Klinsmann improvises and USA defeats Jamaica

Photo credit: John Sleezer / The Kansas City Star

 

Another tale of two halves for the US National Soccer team.With their qualification for Brazil 2014 already assured, Klinsmann's team was playing for consistency and the chance to win the Hexagonal once more. It was a time to try full offense with a 4-4-2 formation that included Diskerud, Donovan, Bedoya, Altidore and Johannsson. A rout? Not so fast.

The USA pressed but lacked style and poise and chances came and went and none went in. Not by Altidore, not by Donovan, and not for Johannsson. Klinsmann had a choice at halftime. Continue with his ultra-offensive stance or take a look at a different formation that might open things up for Diskerud.

And that he did. Donovan out and Zusi in. A switch to a 4-2-3-1. Mix got a chance to go forward more and Jermaine Jones tucked in behind the midfield. More freedom, but a spark was needed. Enter Edgar Castillo, in for Beasley and things changed overnight. Speed and savvy. The left flank suddenly opened and the team created the chances.

First was Zusi with a well-placed shot to break the deadlock and send his home crowd to a frenzy. Second, Castillo himself with a searing run around the Jamaican defense and a center of death for a simple tap-in by Altidore. 2-0 and America is on top and deservedly so.

Zero goals allowed at home in the Hex. All wins at home. 19 points in the final phase. Another pitch-perect performance that solidifies USA as the top team in Concacaf, despite the resurgence of Mexico during 2011-2012. But things have just started for Klinsmann and his crew. A test such as today's serves to educate the team and managers in how to manage games at the World Cup, as well as the players selected. So what if Donovan comes out? It was a win in the end, right?

Around the world today we saw many more teams enter the tournament. A team like Belgium, for example, is en route to perhaps eclipse their semifinal run in 1986. Brazil shows no sign of slowing down despite not playing in qualifiers. Colombia, Chile and Bosnia are all teams that have equal chances at advancing to the final 16 at the World Cup and these are the teams Klinsmann will need to prepare for. 

Let's cheer for our team and thank the players and coaches that we're not in a position like the one Mexico is facing right now. Any team can have bad games and any team can have a terrible rut. So far, Klinsmann and Team USA have evaded this. The game in Panama should be even more fine tuning, this time for the defense. The Canaleros can only use a win and that's the sort of adversary the US will face at the World Cup.

Player ratings:

Howard..............6.5

Evans.................7

Besler................6

Cameron.............6.5

Beasley...............5

Donovan...........5.5

Diskerud............6

Bedoya.............5.5

Jones................6.5

Johannsson.......5.5

Altidore............7

Subs: Castillo (7.5), Zusi (8), Kljestan (6)

Klinsmann's gambles: USA defeats Jamaica in Kingston

Photo credit: Getty Images

The USA took a significant step to reaching World Cup 2014 with its win in Jamaica by the score of 2-1. It was the reassurance of Altidore, the rise of Graham Zusi and the breakout of Brad Evans that gave team USA the win.

The team that beat Germany last week was the team that Klinsmann went with for this match. Beasley continued as left back and Fabian Johnson played the wing. Graham Zusi remained in Donovan's spot. Cameron gave way to Besler and Brad Evans. Klinsmann gambled and was rewarded.

The game started as it should have: total domination by the Americans given the shorthanded defense for the Jamaicans. Jones pressed, Bradley controlled the midfield and Dempsey and Altidore pounced at every loose ball. It took another picture-perfect center by Zusi to find Jozy's head to mark the 1-0.

But the US took their foot off the pedal late in the first half and most of the second half. Where there should have been a desire to score more goals, there was only false satisfaction. And the Jamaicans punished the US for this in the dying moments of the second half. A stunner of a goal that exposed the central defense in the air, as Germany and Belgium did recently. A tie at "The Office" was now likely.

Enter Brad Evans. The midfielder-turned-right-back Seattle player was added to the team late in the training process and only stepped in for Geoff Cameron as a right back in the Germany match. It worked. Where Cameron struggled, Evans showed poise. Where more timings in the attack were needed, Evans acted. And when the game needed to be saved, there he was, on stoppage time, to give the United States a historic win in Kingston.

Other seeming head-scratchers included Cameron's substitution for Jones when the Bundesliga player went down with a concussion. It was a defensive move and there were other players available. But the coach knew what he was doing. He needed a level midfield to contain Jamaica. Edgar Castillo for Fabian Johnson was another interesting move, but the Mexican-American played well and continued to break down the right flank of Jamaica.

Two other observations stand out. Beasley can claim the left back spot as his if he continues to play this way against worthy opponents and in times of need such as qualifiers. And Michael Bradley is a general. Every ball went through his feet from defense, recovery and attack, and when Jermaine Jones went down he lifted the team and ensured the win. 

Things don't get any easier now with the surprising Panama visiting Seattle and a date with always-difficult Honduras in Salt Lake. But yes, those are home games and it's time to claim and protect this house.

Player ratings:

Howard...............5.5

Evans...................7.5

Beasley.................6.5

Besler...................6.5

Gonzalez...............5.5

Zusi......................6.5

Jones....................7

Bradley.................7.5

F. Johnson...............6

Dempsey.............6

Altidore...............7

Subs: Cameron (6), Castillo (6), E. Johnson (N/A)

3 points: USA defeats Jamaica

Photo credit: Reuters

It may seem that it would be written in the stars for the United States: playing at home in a qualifier on the 11th anniversary of 9/11. So much pride, spirit and desire. And the men in stripes did not disappoint. Team USA got their win and vengeance over Jamaica after a shock loss in Kingston last Friday, and they are now in better position to qualify for the next round of World Cup Qualifying.

It was, however, a tale of two halves. Not necessarily the temporal halves, but the before and after the goal was scored. Before the goal, the US held 79% of the possession, hit the post three times and was denied, miraculously by Dwayne Miller twice. Most of all, the US looked great throughout the first half with Zusi, Cherundolo and Danny Williams looking especially impressive. 

After the goal, the Americans looked disinterested and, at times vulnerable. Marking became sloppy and Dempsey could not get forward with clarity. It could have been so much more if they had kept the same tempo going. It may have been a perfect match altogether.

If the Americans had had Michael Bradley or Donovan on this night, the score could easily have been much more emphatic. Even so, however, nothing in the first 55 minutes made us feel that those two legionnaires were absolutely necessary to win; the score might have been 4-0 by the end of the night. 

The forwards did their job tonight. Dempsey held the ball, looked dangerous and demanded respect. This gave Herculez Gomez more room to roam, strike, open spaces and ultimately stand up to take the free kick that gave the US the victory. Altidore's insertion late in the game gave the front line more stability and a way to hold up the play.

The midfield clicked tonight. Even Jose Torres, long-heralded the playmaker by Juergen Klinsmann, looked clear and precise in his passes and his shots. Danny Williams excelled at defensive midfielder and outshone recent efforts by Edu, Jones and Beckermann. Graham Zusi has made a case for himself as a good option on the wing with great passing ability and a superb shot. We will see more of him in the future. Jones was probably the weakest link tonight but he held the Jamaicans back and took a few knocks in the process.

The defense was rather stout with Cherundolo and Bocanegra back in their respective positions. There is no arguing that, for the moment, there is no replacement for Bocanegra, only approximations, and we need Boca for matches like these. Cherundolo has also made a clear point that he is still the man to beat at right back unless Timmy Chandler joins the team or Eric Lichaj improves further.

The ball is now clearly in the US' half for qualifying. A trip to lowly, feisty, and eliminated Antigua and Barbuda and a home match versus Guatemala. Win both and the US advances. Jamaica and Guatemala will face each other next in Central America in a match that could decide their fate in this group. No team can take anything for granted anymore. This is where it ends and it begins.

Player ratings:

Howard.............6

Cherundolo.......7.5

Bocanegra.........7.5

F. Johnson.........6

Cameron............7

Zusi...................7.5

Torres................6

Jones................5.5

Williams...........8

Dempsey...........6

Gomez..............7.5

Subs: Edu (6.5), Shea (6), Altidore (5.5)

Historical Inconsistency: Jamaica defeats USA

Photo credit: Reuters

Jamaica shocked the United States in a historical first-win over the Americans in the continuation of World Cup qualifying. Just a month ago we were talking about the historic triumph of the US over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. Consistency? Yes, consistency in inconsistency.

Most of us were deprived of this match due to the limited nature of TV coverage (beIN Sport is on DirecTV, Dish Network and Comcast on a limited basis). And maybe that is a good thing. While scrambling to find a suitable online signal during the first half, it was clear in the second half that this would be an uphill battle for the US. Most of the possession was Jamaican and Dempsey's goal came way too early.

The second half was hardly reminiscent of the wins versus Italy, Mexico or Scotland. Instead, it was more like the 0-0 tie in Canada, except that Jamaica could penetrate with resolve. Edu and Jones were routinely exposed and Johnson did not maintain a hold on the left flank. Where was the virtuous Geoff Cameron? Even Howard can be faulted for Jamaica's second goal. That's the kind of strike that Howard has for breakfast any given weekend in the Premier League.

As far as the forwards, both Altidore and Gomez looked highly ineffective. Indeed, the most lively player on the pitch was the person with least action in the last 3 months: Clint Dempsey. Now it is also true that Maurice Edu did not see much action in the past few months, and yet he was also thrown into the mix. And yes, Edu was superb versus Mexico at the Azteca, but this is a highly-meaningful match and his role as a defensive midfielder was crucial to keep Jamaica from scoring.

Was the absence of Michael Bradley really that important? After tonight it seems that is the case. His presence, driving spirit and steadiness was missing in the midfield. It's true that he wasn't in Mexico, but that wasn't a competitive match and the players were only fueled by pride and failure was only momentary. A world cup qualifier is an entirely different animal and it deserves respect, always.

Klinsmann made several bold moves today. From the benching of Carlos Bocanegra and choosing Parkhurst instead of Steve Cherundolo or Jonathan Spector, to the switch to a 4-4-2 formation. It did not pan out and suddenly the Messiah coach is on the brink of missing out on World Cup 2014. There was a comment today, "we don't deserve to be in the top 50 after the Jamaica match." I'm not sure I agree, but it's true that if the Americans are unable to win the next three games, they may be watching the rest of qualifying in 2013 from home.

In the past a game like today's was a wake-up call. For good teams that is always the case. Now it's time for the US Men's National Soccer Team to prove us all wrong and show us that it is indeed a good team.

Suckerpunch: USA escapes with point from Guatemala

Photo credit: Getty Images

Guatemala tied the US today in the second game of World Cup Qualifying in a game that could and should have gotten the United States the full 3 points for a win. To start, let's face it, not many of us were able to watch the show because it was on a pay-per-view and not feasible in this economy. Still, we find ways to watch our favorite team. Unfortunately, that translated into only the last 23 minutes for the futbolusa.net desk.

From a "fashionably late" entry, the match seemed pretty good and all about defense and snatching away a second goal. For all the forays by Bradley and Jones, the Guatemalans seemed to slide into every pass. The Chapines blocked the middle with accuracy and most of Donovan's passes were undone. For the last 20 minutes, at least, there wasn't much of an areal attack, something that should have been exploited in this match.

The defense looked pretty stout most of those last twenty minutes, and it is precisely this that caused Guatemala's tying goal. For all of Fabian Johnson's attributes and the general clamor he was getting by fans and media alike, his ultimate delivery was unfortunate: a badly timed tackle outside the area in a prime free kick position. Marco Pappa usually nets these for the Chicago Fire and today it went past the USA wall and a frozen Tim Howard. In retrospect, Timmy might have gotten to that one on another night.

Winning away from home is difficult for any team, regardless of the pedigree and regardless of the circumstances. Today's tie feels more like a loss because the United States was more than Guatemala for most of the match. They had the better chances, the better numbers, the best possession and generally looked more composed. 

Playing for points in Jamaica looks more difficult than Guatemala at this point, as was shown in the Reggae Boys' win over the Chapines. Still, Jamaica managed only a tie away to Antigua and Barbuda, so if the US can snatch a point in Kingston, then the final three games will have Team USA in a better position. Guatemala will get two looks at the minnows of the group, Antigua and Barbuda, so they could conceivably be up to 7 points by match day 5. The key will be to win both home games by large scores and to snatch a win at A&B at the very least. So, even if they lose in Jamaica, a magic number of 13 might do the trick.

Player ratings:

Howard................6

Cherundolo...........6

Bocanegra.............6

Goodson...............5

F. Johnson............4.5

Edu.......................5

Jones.....................6.5

Bradley.................7

Dempsey...............7.5

Donovan...............7

Gomez..................5

Subs: Altidore (6), Cameron (6.5), Beckermann (N/A)

Rekindled: US defeats Jamaica in Gold Cup Quarterfinal

Photo credit: US Presswire

Bob Bradley may have saved his job a little while longer. The US dominated and defeated Jamaica by the score of 2-0 in a match that served as a preview of what the team can do without Donovan or Altidore. Donovan was left on the bench for two thirds of the match and Altidore (2 goals in the Gold Cup) had to be subbed off early in the game due to a hamstring strain. But team USA responded with smart plays by Kljestan and Bedoya and great teamwork in the defense.

This game was also Dempsey's game. He was severely criticized by media and fans alike (myself included) after the game against Guadeloupe. Indeed, the "Deuce" missed three or four chances in that match that could have increased the scoreline to a more appropriate difference between two squads with considerable spacing in quality and experience. But today Dempsey responded with constant attacks, shots on goal and a superb strike to put the Americans up 2-0.

When Altidore went down injured at the start of the game, Americans nationwide held their breath. Might he miss the rest of the tournament? Would the US still be able to get past Jamaica? But Agudelo picked up where Jozy left off. He provided an additional spark and passes that gave way to the goals scored. His center provided the assist for Clint Dempsey's strike. The youngster proved why he belongs with the team and why he is a player to watch for the future.

Another hero tonight was Jermaine Jones. Always controversial and full of pride, Jones received a yellow for an unnecessary foul but was involved in the attack much more than in previous games. He had his share of chances and his strike from outside the area proved to be the difference-maker in this game.

The back line also had a solid game today. Goodson and Bocanegra held the middle of the field with great poise, although they were outrun on a couple of occasions by the speedster Dane Richards. Cherundolo and Lichaj were great at countering the wings and also by providing great crosses for the US attack. Lichaj, in particular, impressed with his poise and positioning. Hopefully this means more playing time in the Premier League or wherever he ends up next.

Up next is Panama, who just defeated El Salvador on penalty kicks. This could be both good and bad since the players will be full of pride after defeating the Cuscatlecos but also tired from the 120 minutes on the pitch. Team USA will have to undo the damage done by Panama in the group stage loss to the Canaleros. A tough task indeed, but if they play like today then the outcome is likely to be positive.

Player ratings:
Howard.................7.5
Lichaj.....................7.5
Bocanegra..............6
Goodson.................6
Cherundolo............7.5
Dempsey................8.5
Jones......................7
Bedoya....................7
Bradley..................7
Kljestan....................7
Altidore....................(N/A)

Subs: Agudelo (7), Donovan (6), Edu (6.5)

Not good enough: US vs Guadeloupe

Photo credit: Fox Soccer

1 - 0. Yes, that was the score for the USA tonight at a sold-out Livestrong Sporting Park for the last game in the 2011 Gold Cup group stage. And the US needed at least a tie. But wait, this was Guadeloupe we're talking about. Then you throw in last Saturday's loss to Panama and a lukewarm win versus Canada and suddenly you have to wonder if the US national soccer team is regressing.

The match started with two changes that were forced due to the loss against Panama. But did Bob Bradley get it right? Tim Ream out for Lichaj, who was inserted into the left back position, allowing for Bocanegra to return to his center back spot. But Wondolowski in for Agudelo? And no change in the midfield? Why not try Edu instead of Jones or even Bradley? Why not slide Dempsey forward from the start of the game with Bedoya covering the wing? No, these are important questions without clear answers.

The game had possession, countless chances but no real fluidity in the final third. What kept Donovan from taking shots from distance the way he used to? At other instances even Dempsey missed his chances on open goal. This was Guadeloupe defending, not Chelsea or Liverpool or Manchester United.

The sad truth is that the US is just not good enough at this point. Altidore's lone long-distance shot was the difference in a game that should and could have ended 10-0. How is the US suppose to counter this against Jamaica (zero goals against)? And how does the US defend against Chicharito (if they make it that far)? The days of the "Miracle on Grass" at the Confederations Cup and "story book ending" at the World Cup are far behind. There's no DeMerrit or in-form Onyewu on the pitch. Donovan isn't running at the defense like he used to. Michael Bradley and Cherundolo do all the work themselves. Altidore is still not as explosive as we all thought and hoped he would.

Does Bob Bradley take the fall? Or is the US truly in a downward spiral?

Player ratings:
Howard..............6
Cherundolo........7
Bocanegra..........7
Goodson.............6
Lichaj.................5.5
Dempsey............5.5
Donovan.............5
Bradley...............7
Jones..................6
Wondolowski......4
Altidore..............7

Subs: Bedoya (6), Kljestan (5), Edu (N/A)

Confesions of a soccer fan: Jamaica in France 98

On a previous post I had promised I would bring you something a little different. My mentor here in Boulder, Colorado is a huge soccer fan. She grew up with the game in a soccer nation: Jamaica. I chronicled our trek to see a Rapids preseason match that did not materialize. Here, I present some words she wrote 12 years ago to the Rapids River Ratz fan club highlighting her experience in France 98. I only hope someday I can share the same type of story. I've been to many soccer games but not World Cup.

Her words:

One bright spot in British soccer

By Arlene Laing

If you have never been to a World Cup match, you are missing a wonderful experience. As John (Wright) wrote, the atmosphere at these kinds of events can be electric if the fans are in the right mode and they were for the Jamaica/Croatia match. Too bad we can't say the same for the Reggae Boyz. They forgot how to play basic soccer.

The papers reported that about 105 coaches left from England to Lens and included many English and Scottish fans. They blended in with the party atmosphere of the Jamaicans (those resident abroad and those who flew from Jamaica). Their behaviour was the antithesis of the trouble makers at the England/Tunisia match. A busload of English teenagers were next to us and they said that they wouldn't go to see the English play only the Jamaicans. They were all painted with black, green, and gold.

People were cheering us on all the way from London to Lens. Outside and inside the stadium was like a big international carnival. People of all nationalities were singing, playing music, and dancing together. Many Croatians fans arrived wearing both Jamaican and Croatian merchandise. A local band dressed like the Blues Brothers worked the crowd with some bluesy reggae. My cousins and I made a banner (green with yellow flourescent paint that should have been visible to the left of the Croatian goal in the first half). It will probably be in many photos and on the local TV station because some people started playing music and dancing in front of it. I brought a small tambourine and the middle was beaten through by the second half of the match.

Most of the Jamaican play (or lack thereof) was embarrassing to watch. We were screaming at them to put defenders on the posts for the corners and freekick but to no avail. You could see the goals coming from a mile away. All the goals were from set plays and we were out of position The only consolation (if it can be called that) was that the mistakes that lead to the last two goals was not caused by one of the regular amateur Jamaicans but by one of the professional new additions (what the people in Jamaica are calling "waggonists") who had been waiting for England to call him. I hope he doesn't play in the next match and that the other guys play with more fire against Argentina (who did not look as good as expected in their first match). At least Mexico held the Concacaf flag high. Here's hoping for better results for Jamaica and the US.

The Rise of CONCACAF

Originally I was going to call this entry "What happened to Mexico?" but I would be selling short the upswing in play by Central America and the Caribbean. Indeed, the so-called group of death that included Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica and Canada proved to be just that. Up until the last minute of yesterday's matches there was a chance that either Jamaica, Honduras or even mighty Mexico might be left out of the final round of World Cup Qualifying. I put an emphasis on "final round" because it highlights the fact that that team would not even make the top 6 of the Hexagonal. The group ended with Honduras on top with 12 points, followed by Mexico with 10 and Jamaica with 10. Mexico went through with its higher goal differential but just the thought that the top team in Concacaf could have been left out was enough for the media to jump on the story and question the Sven Goran Eriksson, the technical staff, the players, and even Mexican soccer in general. My take? Mexico is not to blame. They have more than capable players in elite leagues around Europe even though some of its younger players aren't seeing time on the pitch (Vela, Dos Santos). There is a reason why this group was called the group of death. It's difficult enough to win in Honduras of late, period. Jamaica rarely gives points away at "the Office" (national stadium) and they have a good team as well. This group came down to who took the most points and goals from Canada and how much the top three scored on each other. Jamaica and Mexico came away from Canada with 1 point each while Honduras managed all 3. Ultimately, Mexico's 3-0 rout of Jamaica on Aztec soil was their ticket to the Hexagonal. So put Mexico against Guatemala or El Salvador and their place in the finals would have been assured as it was for Costa Rica and the US.
I think that we need to be more creative in the way we speak about our national teams and how they are the cream of the crop compared to so-called "minnows" of the Concacaf conference. Clearly, Honduras, Jamaica, T&T and Canada are all worthy foes. It will not be an easy run in the Hexagonal for any team and at this point all teams are expendable. Costa Rica's position is a toss-up since they have not played against more demanding foes so we can't be sure what their position will be in the next round. Expect a few surprises and maybe a major upset. Bring on the Hexagonal.

CONCACAF Revolution 2: Pirates of the Caribbean

In a previous post I had stated that the whole of central America would make a splash in WCQ. I stand corrected. With Guatemala's awful loss at lowly Cuba, El Salvador's ridiculously easy group with Costa Rica (always a favorite) but with Haiti and Suriname (!), Honduras' unraveling in the group of death and a resurging Jamaica with wins at "the office" (Kingston national stadium) against both Mexico and Honduras, things suddenly swing away from Central America to the nations of the Caribbean. So much for all the promise the youngsters from Guatemala, Panama and Honduras showed in Olympic qualifying and an awful Canada that failed to get its act together. Granted, Jamaica still needs a little help from Mexico in the aztecas' visit to Honduras and at least a 6 goal difference against Canada when they visit Kingston next month, but they suddenly look very good. Mexico is forced to win or tie versus Honduras in order to get in, which makes that match even more special. T&T looked good yesterday against a very young and inexperienced US squad that lacked killer instinct with a nullified Kljestan, quiet Torres and poor central defenders. Gooch and Boca still have a job, sadly. Even though I was watching 4 games at once, I still saw enough of the US game to realize that they were not trying quite as hard as they could have. Dwight Yorke definitely has some years in him but the former Man. U. player can still score, as he proved yesterday. I really doubt the US will go down to Guatemala when they play next month at what is sure to be an ice box in Commerce City, Colorado. I agree with Steve Goff that T&T in the next round would be better than Guatemala for venue purposes in the home matches (most cities qualify). Jamaica is also better for the US in the hexagonal, especially if we play them in say, Utah or Colorado. Jamaica has their fans and stadium on their side and can arguably sneak into 4th place at the hexagonal where El Salvador looks, for now, to claim the cellar. So, as it sits, the hexagonal could look something like this:
USA
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Mexico
T&T
Jamaica
Barring any further upsets, count Mexico in and perhaps Honduras as well if Jamaica fails to score on multiple occasions against Canada. Guatemala needs a miracle to top T&T. From there I think I like USA, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica (Honduras). Agreed?

The CONCACAF revolution

As promised in a previous blog: the relative minnows of the CONCACAF region may no longer be so. I'm speaking, of course, about our Central American neighbors. More specifically, Honduras, Guatemala, and Panama. Costa Rica seems to be falling out of the spotlight after almost two decades of ruling in the top three (behind US and Mexico). "Behind" is a relative word here since in 1990 they went through to the round of 16 at the expense of Sweeden and Scotland. Those were the days of "el Conejo" (the rabbit) on goal. I can't say I remember much else from their appearance at that world cup since I was more interested In Germany and Cameroon. And yes, they missed out on '94 and '98 but that doesn't mean they weren't a dominant team. Jamaica and its "Reggae Boyz" lit things up in 1998 and T&T capitalized on its England-based contingent for their appearance in Germany two years ago. Still, note that we're speaking of Caribbean teams and not the lower part of the CONCACAF contingent, which has different systems and styles of play. Caribbean teams aside (this time around I doubt they'll make it too far), the "other" UNCAF teams are looking much more impressive. From their younglins beating out the titans of the region in the Olympic Qualifiers (Guatemala shocked Mexico and Honduras won the tournament against an undermanned US side), to their increased presence across the pond and in more competitive leagues in the Americas, we're looking at a much tighter race for the 3.5 spots our conference can stake a claim on for South Africa. I'm not ready to say that the US and Mexico won't make it to the next world soccer celebration, but their road there will be much tougher this time around. Take Honduras for example. Just recently they beat both Colombia and Ecuador in warm-up games with clear dominance. Suazo (Inter Milan) and Palacios (Wigan Athletic) and former MetroStar Amado Guevara made their presence felt in those games. I have serious doubts that the North American teams will have it easy when they visit Tegucigalpa or even when they face the "catrachos" at home. Guatemala is another toss-up. They have shown an ability to produce significant upsets (Mexico comes to mind). With "El primitivo" (yes, he looks the part) Maradriaga at the helm and the goal-scoring prowess of Carlos "el pescadito" Ruiz, they look to continue vying for a spot in the top 4 of the region. Last but certainly not least is a Panamenian side that continues to evolve into a potential contender. The "canaleros" pulled a few interesting upsets in the past couple of years, and with a presence in the Colombian national league their experience can only add to their increased capabilities. So, in terms of what I alluded to in a recent blog: it's not that we (north Americans) are that bad, it's that they are that good. I'd be surprised if Honduras doesn't take one of the top 3 spots in the region. The last half-spot could go to Costa Rica if they are able to step their game up or to Canada if they capitalize on their new pool of experienced players. Still, don't count Guatemala and Panama out. These should be fun games to watch (thanks, ESPN Deportes). Let the qualifiers begin.