Tonight's the night. Win and in. Tie and maybe in. But it looks good for the fellas to make the WC again.
Here's the breakdown.
If the U.S. beats Trinidad and Tobago
It qualifies for the 2018 World Cup by finishing in third place in the CONCACAF region.
If the U.S. ties Trinidad and Tobago -
The U.S. will almost certainly still qualify for the World Cup. The only way the U.S. could drop out of third place would be if Panama beats Costa Rica by eight goals or Honduras beats Mexico by 12 goals. In the unthinkable event that both those happened, a tie would eliminate the U.S. If one of them happened, a tie would put the U.S. into a playoff against either Australia or Syria in November.
If the U.S. loses to Trinidad and Tobago - then if Panama beats Costa Rica and Honduras beats Mexico, then the U.S. would be eliminated and miss out on the World Cup for the first time since 1986. If Panama and Honduras lose, the U.S. would still qualify in third place. And if Panama or Honduras win but the other ties or loses, then the U.S. would finish fourth and go into that Syria/Australia playoff.
Apparently the field in TnT was completely under water and the playing conditions will be awful tonight. The field is now surrounded by a huge moat if water. Big surprise there.
I swear the mental patients have really come out of the woodwork lately. This place is crazy.
But as context for anybody complaining about Bruce Arena, he is 10 times the manager that the idiot Greece has - he's cost them a bunch of points in qualifying with lineups and subs.
The only wild card here is that T&T conditions usually leave less than to be desired, but we have a massive talent advantage.
FIFA needs to get control of CONCACAF, between shitty unkempt fields to the cheap, nasty fouls this conference needs to grow up. I understand many of the countries are impoverished, but this is big time football and if there are standards for field size and natural turf, then the fields should have grass on them and not dirt patches and moats.
The only wild card here is that T&T conditions usually leave less than to be desired, but we have a massive talent advantage.
We're never spared the ramblings of the mentally defective. It's a cross to bear for sure.
US need an early score in this game as the longer it goes without a goal the more they leave to chance.
France is in OK shape but the Dutch are finished.
Think they should open with the same squad as vs. Panama, then (hopefully) when they score go to a more defensive set.
2. With Russia not needing to qualify as host of the World Cup, how do they prepare for it? Friendlies? All of the other European countries in a bid to qualify get at least 10 competitive matches to figure out their squad.
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interesting qualifiers today. Many big-time countries (France, Netherlands, Argentina, Portugal), still have some work to do.
France is in OK shape but the Dutch are finished.
I just noticed the goal differential the Dutch have to make up. Yeah, I'd say they're done.
2. With Russia not needing to qualify as host of the World Cup, how do they prepare for it? Friendlies? All of the other European countries in a bid to qualify get at least 10 competitive matches to figure out their squad.
1. Yes, it's the top 8 second place finishers.
2. It is definitely a disadvantage IMO. They can schedule friendlys and hosted the Confederations Cup this Summer (sort of a World Cup lite that serves as a dress rehearsal for the host country and includes cup winners from each confederation.) But in the case of Russia, they are no lock to make the World Cup every time so I think they will take the automatic bid.
Yes it is available on FIOS, right before CNN
Pot 2: Sweden, Greece, Rep. of Ireland, Denmark
Ireland vs N. Ireland would be a fun matchup.
There were 5 Costa Ricans in the snow
There were 5 Costa Ricans in the snow
There were 5 Costa Ricans
5 Costa ricans
5 Costa Ricans
5 Costa Ricans in the snow...
And Clint Fucking Dempsey sent them home
Yea Clint Fucking Dempsey sent them home
And Clint fucking Dempsey
Clint fucking Dempsey
Clint fucking Dempsey sent them home ...
There were 4 Costa Ricans in the snow....
Oh yeah. Haha.
What a joke! - ( New Window )
At least Mexico is winning.
Horrific atrocious embarrassing passing.