USA vs. Mexico - World Cup qualifier (ESPN)

[shagcarpetjesus]

Tonight's the night. This could be a really interesting match. If the US can keep this match square for a bit, things could start to get tense for Mexico in their home stadium. Their home fans weren't exactly supportive throughout their 0-0 draw with Jamaica. If the US threatens to take points in Azteca, I can see the Mexican fans turning on their squad as the match progresses.

Jermaine Jones is out for this one. Orozco Fiscal has been added to the squad although I don't know that he'll play even though he was the slayer of Mexico in the friendly last August. If Brek Shea is healthy and ready to go, I could see him being a big factor tonight.

 

[CRcyclone6]

Soccer?? This is a long off season already. I do like the match commercial with Alexi Lalas and the Mexico dude in subtitles.

 

[VikesFan22]

Let's get it done.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Take heart soccer haters, soccer season never ends.

 

[VikesFan22]

Take heart soccer haters, soccer season never ends.

If you think I'm a hater, think again. You must not remember seeing me in past soccer threads.

 

[CRcyclone6]

I didn't know that the U.S. is 1-23-1 at their place. That's ISU vs OU footballesque. Time to change that.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

I didn't know that the U.S. is 1-23-1 at their place. That's ISU vs OU footballesque. Time to change that.

The only win was last August's friendly:

[video=youtube;U5QVy_5TCxA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5QVy_5TCxA[/video]

I believe the draw was in a WC qualifier in 1997. Mexico is 68-1-6 all-time at Azteca in World Cup qualifiers. The US is minus several key players, but they've really got nothing to lose.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

If you think I'm a hater, think again. You must not remember seeing me in past soccer threads.

Not directed at you. Just a lighthearted jab at CR's comment about it being a long offseason, although I think he was being a bit tongue-in-cheek.

 

[CRcyclone6]

Not directed at you. Just a lighthearted jab at CR's comment about it being a long offseason, although I think he was being a bit tongue-in-cheek.

It was. That's why the smiley. Ok, I admit I don't watch or know a lot about soccer. Is the Friendly similar to a scrimmage?

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

It was. That's why the smiley. Ok, I admit I don't watch or know a lot about soccer. Is the Friendly similar to a scrimmage?

You can think of it as a scrimmage. Although they are more important than say the super-secret scrimmages that college basketball teams have at the beginning of the season. Friendlies are basically one-off matches that aren't part of any official competition or qualification process for major competitions. If I'm not mistaken, friendly results are taken into account when FIFA updates their rankings as long as the match includes two FIFA members.

 

[sodakjoe]

Tonight's the night. This could be a really interesting match. If the US can keep this match square for a bit, things could start to get tense for Mexico in their home stadium. Their home fans weren't exactly supportive throughout their 0-0 draw with Jamaica. If the US threatens to take points in Azteca, I can see the Mexican fans turning on their squad as the match progresses.

Jermaine Jones is out for this one. Orozco Fiscal has been added to the squad although I don't know that he'll play even though he was the slayer of Mexico in the friendly last August. If Brek Shea is healthy and ready to go, I could see him being a big factor tonight.

This, I think, is the biggest key to the match. Mexico's fans tend to put a lot of pressure on their own squad, especially when playing the US, a team that they view as inferior. While that view may be warranted, if the game is level through the first half, I could see the fans getting tense and angry as the second half goes on.

 

[Triggermv]

Now I'm kind of a newbie to this World Cup qualifying stuff and was wondering if somebody could help me out by explaining the format a bit. I see these standings on the World Cup website:

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil? Preliminaries: North, Central America and Caribbean - Groups and Standings: - FIFA.com

I also think I see that 3.5 teams qualify out of our region. Is that correct? Also, how does the half team work? Lastly, if 3.5 teams do qualify from our region, what do you think the odds of us being one of them are? Essentially, if you were to rank the teams in our group, where would you put us probably?

 

[3TrueFans]

Mexico is 68-1-6 all-time at Azteca in World Cup qualifiers.

That's unreal.

 

[sodakjoe]

Now I'm kind of a newbie to this World Cup qualifying stuff and was wondering if somebody could help me out by explaining the format a bit. I see these standings on the World Cup website:

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil? Preliminaries: North, Central America and Caribbean - Groups and Standings: - FIFA.com

I also think I see that 3.5 teams qualify out of our region. Is that correct? Also, how does the half team work? Lastly, if 3.5 teams do qualify from our region, what do you think the odds of us being one of them are? Essentially, if you were to rank the teams in our group, where would you put us probably?

3 teams automatically qualify, the 4th place team has to play a playoff with another association, in this case the winner of the OFC (Oceania Football Confederation), New Zealand.

 

[CEcyclone]

Now I'm kind of a newbie to this World Cup qualifying stuff and was wondering if somebody could help me out by explaining the format a bit. I see these standings on the World Cup website:

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil? Preliminaries: North, Central America and Caribbean - Groups and Standings: - FIFA.com

I also think I see that 3.5 teams qualify out of our region. Is that correct? Also, how does the half team work? Lastly, if 3.5 teams do qualify from our region, what do you think the odds of us being one of them are? Essentially, if you were to rank the teams in our group, where would you put us probably?

The top 3 teams in the 6 team group get automatic bids to the World Cup. The 4 team play New Zealand (the Third team in the Oceania region I think), for a play in game. With there win on Friday the US is sitting pretty good. If they can take care of business at home they will be fine. Stealing a point tonight, i don't think they will, would be huge on two fronts. We boost our own point total and keep Mexico on the bottom half of the table. Go Yanks!

 

[CEcyclone]

3 teams automatically qualify, the 4th place team has to play a playoff with another association, in this case the winner of the OFC (Oceania Football Confederation), New Zealand.

yeah, this

 

[Triggermv]

The top 3 teams in the 6 team group get automatic bids to the World Cup. The 4 team play New Zealand (the Third team in the Oceania region I think), for a play in game. With there win on Friday the US is sitting pretty good. If they can take care of business at home they will be fine. Stealing a point tonight, i don't think they will, would be huge on two fronts. We boost our own point total and keep Mexico on the bottom half of the table. Go Yanks!

Thanks guys

 

[NATEizKING]

We need a World Cup every summer, then my sports year would be complete every year.

 

[Rabbuk]

So I played soccer for like 12 years, but don't follow international soccer. Is it safe to say we have almost no shot of winning.

 

[BKLYNCyclone]

Looking forward to this as well. I don't know anything about soccer really, but I like watching it while drinking european beers a lot...