re: Panic down south

Well, Mexico has to convince me that they can so much as score at home before I give them too much credit.

Here's how things stand right now in the hex:


Team v t e
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
United States 6 4 1 1 7 3 +4 13
Costa Rica 6 3 2 1 7 3 +4 11
Mexico 6 1 5 0 3 2 +1 8
Honduras 6 2 1 3 6 7 -1 7
Panama 6 1 3 2 5 7 -2 6
Jamaica 6 0 2 4 2 8 -6 2

Here's the matches still left to be played:


6 September 2013
Costa Rica v United States Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José
6 September 2013
Mexico v Honduras Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
6 September 2013
Panama v Jamaica Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City
10 September 2013
Honduras v Panama Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula
10 September 2013
Jamaica v Costa Rica Independence Park, Kingston
10 September 2013
20:00 UTC-4
United States v Mexico Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus[5]
11 October 2013
Honduras v Costa Rica Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula
11 October 2013
Mexico v Panama Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
11 October 2013
United States v Jamaica Sporting Park, Kansas City[5]
15 October 2013
Costa Rica v Mexico Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José
15 October 2013
Jamaica v Honduras Independence Park, Kingston
15 October 2013
Panama v United States Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City

Assuming that Mexico never breaks their home scoring drought (I realize that's a reach but let's go with it) they'll have 10 points with 2 road matches against the USA and Costa Rica. Both of those will be tough games, unless CR has things wrapped up at the end and decides to coast. Panama and Honduras both have a match scheduled against Jamaica and both could likely come away with 3 points. Panama's last match in the hex is at home against the US and if the US has a spot locked up, they may well coast in that match.

Bottom line, Mexico may well qualify but it's nothing close to a slam dunk.

If Honduras posts any kind of result at Azteca, Mexico will be in a real fight to avoid the playoff spot. Honduras, if healthy, has a favorable run-in while we can see Mexico has it tough.

But it's hard to see Mexico finishing fifth. They'd make an emergency move at head coach and batten down the hatches for Panama at home to get the 3 points there.

quote:

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One stoppage time goal from a 4th string RB, one defeat of Panama without their best player (and in front of the best US crowd ever), and a 1-0 defeat of a depleted Honduras, and all of a sudden we're world beaters.

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Um. Excuse me sir but you're forgetting one arse whooping of Germany B in a friendly.

Kthx.

Assume we have guaranteed ourselves a spot in Brazil going into the final game, I'm all for sending a D team down to Panama if it helps eliminate Mexico.

quote:

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Assume we have guaranteed ourselves a spot in Brazil going into the final game, I'm all for sending a D team down to Panama if it helps eliminate Mexico.

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Yes. That would be poetic justice.

The tears of Gio dos Santos may just cure world poverty.

I would rather spend on all the guys needing caps. Basically, all of the dudes from the prospect thread and any on the fence guys, so they would be locked into our pool.

That includes you Ben Lederman.

quote:

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That includes you Ben Lederman.

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I don't understand why we haven't capped him yet. He could be the answer to our left mid situation.

ETA: I was reading an article about young Benjamin and saw this picture in it:



That dude looks like he's a high school junior or senior.