US SOCCER

[BlueHen86]

Not US, but Germany had a 4-0 lead over Sweden with 30 minutes left and had to settle for a 4-4 tie.

[89Hen]

not making one would be disastrous.

They were showing Guatemalan players on the bench after the game completely devastasted. I can't imagine how bad they must feel. Guatemala has never made the WC before and for many, that's it for their dream of qualifying. Next one is 2018. Looking at their roster, 18 of them are 26+. Sucks for them.

[89Hen]

BTW, near the end of the game the commentators noted that the US would have the amount of points for this stage that is normal for them, so any panic or worry coming into the night was unfounded.

[GannonFan]

BTW, near the end of the game the commentators noted that the US would have the amount of points for this stage that is normal for them, so any panic or worry coming into the night was unfounded.

That's the thing - playing in a 4 team division means there's only going to be so many points available anyway - if you slip up anywhere all of a sudden things change drastically. It's a real short window of time and not a whole lot of games. It's like a short series in baseball, it doesn't take a lot for strange outcomes to happen.

Nice win last night with Dempsey really putting his stamp on things. But, the US clearly has to play better than they've been playing if they want to finish in the top 2 and, more importantly, have any credible chance to be competitive in Brazil in '14. Still plenty of time for it to come together, but it has to start getting better.

[89Hen]

Joining the United States in the Hex are Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama.

What happened to Canada? I thought they were in a good position to make it.

[MSUDuo]

Joining the United States in the Hex are Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama.

What happened to Canada? I thought they were in a good position to make it.

Got slaughtered by Honduras 8-1 to be eliminated

[MSUDuo]

BTW, near the end of the game the commentators noted that the US would have the amount of points for this stage that is normal for them, so any panic or worry coming into the night was unfounded.

That's the thing - playing in a 4 team division means there's only going to be so many points available anyway - if you slip up anywhere all of a sudden things change drastically. It's a real short window of time and not a whole lot of games. It's like a short series in baseball, it doesn't take a lot for strange outcomes to happen.

Nice win last night with Dempsey really putting his stamp on things. But, the US clearly has to play better than they've been playing if they want to finish in the top 2 and, more importantly, have any credible chance to be competitive in Brazil in '14. Still plenty of time for it to come together, but it has to start getting better.

Only have to finish top 3 and even if we did finish 4th, the playoff this time around is against Oceania with no Australia

I guess I don't know what people want. We were calling for Klinns back in 08 and werent willing to give him full control. We now have him, have played almost 50 different players in about 20 games and gotten road victories in Italy and Mexico. Getting everything he wants into place is going to take time. Id even say if there is a poor showing in Brazil that he should still get another 4 years just to see things through. He's done everything we could ask of him.

Soccer fans in America have been saying that we're catching up with the rest of the powers. Well, the other teams in Concacaf are catching up to Mexico and the USA. The days of winning 4-0 away from home are over and every game is going to be tough.

Can't wait for March!!!

[Grizalltheway]

Not US, but Germany had a 4-0 lead over Sweden with 30 minutes left and had to settle for a 4-4 tie.

Yeah, I did a double take when I saw that one; I quit following it at work when it was 4-0, come home to find out it ended with a draw.

[griz37]

So which 3 teams are the favorites to advance? Mexico, USA & ? Wouldn't mind seeing Jamaica get in there.

[MSUDuo]

So which 3 teams are the favorites to advance? Mexico, USA & ? Wouldn't mind seeing Jamaica get in there.

I'd guess Costa Rica or Panama.

Wouldn't mind seeing Jamaica either

[EPJr]

The CONCACAF representatives from the six national associations met together but could not agree on the schedule for the fourth round.

FIFA will determine the schedule by a drawing on 7 November.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... nd?cc=5901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MSUDuo]

The CONCACAF representatives from the six national associations met together but could not agree on the schedule for the fourth round.

FIFA will determine the schedule by a drawing on 7 November.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... nd?cc=5901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Seriously? Has that ever happened?

[Rob Iola]

The CONCACAF representatives from the six national associations met together but could not agree on the schedule for the fourth round.

FIFA will determine the schedule by a drawing on 7 November.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... nd?cc=5901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm guessing the US was pushing to host one of the February fixtures? Lambeau Field would be available...

[EPJr]

Hexagonal schedule after CONCACAF draw


The schedule of play for the CONCACAF Hexagonal round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers is as follows:

February 6
Mexico vs. Jamaica
Honduras vs. USA
Panama vs. Costa Rica


March 22
Jamaica vs. Panama
Honduras vs. Mexico
USA vs. Costa Rica

March 26
Mexico vs. USA
Panama vs. Honduras
Costa Rica vs. Jamaica

June 7
Jamaica v. U.S.
Panama v. Mexico
Costa Rica v. Honduras

June 11
Mexico v. Costa Rica
Honduras v. Jamaica
U.S. v. Honduras

June 18**
Jamaica v. Mexico
U.S. v. Honduras
Costa Rica v. Panama

September 6
Mexico v. Honduras
Panama v. Jamaica
Costa Rica v. U.S.

September 10
Jamaica v. Costa Rica
Honduras v. Panama
U.S. v. Mexico

October 11
Mexico v. Panama
Honduras v. Costa Rica
U.S. v. Jamaica

October 15
Jamaica v. Honduras
Panama v. U.S.
Costa Rica v. Mexico

** The fixture involving Mexico on 18 of June will be moved to June 4th to allow Mexico, the CONCACAF representative, to participate in the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.

The FIFA Final Draw determining the schedule of play for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014th will take place on 6 December 2013, in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.

http://www.concacaf.com/page/WCQ/NewsDe ... 80,00.html

[EPJr]

USMNT to play first WCQ at Dick's Sporting Goods Park


The US men's national team is heading to Colorado. The US Soccer Federation (USSF) announced Tuesday that Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. – home of the Colorado Rapids – will host the team's first home World Cup qualifier of the hexagonal round on March 22 against Costa Rica.

"We are really excited to play our first home qualifying match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park," head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in a statement. "Winning games at home in World Cup qualifying is crucial, and we really are expecting the fans in Colorado to bring us a huge home-field advantage."

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2 ... goods-park

[89Hen]

USMNT to play first WCQ at Dick's Sporting Goods Park
The US Soccer Federation (USSF) announced Tuesday that Dick's Sporting Goods Park..

"We are really excited to play our first home qualifying match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park,"

Cripes, this is worse than a NASCAR interview.

[89Hen]

Wow. What a demonstration on why soccer often sucks last night. A thrilling 0-0 tie between US and Canada. Was like watching paint dry.

[tribe_pride]

Yeah - that was not much of a good game. Thankfully, a lot of those (all?) playing for the US are not going to play in the next few weeks in World Cup qualifiers. That was painful to watch

[bluehenbillk]

Wow. What a demonstration on why soccer often sucks last night. A thrilling 0-0 tie between US and Canada. Was like watching paint dry.

I saw less than a minute of the game & wholeheartedly agree.

[EPJr]

Yeah - that was not much of a good game. Thankfully, a lot of those (all?) playing for the US are not going to play in the next few weeks in World Cup qualifiers. That was painful to watch

exactly that was USMN B-Team

[EPJr]

Klinsmann reveals 25-man roster for Honduras


U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (World Cup qualifying Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3) :
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa - 5/3 SO),
Tim Howard (Everton - 22/9 SO),
Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire - 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9) :
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City - 0/0),
Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander - 31/5),
Geoff Cameron (Stoke City - 5/0),
Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana - 0/0),
Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg - 0/0),
Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders - 0/0),
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy - 0/0),
Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim - 3/0),
Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg - 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8) :
Michael Bradley (Roma - 19/5),
Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo - 0/0),
Maurice Edu (Bursaspor - 9/0),
Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04 - 5/0),
Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht - 12/0),
Jose Torres (Tigres UANL - 9/0),
Danny Williams (Hoffenheim - 4/0),
Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City - 3/0)

FORWARDS (4 ):
Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar - 17/6),
Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur - 26/10),
Herculez Gomez (Santos Laguna - 6/2),
Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders - 11/10)

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2 ... q-honduras" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[89Hen]

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (World Cup qualifying Caps/Goals)

DEFENDERS (9) :
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City - 0/0),
Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander - 31/5),
Geoff Cameron (Stoke City - 5/0),
Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana - 0/0),
Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg - 0/0),
Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders - 0/0),
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy - 0/0),
Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim - 3/0),
Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg - 3/0)

So a guy with 5 caps is one of the veterans. Anyone else worried?

[CitadelGrad]

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (World Cup qualifying Caps/Goals)

DEFENDERS (9) :
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City - 0/0),
Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander - 31/5),
Geoff Cameron (Stoke City - 5/0),
Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana - 0/0),
Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg - 0/0),
Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders - 0/0),
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy - 0/0),
Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim - 3/0),
Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg - 3/0)

So a guy with 5 caps is one of the veterans. Anyone else worried?

You know those guys are defenders, don't you?

[89Hen]

So a guy with 5 caps is one of the veterans. Anyone else worried?

You know those guys are defenders, don't you?

Caps, not goals.

[MSUDuo]

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (World Cup qualifying Caps/Goals)

DEFENDERS (9) :
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City - 0/0),
Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander - 31/5),
Geoff Cameron (Stoke City - 5/0),
Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana - 0/0),
Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg - 0/0),
Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders - 0/0),
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy - 0/0),
Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim - 3/0),
Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg - 3/0)

So a guy with 5 caps is one of the veterans. Anyone else worried?

That's only WC qualifying caps. No, I'm not worried