And here are the results from our neck of the woods, well, at least for many of us.
Group 1A
Dominica v Barbados
United States v Winner
Group 1B
Turks and Caicos Islands v Saint Lucia
Guatemala v Winner
Group 1C
Bermuda v Cayman Islands
Trinidad and Tobago v Winner
Group 1D
Aruba v Antigua and Barbuda
Winner v Cuba
Group 2A
Belize v Saint Kitts and Nevis
Winner v Mexico
Group 2B
Bahamas v British Virgin Islands
Jamaica v Winner
Group 2C
Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico
Honduras v Winner
Group 2D
Canada v Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Group 3A
US Virgin Islands v Grenada
Winner v Costa Rica
Group 3B
Suriname v Montserrat
Winner v Guyana
Group 3C
El Salvador v Anguilla
Panama v Winner
Group 3D
Nicaragua v Netherlands Antilles
Haiti v Winner
The US could send a third-string side and still beat Barbados or Dominica. Ditto for Mexico and Belize but St. Kitts actually put up a fight the last time they met in qualifying (in 2004) so they'll need at least a couple of first-teamers.
So if form holds, these will be the following groups for the semifinal phase:
United States
Guatemala
Trinidad & Tobago
Cuba
Mexico
Honduras
Jamaica
Canada
Costa Rica
Panama
Guyana
Haiti
The US would have an easier go at it than Mexico. Honduras and Jamaica, those aren't exactly walkover wins.
7 comments:
Man, did Costa Rica get off easy when they drew the groups. The imbalance also means that we have a pretty good chance of seeing the exact same set of teams make it to the World Cup, thanks to one of the Hex spots taken up by a weaker team.
Ouch, Mexico has a tough draw. Jamaica seems to actually be playing better since they sacked Bora, but they're traditionally terrible playing away from home. Honduras though can be a Jekell and Hyde team, they might be great one game and horrible the next. Canada can be the same, but they have difference makers in De Rosario and De Guzman. I see Mexico and Canada coming out of this group.
My predictions:
US, Guatemala
Mexico, Honduras
Costa Rica and...does it really matter?
I'll say USA, Trinidad, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Mexico has a tough draw? Dude...it's CONCACAF!
Man I'm really looking forward to DR vs. PR, talk about quality football:-)!!! I think about 20 people actually play soccer in the DR...LOL.
Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico is gonna be great :) It's actually one of the oldest baseball rivalries in the world... let's see it carried into football!
Now, whoever wins is dead. They have to get through the up-and-coming Honduras team, and if that, by some miracle, happens, then they face the group of death of Mexico, Canada, and Jamaica (most likely)...
Si se puede *ahem*!
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