Kartik writes all the time about how the current generation is so much less talented that previous US teams. I don’t agree. There are players who have been better at particular positions at particular points in there careers (John O’Brian, Reyna, Ramos, McBride, Sennah, Pope, etc.) but I think if you took an average of quality across teams in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, and currently, I am not convinced the earlier teams would beat this team on a consitent basis. At best I think the 2002 team would beat this team 50% of the time.

The big thing that has dropped off since 2002 has been the work rate / athleticism. The US always had the advantage in that category, but I’m not convinced we do anymore. If we could bring that ‘in your grille’ high work rate every game, we would become a very difficult opponent. Look how it worked on Egypt at the Confed Cup. I haven’t read any commentator remark on how high on the pitch we played them in the first 30 minutes — to the point where the goalkeeper and defenders had real difficulty even passing to each other out of the back. Their game got totally thrown off and they never recovered. I’d like to see that same spirit applied to every game, not just when we need a miracle.

In general, there has been so much negativity surrounding this final hexaganal, but in reality it hasn’t deviated from what was expected. The U.S. has won all their home games, and collected 4 points on the road out of 4 games. Did anybody who closely follows the USMNT for the last decade think that the US would win at either Azteca or at Saprissa? This was highly unlikely. Normally, this kind of points total at this stage would have a team through or very close to through.

The only thing that’s really changed in this hex is the rise of Honduras. it’s thrown a monkey wrench into the qualification process, but ultimately I think it’s good for the region. The real suprise has been the complete collapse of Costa Rica. CR losing to T+T is a real possibility, and if that happens, the U.S. is in.

Ultimately, the rise of U.S. to a top tier team, or even a second tier team, is a very long project — one that will be measured not in WC cycles, but in generations. Realistically, it will be a 20–40 year process from here, if it even happens at all. Most commentators on this site want this growth for the US, but expectations have to be moderated and realistic.

In the end, I have very little doubt the US will make this WC. Let’s just try to not do another 3 and out once we get there.

At to the statement, “[t]he US also has a record number of players in Europe right now, while Honduras has comparatively few,” please not that the Hondurans in Europe are actually doing well.

To say that Landon Donovan is a world class player is to show that you have no clue whatsoever about football. I will give you that he is a good player, but that is it.

As Tom correctly says, until he is a star in a top league, then we can talk. Come on, the guy plays in the MLS !!!!

the only world class player in Concacaf is Marquez. Palacios and Suazo from Honduras are in a tier below World Class, and in the next tier you would find players like Donovan.

Quite simple, really LOL

I disagree with the poster who says Donovan is one of the best players in the world. He has great matches, and great moments in good matches, but lacks consistency. I suppose all players have bad matches, but at some point an elite player needs to be a star in a top European domestic league and have a good champions league campaign, or consistently dominate a second tier league (like the MLS) on a weekley basis and impress internationally. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Donovan fan and an MLS fan and I think he is a great US and MLS player, but I think he dissappears at the next level a bit, and I’ve seen him disinterested in run-of-the-mill MLS games in Colorado.

Don’t forget Jermaine Jones, also injured since midsummer.

You well note the lack of playing time for US team members in other countries. How much is that due to a a European view that US players have talent but lack certain “fundamentals” of the European game?

I have to agree with with you on Landon Donovan. As much as I was not a huge fan of his until recently his play in various competitions over this year has been superlative. You have to include him in the group of top flight world class players. He has earned our respect!

Honduras is clearly talented. The political situation at home has taken a turn for the better and maybe this will encourage the team and the home crowd to great efforts. While not a math major we are in the zone of scoreboard watching. The game is a late one and much of the other action will be complete by kickoff I believe. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong here, but the point is by the time the game starts someone may figure a draw gets both teams in. One story line I saw that the US can get beat but just needs to score as many goals as Costa Rica to get in. So I guess we should watch out for interesting play based on the scoreboard.