While the USA is mired in a labor dispute, here's an update on its opponents in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying:
COSTA RICA. The Ticos had to settle for a 3-3 tie against Haiti last Wednesday after blowing a 3-0 lead after 13 minutes. MLS players Erick Scott (Salt Lake) and Andy Herron (Chicago) scored for Costa Rica.
GUATEMALA. After 10 days of training at California's Oxnard College, Guatemala faces Colombia tonight at the Los Angeles Coliseum in its first Hexagonal warmup. Coach Ramon Maradiaga is expected to start Miguel Angel Klee in goal, Nestor Martinez, Pablo Melgar, Nelson Morales and Angel Sanabria in the back, Mario Rodriguez, Fredy Thompson, Gonzalo Romero and Mynor Davila in midfield, and Hernan Sandoval and Los Angeles Galaxy star Carlos Ruiz up front.
MEXICO. Oscar Perez should take over in goal for the Tri in the Hex opener at Costa Rica in place of the injured Oswaldo Sanchez. Coach Ricardo Lavolpe called up 18 players for Mexico's friendly against Sweden Jan. 26. Practice began today at the Mexican federation's training center in Mexico City. Lavolpe's 18: Cruz Azul — Perez, Ricardo Osorio, Salvador Carmona, Rafael Garcia, Francisco Fonseca; Guadalajara — Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido, Alberto Medina; UNAM — Gonzalo Pineda, Jaime Lozano; Toluca — Israel Lopez, Antonio Naelson; Morelia — Moises Munoz; Tigres — Hugo Sanchez Guerrero; Club America — Pavel Pardo; Monterrey — Luis Ernesto Perez; Pachuca — Jared Borgetti; Atlas — Daniel Osorno.
PANAMA. Like Costa Rica, Panama is coached by a Colombian. Only four years in age separate Panama's Cheche Hernandez (49) and Costa Rica's Jorge Luis Pinto (53), but Hernandez calls Pinto "Papa." The Panama coach played for Pinto on teams the Costa Rica boss coached at Millonarios and Deportivo Cali in the mid-1980s and early 1990s.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. Playing without their European-based players, the Soca Warriors lost back-to-back games on the road, falling to tiny Caribbean islands Antigua & Barbuda (2-1) and St. Vincent & the Grenadines (1-0). A 3-1 win over St. Vincent a week earlier put T&T through to the semifinals of February's CFU Digicel Cup finals. The Soca Warriors are hoping to obtain T&T citizenship for 30-year-old Brazilian left back Jose Luis Seabra, who has been living in Trinidad for the last five years and plays for W Connection.