Okay, Our hex has been decided. Costa Rica Guatemala Mexico Panama Trinidad & Tobago USA Of the remaining teams, which country will come in fourth for Germany '06? That team will have the scary honor of a play-off with the fifth best team from this lot: South Korea Japan Saudi Arabia Iran Bahrain Uzbekistan Kuwait North Korea
I was going to get 'em back by voting for Mexico to finish 4th. But after thoughtful analysis, I just don't see them finishing that high!! Lee
I would love for a Mexico vs Iran playoff, just cause it would be so cool to see each teams home team advantage. It would probably be like: Mexico 2-0 Iran in Mexico City then Iran 3-1 Mexico in Tehran.
I highly doubt that, but you do bring up a good point which is that Mexico should play more games outside of Mexico and the US. This topic has been discussed many times on the Mexico forum. Mexico will play against Sweeden in January 05 in Sweeden I believe. It should be interesting to see what happens.
You'd figure Costa Rica, Mexico, and the US would finish in the top three given that group. Guatemala is the strongest of the three teams left. This is a group of three very good teams, one scary unpredictable team, and two with very little chance of making it to Germany. If the top three take care of business, they are through.
I wouldn't worry about Uzbekistan, but I wouldn't want to play in North Korea. I would absolutely DREAD the USA having to play an away game in Tehran. They might just have to play both games in a neutral site like New Zealand or something.
I'm not so sure about that. It's possible it would be crazy, but other American athletes (like wrestlers) have been treated extremely well when visiting Iran.
I'm not talking about them fearing for their lives or anything, I'm just thinking of thunderingly loud crowd and the media circus that surrounded it like when we played them in France '98. Especially considering the current posturing our governments have been doing lately.
Anyone picking the U.S. or Mexico to finish fourth is either just playing with the poll or is smoking illegal substances. It's a tossup between Guatemala and Costa Rica. CRC SHOULD finish 3rd, but they have been erratic of late and Guatemala could sneak past them. Panama and T&T are bottom of the barrel.
Good point. I was thinking North Korea and Uzbekistan are more likely to be that 5th place--and there is nothing inviting about either country. If any concacaf supporter flies all the way to Uzbekistan to support his team, they have huge ones.
I think Guatemala is looking better on paper than they are in talent. They were the only properly prepared team for the semi and got a fast start. They won't get that break in the hex. That being said, I think they can compete with T&T and Panama. Can't see anyone but CR, Mexico and US in the automatic spots, but any of the last three could finish 4th. Ruiz might be the difference though.
totally agree with you gordon, it will be a huge race between T&T, PAN and GUA for the .5 spot, i feel GUA has the better chance, but PAN soccer is improving daily, and T&T always has some hidden surprises.
For all the T&T fans>> do you guys know if this two brazilians José Luis Seabra and Bobby Zamora are gonna play for your national team, i read that today in a local newspaper http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2004/diciembre/12/deportes4.html you might need an user name for it, its free but in spanish
Zamora is actually english by Trinidadian parentage. He plays for West Ham. There has been talk for 2 years of him playing for TnT... Nothing has come of it so far. As for Seabra... He is a brazilian playing in Trinidad for W-Connection. He has been there for 6 years or so. Apparently he wants to become a Trinidadian citizen. It is up in there as to how long the process may take though.
The US will be lucky to be the 5th place team if we don't get our contract dispute resolved quickly. http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/soccer/20041214-9999-1s14soccer.html Warm up matches against Sweden and South Korea have been cancelled and the USSF is threatening to use "replacement players" against T&T in the opening qualifier.