OT - USMNT v Mexico in Columbus

Submitted by alum96 on

There will be soccer played tonight in the heartland of Ohio.  A very desperate Mexico team, sporting 8 points in qualifying will come play the good guys.  What was once unfathomable - a Mexico squad not qualifying for the World Cup - is now on the table, as Costa Rica, US, and Honduras are ahead of the team, with Panama only 1 point behind.  Mexico will be desperate and the U.S. will be lacking it's best player, Mr. Bradley. The atmosphere should be electric...positively "Seattle-like".  If only they had let me win the lottery for tickets - not that I am bitter.... (ok I'm bitter).

Paps

September 10th, 2013 at 6:38 PM ^

tend to have a dislike for Columbus, it has really been our defacto home field for soccer over the last decade.  It has turned into the best place we can bring a team in and know we will have full support of the crowd.  Cant wait.

Also, I dont think Bradley is our best player... He is our best midfielder tho

alum96

September 10th, 2013 at 6:40 PM ^

A case could me made for Dempsey, Howard, Bradley, or even Donovan (5 years ago no question it was Landon) ... I think a central midfielder is the brain of your system and sets up all the organization so I am biased there.  The way the US played last week without Bradley was.... telling.

B-Nut-GoBlue

September 10th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^

Question for the soccer peeps...What happens if Mexico loses?

What happens if the US loses?

I.e. what are the scenarios that each need to do to make it into the Would Cup?

alum96

September 10th, 2013 at 6:50 PM ^

10/09/13 19:00 Kingston Jamaica PreviewAdd your comment Costa Rica
10/09/13 19:00 Tegucigalpa Honduras PreviewAdd your comment Panama
10/09/13 20:06 Columbus USA PreviewAdd your comment Mexico
11/10/13 TBA Mexico - Panama
11/10/13 TBA Honduras - Costa Rica
11/10/13 TBA USA - Jamaica
15/10/13 TBA Jamaica - Honduras
15/10/13 TBA Panama - USA
15/10/13 TBA Costa Rica - Mexico

M-Dog

September 10th, 2013 at 6:55 PM ^

Just curious, who in Columbus Ohio approved a color of yellow that is strikingly close to Michigan's Maize for the Crew?  Different sport, but it's still Columbus.

 

aratman

September 10th, 2013 at 6:55 PM ^

Northwest soccer is a big deal.   They average twice as many in attendence than can fit in Columbus.  Plus Columbus is a cesspool that  produces cheaters and crooks.

BursleysFinest

September 10th, 2013 at 10:05 PM ^

 

  I don't disagree that Seattle and/or Portland both have great soccer crowds, but you should check out this Jeff Carlisle (ESPN) article:

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/usnationalteam/id/630?cc=5901

Quick article summary is that they started playing in Columbus because:

1.They had a soccer only stadium that wasn't in an area where US fans could be out-numbered, like LA, especially 15 years ago when soccer wasn't as big

2. The US has a good history there, especially against Mexico, and just for the head games aspect, they might want to at least keep the US-Mexico games in Columbus

alum96

September 10th, 2013 at 7:58 PM ^

No it it is random draw once you qualify who you play.  They create 4 team groups in the 1st round of the world cup and by definition usually Mexico or the U.S. get into what is called a "group of death" because they are (at least since the mid 90s) one of the better teams not in Europe or South America.  So the way they generally do it is each group gets a European team, each group gets a South American team, and then they scatter teams from Concacaf (North/Central America), Asia, and Africa into the rest.  I am simplyfing it but that is generally how it works... but it is completely random draw.

RioThaN

September 10th, 2013 at 8:07 PM ^

There are 4 raffle boxes as far as I know, in the first there are 8 teams considered "Head of group" wich are the local team, the last champion and the 6 best seeded teams by FIFA rankings, then the remaining teams are accomodated in the next 3 raffle boxes according to the rankings (next best 8 in the 2nd box and so on) and they draw one team out of each box to set up the 8 groups for the world cup. At least that's how it was done, now idk if it's only for the first raffle box.

alum96

September 10th, 2013 at 8:10 PM ^

Yes I really simplified it.  Generally you have a top European team, a top South American team in each group and then overflow European teams, North America/Central, Asia, and Africa sprinkled in.  The home country gets a lock and the past champion etc.   It is too complicated for newbies to go farther than that lol

drewz05

September 10th, 2013 at 8:02 PM ^

Dear National Anthem Singers,

I get that this might be your 1:30 of fame, but if the crowd is belting its lungs out singing along, just go with them and sing it right.