So, this is who's in the Hex USA Panama Mexico Costa Rica Guatemala T & T Should finish ahead of at least Panama and T & T easily, assuring us of at least 4th, and probably Guatemala. Anyone here think we won't make it out of what is the weakest hex I can remember in a long time?
We should make it out without too much trouble (given we play like we should). That saidm I don't want to just make it out. Let's win the damn thing.
Hm, I wonder how they'll seed us. If Mexico is number 1 and we're number 2, then it's February 9th at Azteca. Might not be a Cold War this go around. So it might look like this?: 1.Mexico 2.USA 3.Costa Rica 4.Trinidad & Tobago 5.Guatemala 6.Panama February 9th-Matchday 1 USA @ Mexico March 26/27-Matchday 2 Guatemala @ USA March 30-Matchday 3 USA @ Panama June 4/5- Matchday 4 Trinidad & Tobago @ USA June 8- Matchday 5 USA @ Costa Rica August 17- Matchday 6 Mexico @ USA September 3/4- Matchday 7 USA @ Guatemala September 7- Matchday 8 Panama @ USA October 8/9- Matchday 9 USA @ Trinidad & Tobago October 12- Matchday 10 Costa Rica @ USA But who knows? Maybe we'll get number one and Mexico will have to play in even colder conditions.
points Using your mock schedule. I suspect the lads should come away with as high as 17-18 points. 15 and higher should qualify.
Re: points There's no seeds for the hex, it's just a random draw to determine the order. It really looks like there are three levels. USA & Mexico are the huge favorites, Costa Rica & Guatemala will fight for 3rd, and Panama and Trinidad will pull up the rear. I would expect both Costa Rica and Guatemala to qualify for the World Cup, given that China just got eliminated. The fifth place team in Asia will probably be one of Kuwait, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, and North Korea. Guatemala could beat any of those teams, although I kind of hope North Korea qualifies, just because it's more interesting to have enemies.
Re: points North Korea is very unlikely to qualify. They caught an easy initial group and then slid in with some upsets (I think UAE was the favorite in their group IIRC). They're a good bet to finish last in their 4 team group. Good experience for them though going forward. Saudi's could finish 5th though so group them with the other teams. Japan, South Korea and Iran are the class of the region and they should go through fairly easily. Getting Jordan, China and Iraq out of contention early probably helps the cause of the CONCACAF side.
Re: points [I was really hoping Costa Rica would be knocked out last night. If they get there act together, they are the only team I fear in our region. We just always have extreme difficulty with them. Of course, things can change big time over the course of qualifying, but if all teams play to their potential, here's how I see it turning out. 1. Costa Rica 2. United States of America 3. Mexico 4. Trinidad & Tobago 5. Guatemala 6. Panama
Re: points CONCACAF having four teams in Germany would be very very cool. I'd love to see Ruiz diving in Berlin. On the other hand, four CONCACAF teams might persuade Jack Warner to think he's doing something right. Might not want to encourage that.
I think El Tri has been quietly developing some good young players. Of all the teams in the Hex, they're the only one that is an absolute lock, although I think the U.S. is also pretty assured of going through. The Tico's lackadaisical semifinal effort doesn't inspire confidence, but maybe they've turned the corner and will be their usual bothersome selves in the Hex. On paper, probably so. I'm not sold on Guatemala for the 4th spot. I predict a real battle between them, T&T AND Panama for the 4th spot. Panama does have some offensive weapons, and will do better than most predict.
Re: points The most pessimistic scenario I can imagine would still give us 16 points which should be enough to qualify. This weak hex takes a lot of the juice out of next year's qualifiers.
Re: points *stares down bmurphyfl* Are. You. Frickin. Nuts? Until we qualify, there will be no juice to be taken out of the Hex qualies. None. If we don't go into thi swith the mindset of "these guys are tough, better bring the "a" game", bad things will happen. We still play Mexico and Costa Rica and that dirty diving twat Ruiz. There be plenty of juice to still go round. and nobody should count out Panama. They're gonna give some teams fits. T & T is the only real easy touch out there that said, I'd be hard pressed to figure out how the US can't make it. and I'm praying for a home game for February.
Re: points While I think the team needs to stay focused every game, from a fan's point of view this Hex isn't nearly as difficult as it could have been. Knocking Jamaica out early is a realy boost to US qualifying chances. If you look at the teams, I just don't see 3 other teams finishing ahead of us. Here's hoping we play Mexico early on. Their incredibly easy semi-final group made for some laughers in that round. I think they can be beaten early if for no other reason than stepping up in quality of opponents.
Re: points It doesn't appear that you know your history. Qualifying is never easy. Last time around we struggled a litte in the semi finals, and then struggled in the second half of the Hex. We got 13 out of 15 points in the first five games and then lost 3 games in a row. Though I would be shocked and upset if the US didn't qualify, but it is far from easy. We have four games in Central America. We were lucky to get a tie in Panama in the semi finals, and both Mexico and Costa Rica have proven difficult in the past.
Re: points Do you really think that over the course of ten games the US will not accumulate more points than Panama and T&T? It would be one of the worst collapses in sports history. I'm "cocky" enough to believe that we are not at risk of finishing in fifth or sixth in this hex. Call me crazy but that just silly old me. Then it's a matter of whether we get one of the auto-berths or have to beat Bahrain/Uzbekistan/Kuwait/et al to advance to the WC. Yes. I stick by my statement that I'm not as concerned about qualifying as I was for France or K/J. And hence, there will be less juice in these matches than there was in those qualifiers. It doesn't mean I won't watch each match on the edge of my seat but I won't curl up in the fetal position on the floor if we tie Guatemala at home. (Was that just a triple-negative?)
Concacaf Gold Cup is to be played in July between the games you listed. Practicly the same teams playing against each other within weeks, how weird is that. !!!!! Just imagine the European Championship played right now in the middle of the WC qualifiers. http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=2823 "The CONCACAF Gold Cup™ tournament takes place in the USA from 6-24 July 2005 with host venues to be announced soon. The first round consists of three groups of four teams with the top two teams in each group, along with the best two third-placed teams, progressing to the quarterfinals. Therefore each participating team will play at least three games and up to six during the Gold Cup. The qualifying event for Caribbean nations, the Digicel Cup, is already underway and concludes in February 2005. Central American qualifying also takes place in February 2005."
So how good is T&T exactly? I haven't been paying too much attention to them. No Dwight Yorke right? I thought he retired from international football, but maybe he'd come back for this. Stern John is from T&T right, as well as Shaka Hislop? Anybody can give me any details about this team? This hex is never easy people. Playing in Panama, Guat., and Costa Rica is tough. Haven't we only won one game in Central America in our history (Panama this past group), or did we beat Honduras Away in the last hex (I remember a Clintinho free kick, but I thought it was a tie.)
If El Tri is a mortal lock, then so are we. I predict a first place finish for the US this time around. We will lose 1 game and that's at Azteca. The third spot is up for grabs. Costa Rica has not infused any new talent into their squad. They live and die by Paulo Wanchope.
We drew 1-1 in Panama this past group. According to http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/2002/concacaf_final.html we won at Honduras in the last Hexagonal.
Wow. No Jamaica, Canada, Honduras. T&T, Guatamala, Costa Rica, Panama? Okay, if we have to. I don't even want to say an outcome is a lock, but Go ahead and play your vacations in Germany in 1 1/2 years.
Not a lot of love for Costa Rica dispite a pretty good run over the last 6 or so years... Now that they have gotten through they have a winter to complete their recovery from their Sampsonazation and I expect that they will be right up there with the US and Mexico again. There is a lot of talent, a lot of pride, and a lot of home field strength down there... Guatemala looks to be the Hondorus of this round, a few very talented players with enough solid filler to be a good team, at least at home. Should be an interesting hex though it would have been better with the Boyz instead of T&T. (but not for Jack Warner)
TNT are not good at all. Who do they have? Stern and Avery? I'm picking them to be the anchor of this hex again.
As much as I want the United States to go through I am really disappointed with the weakness of the hex. I don't rate Guatemala, TNT, or Panama at all. One these teams will be an embarassment to CONCACAF in the World Cup (should they advance). This will lead to the usual gripping about how silly it is for CONCACAF to have 3 1/2 spots. Beating the AFC team won't mean much because nobody really thinks that they deserve 4 1/2 spots. I don't look forward to Ruiz diving in Berlin; and I don't look forward to a team like Germany running up the score against them either. (Like they did against the Saudis). But that is what I anticipate happening. IMHO Honduras or Jamaica are the only other teams in the region that might shine on the international stage. (Yes, I am aware that they failed to get out of the group stages.. and I am intrigued by Haiti, who didn't even make that far) That said the Nats, Mexico, or Costa Rica could blow it (as the Ticos almost did in the group stage). But that is just stating the obvious. I'd rather see the toughest grouping possible. US, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, and...