Comments on: The USMNT’s European November Features Big Tests

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:41:00 +0000

“I know one is supposed to concentrate on one’s own situation and not that of others, but I can’t help but worry as Mexico has announced more and far better matches in preparation: England, the Netherlands and possibly also either Germany or Italy.”

I don’t think the quality of opposition in a couple of friendlys is going to have much of an impact on our success in the world cup. I also don’t really think it’s important what Mexico chooses to do. It’s highly unlikely that the US and Mexico will be in the same group.

By: Roger

Roger — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:03:00 +0000

The group Slovakia qualified from included Slovenia, Poland, Northern Ireland, the Czech Republic, and San Marino.

That group would be at worst a 28 pointer for the US with us winning nine games and drawing once on the road. We beat Poland 3-0 on the road two years ago.

Slovenia and Northern Ireland both would be pushovers. The Czech’s haven’t been good the last few years and San Marino, is a joke.

Europe is so over rated.

What the heck is Denmark either? We beat them 3-1 a few years ago and they won a group that included Sweden who we’ve beaten two years running, Portugal who we beat in the 02 World Cup and Hungary, a country that would struggle in CONCACAF.

The US and Mexico both would have won almost every group in UEFA.

I don’t know why everyone thinks European qualifying is so difficult. Serbia won a group for god’s sake! Serbia! Bosnia finished second in a group. We’d wipe the floor with Bosnia.

The eurosnobs say these teams are so good, but half of them are new countries no one has heard of, and the other half are over rated nations that only win at home in qualifying.

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:49:42 +0000

Loved the article and comments. Thanks.

Not to change the subject, I logged on hoping that there would be posts regarding the most important thing happening today in American soccer.

I guess that is why soccer will be lucky to make it outside of Seattle area.
But 36,000+ of us will be there tonight, with many more at home jealous…
Go Sounders.

By: kevin_amold

kevin_amold — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:48:36 +0000

Well, I guess it’s true that a side can explode into international relevance from obscurity, it seems to rarely happen. Slovakia and Slovenia haven’t really proven in competition (EURO, former WC) that they are formidable powers until this qualification cycle. I’m sure they are quality sides, but is it wrong to adopt a wait and see approach to these teams? Maybe there’s a reason few people outside of Europe have heard of these sides. Time will tell.

As for the Czechs in 06, I’m not sure who you were talking to, because all I heard was how high the Czechs were ranked and how good they were. No one I knew expected an easy victory, so let’s just cool it with the American Stupidity remarks…

By: kevin_amold

kevin_amold — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:41:43 +0000

Yeah. San Pedro Sula was certainly improbable though.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:28:03 +0000

Here is the key word: “Friendly”. This is not going to prepare us for the world cup and the players are going to have to develop with their clubs in order for us to have a chance in 2010. For those that are in Europe that are not getting playing time maybe they can come back to the States and get some much needed playing time.

By: Kartik Krishnaiyer

Kartik Krishnaiyer — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:04:16 +0000

The Scottish teams of the late 70s and early 80s, likely would have dominated CONCACAF. The decline began in 1985 with the shocking death of the legendary Jock Stein (who made Celtic FC a European power before making Scotland a world power) after a win over Wales in qualifying. His assistant, Alex Ferguson steered the team to the World Cup, but Fergie left after Mexico 86 and the Scots have hardly been the same since.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:17:45 +0000

I know one is supposed to concentrate on one’s own situation and not that of others, but I can’t help but worry as Mexico has announced more and far better matches in preparation: England, the Netherlands and possibly also either Germany or Italy.

I don’t think Mexico is the better team than the U.S., but I would feel better if we could get another top level friendly lined up for ourselves before the W.C.

By: TG

TG — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:12:37 +0000

Hey look, more American stupidity. The omnipresent “I’m (ignorant and) have never heard of it, ergo it sucks” logic with US Soccer fans.

Funny, because I heard similar things about the Czech Republic in ‘06.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:16:42 +0000

I agree with TR people need to get off of Europe’s nuts. Did anyone look at some of the groups in UEFA? I didn’t know some of those countries existed!