Monthly Archives: August 2009

[EUROPE] Germany remained in first place, while France, Croatia and Slovenia all got wins they needed to remain to contention for a possible second-place finish that would earn them a playoff in European qualifying. Scotland, on the other hand, tumbled badly. Its 4-0 loss to Norway in Oslo was a major blow to its chances of finishing second in its group already won by the Netherlands.

[ANALYSIS] The point the USA gained at El Salvador in March thanks a pair of very late goals looms bigger and bigger. The Hexagonal’s big four — Costa Rica, Honduras, the USA and Mexico in order of their current placements — has held serve against each other at home. If that form prevails, how they’ll finish — the first three to South Africa, the fourth team into a two-game playoff against South America’s No. 5 team — will come down to how they do at the Hexagonal’s bottom feeders, El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago.

[HEXAGONAL] Who needs David Suazo when you have Carlo Costly and Carlos Pavon? Suazo, arguably the best Concacaf striker playing in Europe, was again missing from the Honduras lineup for its match against Costa Rica Wednesday in San Pedro Sula, but Costly, El Gigantón, and the well-traveled Pavon (13 clubs in seven countries) combined for three goals in a 4-0 win over the Ticos that moved the Bicolor into second place ahead of the USA on goal difference.

[MEXICO REACTION] No one was more relieved that Mexico had beaten the USA than its coach, Javier Aguirre. For the second time in eight years, “El Vasco” had been called in to lead Mexico in a key qualifier against the USA and accomplished the task. His reaction? “We can have a couple of tequilas tonight,” he said.

[U.S. REACTION] Members of the U.S. national team bemoaned the missed opportunity to take a point at Azteca and jeopardize Mexico’s chances of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. Here’s what Charlie Davies, Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra and Tim Howard had to say after the 2-1 loss in Mexico City …

[MEXICO-USA] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and analyzes their performances in their 2-1 loss to Mexico Wednesday at Azteca Stadium.

[MEXICO-USA] Losing to Mexico in Azteca Stadium again is a dreary repeat of past results, but more disquieting than the loss is a run of recurring errors.

[WPS] Contrary to what was stated in Tuesday’s SoccerAmericaDaily, injured U.S. national team star Lindsay Tarpley is expected to be back on the field, training with WPS’s Chicago Red Stars in preseason next March and playing in their 2010 opener in April, according to Red Stars President Peter Wilt.

[HEXAGONAL] Four and half hours after Mexico and the USA kick off at Azteca, two other Concacaf qualifiers begin: Honduras-Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago-El Salvador. If Costa Rica and the USA take points on the road, they will maintain their lead at the top of the Hexagonal standings. But if both lose, the race for the three automatic berths will tighten considerably. For the Hexagonal standings, schedule and past results …

[HEXAGONAL] Mexico isn’t the only Concacaf team in a must-win situation on Wednesday. Honduras must beat Hexagonal leader Costa Rica to remain on course toward a berth at the 2010 South Africa. Security is expected to be heavy in the industrial city of San Pedro Sula following a coup that ousted Honduras President Manuel Zelaya.

[MAKING A LIST] In story after story this week, it’s been stated that the USA is 0-18-1 at Azteca Stadium. Problem is, Azteca wasn’t opened until 1966 — after the first 10 Mexico-USA games in Mexico City — all Mexico wins, of course — took place. The USA’s record at Azteca is a still-miserable 0-8-1. Here’s a look at where the USA and Mexico played in the pre-Azteca days …

[TRIVIA] The United States did beat Mexico once in Mexico City. A sell-out crowd of 41,000 was on hand. Mexico went ahead on a penalty kick 10 minutes into the second half, but the Americans rallied to win, 2-1, on a pair of late goals, prompting the local fans to pelt the Mexican players with debris. What was the year? What the competition? Who was the future U.S. star who committed the foul that led to the Mexico penalty? Who were the college teammates who scored the two U.S. goals? Who was the U.S. keeper who is still active today?

[MEXICO-USA] U.S. players arrived Tuesday in Mexico City to chants of “cinco, cinco, cinco” from Mexican fans, in reference to El Tri’s 5-0 win over the USA in the Gold Cup final, but Mexico coach Javier Aguirre says a repeat of that result is very improbable.

[MEXICO-USA] How best to deal with the heat, smog, altitude, fans and Mexican national team that is nearly unbeatable in Estadio Azteca? The USA looks for answers to those obstacles that it will face when it meets Mexico in Wednesday’s much-anticipated game (TV: Telemundo/mun2, live, 4 p.m. ET)