MATCH
USA vs. GUATEMALA (U.S. Cup) March 11 (8:30 pm ET) at Los Angeles Coliseum (Television: ESPN live)
HISTORY
Though the largest Central American country, with a population of 12 million, and home to a relatively strong domestic league, Guatemala remains Central America’s great underachiever. While El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica have all managed to qualify for the World Cup, the Chapines have yet to make it. The nation’s political instability, one theory purports, has too often spilled over into soccer matters. In the early 1990s, Guatemala went almost three years without a game. In 1989, Guatemalan expatriates in Los Angeles tried to raise money to fund the qualification attempt for Italia ’90. The attempt exposed discrepancies in the Guatemalan federation’s book-keeping that nearly toppled the Guatemalan government. In 1995, Guatemala finished fourth at the Gold Cup. But the France ’98 qualifying campaign is now remembered for the 1996 tragedy in Guatemala City, when 78 people were crushed to death in an overcrowded stadium before a qualifier with Costa Rica. A 1-1 tie with Brazil in last year’s Gold Cup once again hinted at Guatemala’s potential. Carlos Bilardo, Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning coach, was brought aboard with compatriot Eduardo Lujan, but that endeavor fell apart within months.
Recent Internationals | Sept. 24, 1997 — 1-0 El Salvador (friendly) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 — 1-4 at Chile (friendly) |
| Jan. 23, 1998 — 3-1 Trinidad&Tobago (friendly) |
| Feb. 1, 1998 — 0-0 El Salvador (Gold Cup) |
| Feb. 5, 1998 — 1-1 Brazil (Gold Cup) |
| Feb. 8, 1998 — 2-3 Jamaica (Gold Cup) |
| Nov. 17, 1998 — 3-3 Honduras (friendly) (Guatemala won 6-5 on penalties) |
| Nov. 18, 1998 — 2-2 Mexico (friendly) (Guatemala won 5-3 on penalties.) |
| Feb. 3, 1999 — 0-0 Ecuador (friendly) |
| Feb. 17, 1999 — 1-1 Chile (friendly) |
| March 3, 1999 — 2-3 Paraguay (Peace Cup) |
| March 5, 1999 — 0-3 Bolivia (Peace Cup) |
| March 7, 1999 — 2-4 Jamaica (Peace Cup) |
U.S. SERIES
The United States collected crucial points against Guatemala in qualifying for both Italia ’90 and France ’98.
USA-GUATEMALA MATCHES | Sept. 18, 1977 — Guatemala 3-1 (friendly) in Guatemala City. |
| Sept. 25, 1977 — Guatemala 2-0 (friendly) in Guatemala City. |
| Oct. 14, 1984 — Guatemala 4-0 (friendly) in Guatemala City. |
| Jan. 10, 1988 — Guatemala 1-0 (friendly) in Guatemala City. |
| Jan. 13, 1988 — USA 1-0 (friendly) in Guatemala City. |
| June 17, 1989 — USA 2-1 (World Cup qualifying) in New Britain, Conn. |
| Oct. 8, 1989 — 0-0 tie (World Cup qualifying) in Guatemala City. |
| July 1, 1991 — USA 3-0 (Gold Cup) in Pasadena, Calif. |
| Jan. 21, 1996 — USA 3-0 (Gold Cup) in Los Angeles. |
| Nov. 3, 1996 — USA 2-0 (World Cup qualifying) in Washington, D.C. |
| Dec. 21, 1996 — tie 2-2 (World Cup qualifying) in San Salvador, El Salvador. |
ò USA leads series 5-4-2.
ROSTER
Goalkeepers — Edgar Estrada (Comunicaciones), Julio Englenton (Universidad).
Defenders — Marlon Leon (Comunicaciones), Catalino Molina (Municipal), German Ruano (Municipal), Julio Giron (Municipal), Jose Molina (Universidad), Erick Miranda (Comunicaciones).
Midfielders — Nelson Caceres (Comunicaciones), Claudio Rojas (Comunicaciones), Jorge Perez (Comunicaciones), Guillermo Ramirez (Municipal), Cesar Alegria (Coban Imperial), Francisco Gonzalez, Engelbert Herrera (Comunicaciones), Martin Machon (Santos Laguna, Mexico).
Strikers — Edgar Valencia (Comunicaciones), Carlos Ruiz (Municipal), Fredy Garcia (Universidad), Julio Rodas (Comunicaciones).
