Men's Soccer (Football) Thread [ARCHIVED] Soccer • Page 1314

Weah and McKennie together tonight is chef’s kiss

 

Costa Rica winning is really not good.

Their Matchday 12 and 13 games are very winnable for them. Win those two, assuming we lose to Mexico, even if we get the job done vs Panama we'll be at 24, they'll be at 22 going into the final game. So we'll need a result to avoid getting 4th. (also if Panama manages to get a point off Mexico which the way Mexico has been playing who knows... 24 points might not be enough even for 4th)

 

PULISIC!

 

I don’t see CR beating Canada.

 

Not surprised by this. Honduras had two players refuse to return after halftime because of the cold.

 

at home? I think we're downplaying how hard it is to play some of these matches on the road. Certainly feels very possible they pull it off.

 

They (Canada) tied Mexico in Azteca already. But Saprissa does suck even moreso for us, so I could see this being the Canadian hiccup.

 

Good news is they'll still need a result to qualify.

idk. honestly if we can't get a point at Mexico or At Costa Rica we have no one to blame but ourselves. I just really don't want to go into that last game needing a result. Annoyed enough we need to beat Panama. But that's what happens I guess when you keep doing the bare minimum to qualify.

 

The good news is we got three points and nailed down the two best looking back up midfielders in Acosta and de La Torre.

McKennie so immense.

 

People really hate Berhalter lol

 

4 points up on Panama, 5 points up on Costa Rica. So beat Panama, we get at least 4th and probably qualify. Costa Rica would have to win out to knock us out of top 3. Lose/draw to Panama and suddenly we're in yikes mode.

Meanwhile Canada has basically qualified at this point. Crazy to think they'd do that before the US or Mexico.

 

Amad was a passenger in the game. Got subbed at half time. In fact, considering how much this game means as a derby he was embarrassing. He just stopped tracking back leaving our right back facing 2 opposition players running at him. It definitely felt like he was out of his depth.

gio has got 5 points from 12 in 2022. And to be honest, we probs were lucky to get the 5. We are missing our main striker Morelos. It’s actually frustrating. He gets called up to play for Colombian national team, but then actually never even makes their bench for any of the matches.

Ultimately, he is falling into the trap Gerrard did of becoming very predictable. Celtic new exactly what they were doing in opening first half.

 

Thanks for that! Weird about Amad because in his few appearances for us he never stopped running and tracking

 

Great work lads

 

I mean, let’s not kid ourselves, they are doing so because of the huge financial hit and exodus of fans and players, not because they actually give a shit.

 

Upheaval!

 

Canada guaranteed 4th place no matter what last night. US and Mexico can guarantee top 4 with a win as well (first match for both next window is USA-MEX, naturally). However, when you look at this schedule... I legit don't know how it's going to go.

25: Canada: at Costa Rica, Jamaica, at Panama
21: USA: at Mexico, Panama, at Costa Rica
21: Mexico: USA, at Honduras, El Salvador

17: Panama: Honduras, at USA, Canada

16: Costa Rica: Canada, at El Salvador, USA
9: El Salvador: at Jamaica, Costa Rica, at Mexico
7 - E: Jamaica: El Salvador, at Canada, Honduras
3 - E: Honduras: at Panama, Mexico, at Jamaica

Panama and Costa Rica are going to be in a knockout fist-fight to get into fourth place, but also have to play #1 and #2 so should realistically drop points in one or two games. Mexico has a real chance to come out of nowhere and finish in first with the easiest set of games, but they've also been playing horribly lately and only got the win against Panama last night (which helps us keep distance from Panama, so eh) due to a very dubious penalty. Amusingly, if El Salvador wins out, they still mathematically have a chance, so they won't be playing as pushovers either (unless they lose at Jamaica in game 1, then they're out).

Prediction:

Qualify
Mexico: 30 points - WWW (I just don't see us beating Mexico four times in a row in meaningful games)
Canada: 29 points - LWD
USA: 25 points - LWD (don't love us having to go into Costa Rica having to get a point in this scenario as we've never gotten one there before, but if we swap the L to Mexico with a draw, I wouldn't be surprised)

Play-Off vs Oceania
Costa Rica: 23 points - WWD

Eliminated
Panama: 21 points - WLD
El Salvador: 12 points - WLL
Jamaica: 10 points - LLW
Honduras: 3 points - LLL

 

I'm with you on most of this. Just think that if we are able to squeeze out a draw against Costa Rica, then Canada is able to as well. I know Costa Rica has a lot to play for, but that's been every opponent Canada has faced so far and they have done a damn good job of still coming out with at least a draw.

 

I was reading this morning that Canada is the first team ever in CONCACAF WCQ to win six matches in a row, so you're probably right. I'd much rather us go to San Jose with nothing required to play for, so Canada could do a real solid right off the bat.

 

I'd prefer that too! But I guess if there was a match for Canada to lose, it would be this one, so who knows. I guess it will also depend on what every team's injury situation looks like. Doubt Gio will even be back by then.

 

Could Costa Rica face a disqualification for this? You Americans may not need to worry yet.

 

Oh wow. If Costa Rica are DQ'd, we're in. Actually pretty much makes the entire last round of games unnecessary outside of Panama probably wanting to play to try and get into third. Which makes me think CONCACAF might wimp out on too harsh of a punishment.

 

You've convinced me, DQ them.