OT - Mexico: trouble, or BIG trouble?
With a USA win today and a Mexico loss (to El Salvador - I mean, I know it's a road match but Mexico really ought to be able to go in there and at least get a tie) we're inching closer to a World Cup with the United States and without Mexico. Which would really, really piss off the Mexicans. I admit to being pretty schadenfreude-y about this, having not yet forgiven them for their Osama chants and general awful behavior when our team is involved.
Anyway, they're currently squatting at fifth in the standings. Trouble for El Tri. Big trouble? Think they're really in danger of missing out? Their saving grace is they still have four home matches left, where they're damn near unbeatable usually, and they have yet to play Trinidad. All they have to do is get to third place to qualify, and fourth to get to a playoff with a mediocre South American team.
...filling up bags of urine and throwing them at the U.S. players? Real classy.
I want Mexico at the World Cup so we can eliminate them again. I'm sure it drives that country nuts that their entire nation goes crazy whether they win or lose, and the U.S. will raise its collective eyebrows and shrug either way.
Yes they are in big trouble and yes it is hilarious. However since we still have to go to Azteca I'll reserve my mockery until we get out of there with at least a point. We'll need all good karma we can get....
EDIT: On another note...you guys are right on about the absolutely horrible crowds from the other CONCACAF teams. Forget the Osama chants and the bags of urine, how about the hooting and monkey chants every time a black US player touches the ball? Throw in the ridiculous diving from those teams and that right there is why soccer will never catch on in America. Which is sad, because it's an incredible sport, especially when you have a rooting interest in one of the teams. But for all the faults Americans have, we'll never accept a sport where diving and racism figure prominently, and I'm glad for that.
The fact that scoring is low and 0-0 ties aren't that uncommon doesn't help in it catching on.
Racism exists in many countries out side of CONCACAF.
ANother reason soccer doesn't catch on in the US... too many options (teams and leagues.) Besides... really CONCACAF ...did i even spell that right?
...I lived in Italy in Turin, and went to Juventus matches every week. Every black player got the chanting from the opposition. It was embarrassing.
face racism exist in soccer, all this is nothing compared to what goes on in Europe, I've been to a couple of games in England and France, and it was a lot worse.I couldn't understand what the French were saying, but I guessed it was along the lines of what the English were saying. Even worse after we(USA) lost to Iran in 98 WC the Iranian fans were trying to flip busses with US fans.
but there aren't very many shots on goal.
but I know enough to expect bad behavior from some fans-after all this is soccer; I don't know what it is about the sport that brings out the worst in people-but to read about some of the activities carried on by the 'fans', that's pretty sad. I'm sure most folks root/jeer in a acceptable manner, but it's the hooligans the make the headlines. Hopefully something is being done to police the crowds and remove the hate/racism from what is a very appealing international competition.
this is just sad that this is a perception held about soccer fans. here in the U.S. you're only given reports about the bad behavior and really nothing else.
But how many American Football, baseball, or basketball games have you been to where large groups of fans start audibly chanting "gas the yids"? Or throwing banana peels at black players?
I understand that these aren't "the rule" there, but I can't think of this happening, ever, in the US.
right. and how many times does this happen at a soccer game in the U.S.? Never. So, this is an issue that lies outside of our borders, not an issue of fan behavior regardless of the particular sport (ex, this also happens at basketball games in europe). It just happens that this sport is most popular outside of our country.
We're agreed on that. Your earlier point seemed to suggest that European soccer got a "bad rap" or something because all we heard about it was the bad stuff - my only point is that even though the bad stuff may not be as common as we think (I have no idea if it is or isn't) it's still something that's virtually unheard of here.
Does anyone else think that Bob Bradley makes questionable decisions regarding the starting line up. Injuries to key players (Ching, Hejduk) make the process that much harder, but some of his choices are frustrating.
I think he is too loyal to the older players when the better younger players should be given playing time.
Demarcus Beasely should not be on the team.
Agreed. If anything he should come off the bench to play in the midfield. He should never start at left back. Mastroeni should not be a starter after the Costa Rica game.
after last night it is safe to say that the mexicans are definitely in trouble. i doubt that they qualify now.
I'd bet money that Mexico will still qualify:
1) Mexico is only 2 points out of third place (automatic qualify) and all they need is 4th place to keep alive
2) Mexico has only played 4 of its 10 games - meaning there is a lot of time for teams to rise and fall.
3) 4 of their remaining 6 games are at home, where they play very well
4) They still have 2 games against group worst Trinidad and Tobago
5) They only have a combined 2 games left against the 2 best teams in the group the US and Costa Rica.
it's more of a case that i just don't want them to qualify so i'm convincing myself that they wont...
Well you never know, they "might" not qualify and I could be wrong. I just think the odds are still strong that they will.
Halfway through the Hexagonal, here are my thoughts:
1) The group is much closer in quality of play (not necessarily talent) than we've seen in past qualifying.
2) The reason for #1 is that the top of the Hexagonal isn't nearly as strong as in the past. The US looks like it's in a transition year. Mexico just isn't very good. And nobody looks like they can win games or even get points on foreign soil.
3) Mexico will qualify because despite 3 losses they're 2 points back of 3rd place. They have 4 home games left and still have two versus T&T.
4) None of the teams that qualify will sniff the knockout stages of the 2010 World Cup. It's a weak year for an already weak region.