They have 2 draws and 10 losses against New Zealand. They haven't conceded more than 6 in any one match but they've conceded 6 3 times.
Probably not, but hard to say. NZ has played VERY few games themselves over the past two years. They've played three games and won three games since the re-opening. They beat Curacao, Bahrain, and Gambia. [They also played some sort of unofficial game against Algeria that doesn't technically count as a national team game.] We know Curacao. They're probably significantly superior to Solomon Islands. So yes...........NZ should win. There's aren't a ton of great players on NZ, but enough. Chris Wood of Burnley would give the USMNT defenders a tough game.
In a single-game knockout format at a neutral site, which is what it would be if they played, anybody's got a chance. They have a batter chance in this format than they would home-and-away. That said, New Zealand should be the playoff team out of Oceania.
Does the current political turmoil in the Solomon Islands mean that somebody else might be the most likely challenger to New Zealand?
Honestly New Caledonia has been on the rise recently having beaten NZ in the 2016 Oceania Nations Cup and they also were the last country to have a club win the Oceania Champions League. If I'm not mistake they can also call up French players? But don't quote me on that, but they do have players playing in France. Only problem is the region has been such a mess since covid. They haven't held the last 2 champions leagues, and just send teams to events instead of qualifiers so NZ may be the only team with any recent experience.
We just got a preview of Alphonso Davies vs. Sergino Dest...Guess who won? Looking forward to more of this Davies v Dest matchup in January. 👹 #CANMNTpic.twitter.com/uymCaBsW9h— 𝕲𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝕮𝖎𝖙𝖞 (@GlassCityFC) December 8, 2021
I don't think Dest is close to being in the same world class conversation as Davies, but a foot race isnt the best indication of Dest's ability vs Davies. There's about 5 players in the world that can keep up with him and Dest isn't one of them.
Jonathan David scores yet again, this time in the UCL vs Wolfsburg to keep his club in 1st place in the group. Best #9 in Concacaf and it's not particularly close there days. If anyone disagrees, tell me who is producing at anywhere close to his level, I'd love to know. David scores against Wolfsburg #CANMNTpic.twitter.com/pJUBSKRwup— 𝕲𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝕮𝖎𝖙𝖞 (@GlassCityFC) December 8, 2021
Yup Davies is obviously a better player than Dest, but I don't think there's many players in the world who could win a foot race against Davies. And if it were up to me, we'd start Dest against El Salvador and Honduras and play Joe Scally at right back against Canada.
I agree. I would definitely start Scally against him. Scally is a hell of a player with a great future.
A couple of friendlies escaped me - perhaps others have noticed and can report. El Salvador 1-1 Ecuador (played Saturday) Mexico v Chile (playing tonight at Q2 Stadium in Austin)
I had to VPN through Canada to watch that. I can't think of anyone who could beat Davies in a foot race.
Julian Araujo starting for Mexico, Alvarez and Flores on the bench. Here are the XI Starters for tonight’s match in Austin. 👤🇲🇽🔥#MEXTOUR | #HechoDeLosMexicanos pic.twitter.com/ZQUbmFAkkC— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) December 9, 2021
At least in the Bundesliga no one is faster https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bunde...in-history-davies-haaland-hakimi-bailey-16294 Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the fastest player in the world.
Can anyone point me to the club list of the players on the Mexico team tonight in their friendly vs Chile. I'm admittedly not up to speed on all their players club teams. Assuming it's mostly all LigaMX players, right?
Wikipedia has the up to date roster listed under "current squad". Flores is on Arsenal's books, Galdames plays in Chile, Araujo and Alvarez play for LA Galaxy, the rest are domestic.
When they made the World Cup in 2010 they got 3 draws. You think they don’t know how to get to PK’s? CONCACAF side should be favored but in 1 match, weird things happen
Wikipedia is your friend. It was a domestic roster other than Efrain Alvarez, Julian Araujo, Marcelo Flores, and Galdames (who plays in Chile). By the way, the game was 2-2 draw. Mexico hasn't won any of their last 4 matches. I think they're safe when it comes to WCQing, but mostly because they've already played most of their tough games. They're certainly not in great form. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_national_football_team
And according to reports Araujo was apparently the best player on the field for Mexico. Sloppy at times from this young El Tri side, but right back Julian Araujo has been Mexico’s best player.— Felipe Cárdenas (@FelipeCar) December 9, 2021 The best player on the field for the Mexican National Team was a kid from Lompoc, CA .. Product of the US Soccer. . . Player of MLS’ LA Galaxy. . . Kid balled. Put Chaka and Jorge Sanchez on notice. #ElTriEng— herculez gomez (@herculezg) December 9, 2021
Really shouldn't surprise anybody that Araujo played well. We know his level. But with the advancement of Scally to add to our existing right back pool..................I really don't know what we'd do with Araujo. He'd kinda be a Jonathan Spector-style versatile defender on the bench. I'll take a Pepi for Alvarez/Araujo/Ochoa 3-for-1 trade every day of the week. I'll also take Jonathan Gomez for the next three Alvarez/Araujo/Ocho types thank you very much. We need to retain "difference makers" in positions of need. There are so many Mexican-American dual-nationals that we can't possibly provide opportunities for all of them. That's true of all players, not just Mexican-Americans.
Dest will do fine v. Davies in quali's. Barca v. Bayern is a different game. Scally will be needed on our left to pass to Pulisic/Aaronson et al.
As it happens, New Caledonia is voting this weekend on independence from France. It’s kind of a tense situation, from what I’ve read. Who knows what kind of team they would be able to bring to qualifying.