Of course it is an honor. No one is not thinking that way. One, these things are worked out in advance between player, club and country. Two, Berhalter is, in my mind wisely, rarely using players for all three fixtures in a window. Therefore it hurts nothing to call a player in and not take him to the middle away fixture in Panama. Its not a matter of the club "having to understand." The player not only loses wages but loses his starting or dressing status with his club. A player behind him might take the slot and not let go. Bad for player and for the USMNT. I am fairly confident that you would make the exact same decisions if you were in the players situation.
Nope. I would go sign for Newcastle They just got purchased and the new Saudi Royal family owner wants to go big!
My point is that fans always look at short-term results, look at how it seems on the field, look at stats and decide a team or player is under-performing as you say. They give no consideration that there is another team on the other side greatly influencing what you are seeing. They give no consideration that there is tremendous randomness factored into results. They recognize only one input variable -- the play of their own team. You claim the US is underperforming. I see a team at the top of the goals for and against tables. The team is the youngest team in the world. I don't think that is underperforming. Take for instance the first game. USA xG was over 2.00. SLV xG was under 0.3. That is domination my friend. At home v Canada they had a bit xG a bit higher than Canada and 71% of the ball. Davies was kept fairly under wraps. That is not bad. @Panama was the only really bad game. And a young team is going to lay some eggs. I don't really get how anyone expected a team to do better than 11 points out of the first 6 games. That is a successful campaign.
Do you navigate over to the U.S.A. National Team Boards ever? I ask as your take is good stuff and is what many of us discuss on threads over there. It appears you would enjoy the banter.
Just received this from our club emailer: HELP US BRING THE 2026 WORLD CUP TO H-TOWN The FIFA World Cup bid committee is coming through town and we would love your help to welcome them into town and show why Houston, one of the world's most vibrant cities, deserves to host the 2026 World Cup. You’re Invited to be a part of the FIFA Welcome Crew! Line the streets of downtown in your favorite FIFA team jerseys and celebrate the spirit of Houston through soccer. WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 4:15 - 4:45 p.m. WHERE: Discovery Green at La Branch & McKinney WHAT: Let’s greet FIFA with a Texas sized welcome. You bring the spirit; Houston World Cup Bid Committee will bring the noise. Make sure to stop at one of their cheer stations along McKinney St. (between Main Street and La Branch) and pick up your bambam sticks and noise makers. There will also be cheer posters to decorate and country flags to wave to show your support, as FIFA delegates make their way down McKinney St.
i wonder if some of the FIFA personnel are here for the World Series. never pass up an opportunity for free booze and hookers.
Correct! Canetti is a baseball guy after all so he sure better be savvy enough to get the FIFA suits down to Minute Maid for food, beers and some Houston hospitality!
Definitely a good day. The goal is to show how the city does during major sporting events and no better first hand example than this. I don’t think the FIFA reps have that much forefront knowledge about baseball to know the potential schedules this far out (admittedly I say this without knowing who the reps are or what they like). But I could see the Houston committee looking ahead and giving FIFA this week as their preferred tour date.
CONCACAF World Cup 2022 Qualifiers Home team first. Times are CT Round 3 Teams will play all opponents home-and-away for a total of 14 games. The top 3 automatically advance to the 2022 World Cup. 4th place goes to the inter-confederation playoffs. Matchday 7 Friday, November 12 Honduras v. Panama 7:05 pm Paramount+/Universo El Salvador v. Jamaica 8:00 pm Paramount+ Canada v. Costa Rica 8:05 pm Paramount+ USA v. Mexico 8:10 pm ESPN/Univision Matchday 8 Tuesday, November 16 Jamaica v. USA 4:00 pm Paramount+/Universo Costa Rica v. Honduras 7:05 pm Paramount+ Panama v. El Salvador 7:05 pm Paramount+ Canada v. Mexico 8:05 pm Paramount+/Telemundo The next games are January 28-Feb 3.
CONCACAF World Cup 2022 Qualifiers Home team first. Times are CT Round 3 Teams will play all opponents home-and-away for a total of 14 games. The top 3 automatically advance to the 2022 World Cup. 4th place goes to the inter-confederation playoffs. Matchday 7 Friday, November 12 Honduras 2-3 Panama El Salvador 1-1 Jamaica Canada 1-0 Costa Rica USA 2-0 Mexico Matchday 8 Tuesday, November 16 Jamaica v. USA 4:00 pm Paramount+/Universo Costa Rica v. Honduras 7:05 pm Paramount+ Panama v. El Salvador 7:05 pm Paramount+ Canada v. Mexico 8:05 pm Paramount+/Telemundo The next games are January 28-Feb 3. Standings: 1. USA 7 g.p. 14 pts +7 2. MEX 7 g.p. 14 pts +5 3. CAN 7 g.p. 13 pts +7 ---------------------------------- 4. PAN 7 g.p. 11 pts +1 --------------------------------- 5. CRC 7 g.p. 6 pts -2 6. JAM 7 g.p. 6 pts -4 7. SLV 7 g.p. 6 pts -5 8. HON 7 g.p. 3 pts -9
If one recalls the '97 Hex cycle and now with another 2-0 victory. Just a long run at getting to the Mundial!
Schedule adjusted after Match day 7 +5 MEX +2 gd, 10g +2 USA +7 gd, 11g +2 PAN +1 gd, 10g -------------- +1 CAN +7 gd, 11g ------------- 0 JAM -4 gd, 5g -3 CRC -2 gd, 4g -9 ELS -6 gd, 3g -9 HON -8 gd, 6g Panama big result. What a crazy game. Edging ahead of Canada. Mexico still in good shape even if they lose at Canada. ELS and HON are out of it. CRC's campaign is about over as well. First half of the Epic Octagonal is done. US schedule very favorable in first 7 games. @ Jamaica and @ CRC are best opportunity for road points left and I never consider jamaica underdogs at the office except for Mexico which seems to be immune to their voodoo. US though has three home fixtures left that should be all wins. USA v Panama is BIG BIG BIG. March 27th. I predict USA qualifies at that game with 3 points.
BTW. I was at the game last night. TQL is the best soccer stadium I have ever seen. It is freakin awesome.
When the crowd there in Cincy sung the National Anthem with such vigor, it really added to the setting and primed the cannon for the action to follow. WHAT A VICTORY!!!
Schedule adjusted after Match day 8 +5 MEX +1 gd, 11g @Jam, CRC, PAN, USA, @HON, ELS +3 USA +7 gd, 12g ELS, @CAN, HON, @MEX, PAN, @CRC +2 PAN +2 gd, 12g @CRC, JAM, @MEX, HON, @USA, CAN -------------- +1 CAN +8 gd, 13g @HON, USA, @ELS, @CRC, JAM, @PAN ------------- -2 JAM -4 gd, 6g MEX, @PAN, CRC, ELS, @CAN, HON -3 CRC -3 gd, 6g PAN, @MEX, @Jam, CAN, @ELS, USA -9 ELS -7 gd, 4g @USA, @HON, CAN, @Jam, CRC, @MEX -9 HON -9 gd, 7g CAN, ELS, @USA, @PAN, MEX, @Jam Another crazy night in concacaf. This tournament is .... AWESOME!!!! US fans will lose their goards but a point at the office, while you want more, is not bad. The US is the only team to increase their points tonight. US is on track for 24 points. That will most certainly qualify and may top the table. Mex fans will be outraged. But Mexico has 4 of remaining 6 games at home. Canada is all excited, but faces 4 of 6 on the road. Jamaica is in trouble. They cannot afford to drop points hosting Mexico in their next game. Order of finish among the top four will all be on the line for the last couple match days -- something we have consistently been saying.
CONCACAF World Cup 2022 Qualifiers Home team first. Times are CT Round 3 Teams will play all opponents home-and-away for a total of 14 games. The top 3 automatically advance to the 2022 World Cup. 4th place goes to the inter-confederation playoffs. Matchday 7 Friday, November 12 Honduras 2-3 Panama El Salvador 1-1 Jamaica Canada 1-0 Costa Rica USA 2-0 Mexico Matchday 8 Tuesday, November 16 Jamaica 1-1 USA Costa Rica 2-1 Honduras Panama 2-1 El Salvador Canada 2-1 Mexico The next games are January 28-Feb 3. Standings: 1. CAN 8 g.p. 16 pts +8 2. USA 8 g.p. 15 pts +7 3. MEX 8 g.p. 14 pts +4 ---------------------------------- 4. PAN 8 g.p. 14 pts +2 --------------------------------- 5. CRC 8 g.p. 9 pts -1 6. JAM 8 g.p. 7 pts -4 7. SLV 8 g.p. 6 pts -6 8. HON 8 g.p. 3 pts -10
I think 2022 World Cup qualifiers are done for this calendar year. These teams have qualified: Qatar - host Germany - UEFA Denmark - UEFA France - UEFA Belgium - UEFA Croatia - UEFA Spain - UEFA Serbia - UEFA England - UEFA Switzerland - UEFA Netherlands - UEFA Brazil - CONMEBOL Argentina - CONMEBOL 19 more to go.
FIFA had the draw for the Inter-Continental playoffs. AFC #5 v. CONMEBOL #5 CONCACAF #4 v. Oceania #1 The games will be single-game at a neutral site next June.