Based on previous results, it looks like our U-17's are facing some solid competition. In a three-game series with Canada, Jamaica won one and tied two. El Salvador also split a two-game series with Canada, and more impressively, qualified for this round by winning away to Honduras. Here's what I could dig up on our opponents... http://www.thereggaeboyz.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/007999.html http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=231721&messageid=1046543291&lp=1046564306 (in Spanish) http://www.elsalvador.com/enlajugada/12edicion/nota4.html (series of four articles in Spanish)
It was generally agreed that the Canadian U-17 outplayed Jamiaca by a wide margin in all three games, but our boys could not score (a tragic failing that does not bode well for us in Victoria). I do not think that the US will have that problem and so would tend to think that Jamaica will not pose to much of a problem for the US.
The Jamaican squad for the Canada series included Phillip Hall, who plays HS soccer in the Orlando area...not sure if he made the final roster. If you do a google search for him, you can read a cached Orlando Sentinel article about him.
I know Ellinger scouted those Jamaica-Canada matches, even missed a couple of the friendlies to do so. Two wins and a draw for the USA and first place in the group, is my prediction.
Our first game is Wednesday evening. ANd I think the other teams are also going to be trying hard to win. Beasley and Donovan's team did not win their qualification group but had to play a home and home with the other second place team to qualify. There are few easy wins in soccer any more.
definitely agree with that, just going out on a limb to say this team is "all that and a bag of chips" (spending too much time talking to youth players lately
That U17 team had a huge ego before qualifying IMHO. I guess beating Argentina's U17s 4-3 in Buenos Aires will do that to you though. So far I think this team has its head on straight and doesn't think that they can just show up and win.
Siglo Veintiuno has some coverage of the U-17 qualifiers today. In fact, it's their leading sports story. The US team is apparently under tight security -- I assume "10 elementos" means there are ten people assigned to guard them. In addition, police are stationed outside their hotel (The Radisson). Not surprisingly, Ellinger says he's not concerned about the humidity, but he is worried about the altitude. www.sigloxxi.com
Just one thing.... So far Bruce Arena have prove himself as a good coach for the USNT, but the question is... what about the other coaches, are they accountable for their actions, what is on the future for our soccer teams ? A COACH CARROUSEL. THATS THE REAL ENEMY OF USA SOCCER!!