Concacaf WCQ

I was thinking about this last night. Should be a great opportunity to get Brooks and Johansson some pitch time. Also hoping that Gooch and Boca get a call; I'm sure they'll get their deserving sendoff eventually, but it would be nice to see them out there in a WCQ one more time. (Of course, Gooch needs to find a club first). Then again, it seems increasingly likely that Boca was one of the unnamed players critical of JK, so maybe not. I'd like to think that, for a long-serving former captain, they could bury the hatchet. Perhaps I'm just being sentimental.

 

My guess is that 4:30 is when they start the pre-game gabfest. The game is at 6:30 according to:

http://espnfc.com/fixtures/_/league/fif ... af?cc=5901

 

If so, I can't imagine why, we all have time enough to cry...

As far as I know, ESPN has the rights to all domestic-based qualifiers, so it should be on at 6:30 pm eastern time. Which makes it 3:30pm for us schleps on the west coast - strange timing?

 

Very peculiar indeed. I'd say that schedules just haven't been updated, but it's showing up at the correct time on ESPN3 for online streaming. Is ESPN really not going to show it because we've already qualified?

 

It's listed as an ESPN3 (online only) game on ESPN's site (http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index#type ... /20131011/) and my DirecTV schedule doesn't list it at the present time for any of the ESPN channels. However, Mexico-Panama is listed as being shown on ESPNews at 9:30/6:30. That's annoying. Someone needs to remind them which country this is.

 

RT @MacN_ESPN: Confirmed!!!: Friday's #USA vs. #JAM FIFA #WCQ2014 will air on ESPN at 6 PM ET. Kick is 6:36 PM or thereabout.

 

Assumed that all US home qualifiers were going to be televised, so glad to see that it's being shown.

Really interested in the other two matches;

Honduras v Costa Rica. Honduras still have to be kicking themselves that Panama came back twice to split the points in their last game, so instead of having a commanding hold on the final automatic spot all the pressure remains. The Ticos will play loose and free, so it will be an interesting dichotomy. That match is earlier in the day and will be over by the time the El Tri - Panama match starts.

Mexico v Panama. If CR beat Honduras, Mexico will have a golden opportunity to avoid a 4th place finish (they are down 3 pts., and 2 goals in GD). However, a Honduras win and the pressure will be ratcheted up several notches. Panama needs a draw and will surely put in the same game plan as all the other teams in the Hex at Azteca. They are well coached, and will be quietly confident they can get a result. A draw and Panama will still be ahead of Mexico on goals scored (+3 on El Tri), and the US will have a direct hand in Mexico's fate :shock:

 

Congrats to Honduras for getting the job done on the road and not needing the help. Doubtful they are capable of getting out of their group in Brazil, but I think they'll play far better than they did in South Africa.

As for the Costa Rica v Mexico match, the build up to the game revealed a little known fact up here that while the US is not well liked. In soccer, Mexico is reviled in Central America far more than we are. The match was a very heated affair, and that SCUMBAG of all SCUMBAGS Rafa Marquez was his true self again as he stamped a Tico (of course he got away with it, will concacaf do anything? :roll: ). Once CR got the lead, they didn't let up, and kept going for the kill shot. If not for the post and a couple good saves by Ochoa, El Tri could've lost much worse. Btw, good goal by Ruiz to start the Ticos scoring.

As for the Mexico-New Zealand playoff, the Kiwis will be very prepared, and won't be a pushover. Remember, they were supposed to get embarrassed at the last WC, but drew all 3 matches (Slovakia, Paraguay, and Italy), and must have a chip on their shoulder that their confederation got the automatic bid taken away. Have to think Mexico will find a way, but who knows?