tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437561489188679737.post2946369808836433085..comments2023-11-05T03:31:19.545-08:00Comments on Sideline Views: Golden thoughtsA.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03617669285297119500noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437561489188679737.post-83002791280212061042007-06-05T16:00:00.000-07:002007-06-05T16:00:00.000-07:00Concacaf is definitely not the worst or easiest co...Concacaf is definitely not the worst or easiest conference around. <BR/><BR/>Mexico and the US are the cream of the crop but when one compares Honduras, Costa Rica, T&T, Panama and Jamaica and so on with the minnows of Europe, one could argue they would beat them soundly more often than not. Obviously, the elite teams in the world will always qualify for the World Cup but look at teams like San Marino, Lichtenstein, Farrow Islands, Iceland, Cyprus, Andorra, Moldova, Albania, and so on and Europe's elites get easy pickings as well.<BR/><BR/>The US and Mexico will continue to improve, and both are going to be real forces for the next WC. However, I couldn't believe how much Panama has improved last time I saw them play, and even T&T and Jamaica should push CR or Honduras for that third automatic spot. If Canada ever gets it together, it could make thngs real interesting.<BR/><BR/>FYI-how come nobody mentions that Mexico would have 6 WC in a row were it not for illegality and disqualification. Incidentally, that 1990 squad was one of the best teams to not play in a WC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437561489188679737.post-15400647021054057642007-06-05T09:15:00.000-07:002007-06-05T09:15:00.000-07:00Siva, I do have respect for the neighbors here. I ...Siva, I do have respect for the neighbors here. I said "the prevailing thought" because that seems to be what most people consider Jamaica, Trinidad, Guatemala, etc., to be.<BR/><BR/>I think Guatemala will give the US a harder time than many expect and in fact I was planning on researching previous US-Guatemala encounters to see what the scores are and such. I remember a qualifier in 2000 in DC that the US needed desperately and barely won 1-0.<BR/><BR/>Panama made a nice run to the final last time from out of nowhere. We could very well see that from Honduras or Canada or someone else this time around.<BR/><BR/>I don't care what anybody says, a US-Mexico final is most definitely not a foregone conclusion.L.B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03932409909043501781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437561489188679737.post-26878835465516227052007-06-05T08:41:00.000-07:002007-06-05T08:41:00.000-07:00exactly what matt said. there will be no brazil to...exactly what matt said. there will be no brazil to knock us out this time. on to our 2-0 victory gentlemen!rep21https://www.blogger.com/profile/07248727602813633345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437561489188679737.post-65965861035552502932007-06-05T08:29:00.000-07:002007-06-05T08:29:00.000-07:00I'd like to see the record for the US and Mexico n...I'd like to see the record for the US and Mexico national teams ON THE ROAD in Jamaica, Guatemala, and T&T, to name but three CONCACAF nations, before dismissing them as "muck that infests this region".<BR/><BR/>And yet we complain if somebody in England claims that soccer "in America" is not at Beckham's high standard.<BR/><BR/>Given the past performance of the US (and Mexico) in the world cup finals, a fair argument can be made that US and Mexico are mere muck that infest the world cup all too frequently (at the cost of, say, two more countries from Europe with richer soccer tradition and perhaps even stronger teams).<BR/><BR/>A bit of respect for our neighbors wouldn't hurt, IMHO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437561489188679737.post-51273364489084547652007-06-05T06:38:00.000-07:002007-06-05T06:38:00.000-07:00Didn't all those past tournaments have some pretty...Didn't all those past tournaments have some pretty high profile guest nations that knocked off Mexico or the U.S. on occasion? I seem to remember Brazil, Colombia, and South Korea among others playing in past Gold Cups. <BR/><BR/>You'd have to figure a U.S. - Mexico final is even more likely since there are no guest nations this year.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13364892910866894581noreply@blogger.com