep trying to focus it on a combination of the effect on the other guy, and us as well, because the benefit would be some added increment of discomfort vs you being fine with it. or at least less uncomfortable. if you're miserable and racking up injuries then that's a high price to make the other guy cold too. and the cost-benefit isn't there if you have injuries you wouldn't have had, or no increase in home field advantage.

 

is canada mathematically qualified yet/would 3 points here do it? (im not really asking, theres no reason for you or anyone to know offhand)...

cause if this would have done it, and hugos boys planted some champagne near the canadian locker room that would have been pretty hardcore. i mean some next level concacaffing, right there....

 

I would be surprised if this game was easy. The gameplan to stifle the US is as clear as day... and it is also evident that our coach does not know how to adjust his tactics. I think the weather will lessen our talent advantage and I could see this going in a very bad direction. In short... I have lost faith in the coach and players. I am so tired of them playing below their potential. It is frustrating and makes for an aggravating watch. I used to look forward to Intl Breaks but now I don't. Gold Cup? Nations League? They are OK... but they mean nothing when you can't get it done in qualifying.

 

That seems not quite the same, though. If the entire field is heated, then you have to scale all dimensions down in the hot plate simulation -- how far off the plate you measure, the amount of wind, etc. Put another way, three feet off a little hot plate is not the same as three feet of a huge, heated field (if indeed it is).

 

Anyone ever read "To Build a Fire"?

(Hopefully, tonight ends better.)

 

Prediction: El Salvador 1 x 1 Canada

 

is it also 5 degrees and a windchill in the negative teens/twenties?