Snak

Jeg er enig med FAS´ vurdering af Costa Rica. Spillerne mangler lige det sidste for at blive absolutte verdensstjerner.

Imponerende at Uruguay trods lidt over 3 mio mennesker kan have så godt et landshold.

Martínez se ilusione con Boca

BUENOS AIRES -- El delantero Juan Manuel Martínez consideró este lunes que Boca Juniors tiene "los cuatro elementos" necesarios para ser protagonista del Torneo Final y la Copa Libertadores de América.

"Tenemos dirigentes, jugadores, director técnico e hinchada, que son los cuatro elementos que se necesitan para poder pelear todo", afirmó el futbolista en diálogo con radio Cooperativa.

El refuerzo procedente de Corinthians de Brasil, el último campeón continental, opinó que "Boca y Vélez son los dos firmes candidatos" para el Torneo Final y los dos conjuntos argentinos "que pueden rivalizar con los brasileros".

"El Burrito" manifestó su comodidad dentro del plantel que dirige Carlos Bianchi y ratificó su decisión de dejar el Corinthians pese a la conquista de la última Copa.

"La verdad que estando en Boca estoy más cerca de la Selección y acá juego en mi posición, a diferencia de lo ocurrido en los últimos meses. En Boca puedo ser suplente, pero siempre soy delantero", concluyó.

Yups specielt hvis Honduras snupper 3 point mod USA, hvad eikke er helt utænkeligt....Jamaica er stadigvæk en darkhorse nu de har fået nye UB 40´s....

spændende bliver det...

Drømmescenarie = Costa Rica, Panama og Honduras med Mexico på 4 pladsen. Jeg nægter dog at tro på det sker.

Selvom jeg ved at CR kommer til at kæmpe med Honduras, så vil jeg hellere have en sejr til Honduras over gringo´erne. Om ikke andet, så kan Costly komme med til VM og KayOkay bliver glad.

Hehehehe jaeh må hellere støtte jer to - tror nu som du skriver at Mexico er for stærke, men er ikke så sikker på USA - Klinsmann imponerer mig på ingen måder....så alt er muligt....

U.S. wants points at Honduras in WCQ opener

Whenever Honduras and the United States tussle in a World Cup qualifier, there´s a good chance the game be a close encounter with plenty of drama, unlikely heroes and possibly a goat or two.

The last time these two teams met in San Pedro Sula, the U.S. squeaked out a 3-2 triumph that had a little bit of everything, a result that boosted the Americans into the 2010 World Cup as Conor Casey netted his only two international goals. The Hondurans managed to book a berth to South Africa several days later.

There is not as much at stake this time, as this encounter at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula kicks off the CONCACAF hexagonal round for both teams at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, and is not near the end of the competition.

But every point counts, whether it is February or October.

"The spotlight comes on even brighter, the margin for error is that much smaller," U.S. central midfielder Michael Bradley said. "There is that much more at stake.

"As a player, these are the kind of games you dream of playing in growing up, playing in qualifying matches like this, representing your country with a chance of going to the World Cup on the line. There´s a group of us who know what to expect. For the others, they´ll learn quickly. That´s what it´s all about, stepping on the field, sticking together, making sure whatever we have to do to get a good result."

The U.S. might be considered one of the favorites to earn a spot in next year´s World Cup in Brazil, but coach Jurgen Klinsmann is taking nothing for granted against one of the most talented, if not the most talented, side in Central America.

"There is no easy way, not for Mexico, not for the United States, not for anybody," Klinsmann said. "You have to get your points, you have to win your games and you have to get the job done. You have to go into every game with the expectation that it´s going to be difficult, that it will challenge you to the limits. That´s our approach: take it seriously every time you go out onto the field, very seriously, and be very awake."

The Hondurans are experiencing their golden age of football. They reached the World Cup for the second time in 2010 and competed in the past two Olympics, losing in the 2012 quarterfinals to eventual silver medalist Brazil.

"We have a lot of respect for this team," Klinsmann said. "I think they´ve done very well over the last couple of years. Obviously qualifying for South Africa, challenging us and Mexico in this region and having players overseas with more presence than ever before."

Klinsmann got an opportunity to watch the Hondurans in South Africa World Cup.

"The only thing they were lacking was the confidence to beat one of the bigger nations, to really believe in it at the end of the day and playing-wise they´ve done well," he said. "You have strikers up front in [Jerry] Bengtson who can always harm an opponent. You have [Roger] Espinoza in midfield who has a lot of creativity and a wonderful touch, they have a very strong defense physically so that´s why we respect them, that´s why we´ve done our homework."

Klinsmann wound up learning and doing plenty of homework last year as he was introduced to the challenges of CONCACAF qualifying in the semifinal round as his team posted a 1-1-1 road record against Jamaica (2-1 loss), Guatemala (1-1 draw) and Antigua & Barbuda (2-1 win).

"Every continent has its tricky parts and difficult environments and San Pedro Sula definitely has its own difficult environment, but those are challenges that players need," he said. "They need to go through those games, they need to prove themselves and they need to find ways, on the field, to get the job done. I will always welcome these opportunities, these matches, because that´s what it´s all about, going to these places that are not your home, cozy environment and proving a point."

The U.S. will have an opportunity to bring home some points on Wednesday.

Honduras draws on experience v U.S.

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras - Honduras kicks off the final phase of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with what the players themselves realize will be a difficult task, at home against the United States on Wednesday at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.

The North Americans have been among the toughest rivals for the Catrachos at home in recent history, winning in San Pedro Sula during qualifying in 2001 (2-1) and repeating the feat eight years later (October 10, 2009) in a match that clinched qualification for the United States to the 2010 FIFA World Cup (3-2).

To demonstrate how quickly things can change in football, none of the players who scored in that last meeting -- Julio Cesar De Leon had two goals for Honduras, while Conor Casey bagged a brace and Landon Donovan added another for the Americans --- will take part in Wednesday´s encounter.

"I think we feel fine, that we´re well positioned," said defender Juan Pablo Montes, who scored against Panama in the recently completed UNCAF Copa Centroamericana. "We know who we´re up against and we´re hoping to play a good game here at home.

"The mission is to get three points, at home. That´s our work and we want to take advantage of being at home."

Despite having fallen in those previous matches at the Estadio Olimpico, Honduran defender Osman Chavez contends that Wednesday could well prove to be different, since his team has more experience this time around.

"I think that with respect to the previous times we´ve gone up against the U.S., this is a different Osman, a different group of players, a different coach," the Poland-based defender said. "We have grown as players.

"It´s not the same, for example, as the first time we played Mexico at El Azteca. We´ve played more, there´s more experience, more maturity and more international experience. There´s no longer any fear and there´s a lot more confidence. We have to take the field and show them who´s who."

In six all-time games in World Cup Qualifying, the U.S. holds the advantage with three wins as compared to one for the Catrachos. Each of those games, though, was decided by one goal or less. They last met in a qualifier on October 10, 2009, also in San Pedro Sula.

The match - the first for both teams of the final round of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup from the CONCACAF region - kicks off at 3 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

Sudamericano Sub 20: El once ideal del torneo

Esta madrugada del domingo al lunes, finalizó el Sudamericano Sub 20 celebrado en suelo argentino. No sólo ha sido el torneo juvenil más equilibrado e imprevisible de los últimos años, sino que ha destronado las teóricas potencias del continente, mostrando que el futuro parece mucho más alentador para otros países que están trabajando de manera excepcional desde su base. Cuando el torneo comenzó a principios del mes de enero, nadie podría haber vaticinado el caos de Argentina (incluso supliendo a su DT, Marcelo Trobbiani, en mitad del torneo) que, pese a no tener grandes figuras, era anfitrión y llegada después de varias muestras de debilidad en los últimos tiempos. Una prueba que, lejos de solucionarse, supuso el derrumbe definitivo de una generación que refleja el desplome de los potreros, donde no se generan figuras para reactivar un fútbol corruptamente herido (por el desajuste económico de sus clubes y las decisiones de venta anticipada).

Pero igualmente sería impensable haber previsto el desconcierto anárquico en Brasil. Un combinado que ostenta el mayor número de títulos en la categoría, que venía de arrollar en las últimas ediciones y que no sólo coronaba a nivel continental, sino que es el actual campeón mundial. Su nueva hornada, con jugadores salientes y ya experimentados en el primer nivel brasileño, decepcionaron convertidos en un mar de dudas defensivas y una preocupante falta de dinamismo para desequilibrar a los rivales, desechando todas sus teorías habilidades individuales y convertido en un grupo sin cohesión. Las críticas han sido feroces pues jamás la canarinha había sufrido semejante vergüenza a nivel continental, siendo última en su grupo (incluso Venezuela tuvo mejor goal-average) y colocada estadísticamente como la penúltima selección del torneo. Un freno a su ambición y una dolorosa aunque merecida cura de humildad.

La cara más agradable fue que la desgracia ajena de las dos potencias, multiplicó la imprevisibilidad y allí, en el dinamismo, vértigo e impulso de valores globales, salió a relucir el estupendo trabajo del campeón Colombia, Chile, Uruguay y, desde luego, Paraguay, sub-campeona y gran sorpresa del torneo a todos los niveles. Estas cuatro selecciones sí lograron su clasificación para el Mundial sub 20 de Turquía este verano (entre el 21 de junio y el 13 de julio), donde por vez primera no se dejarán ver Brasil ni Argentina. Entre tantas perlas y promesas, una vez más (como siempre hacemos en torneos de este tipo), elaboramos nuestro particular ‘Once Ideal’ del Sudamericano Sub 20.

Portería: Cristian Bonilla (Colombia), destacando igualmente al paraguayo Morel y al chileno Melo.

Defensa: Valber Huerta (Chile), Deivy Balanta (Colombia), Gustavo Gómez (Paraguay), destacando también el paraguayo Alonso, el chileno Lichnovsky y el peruano Chávez.

Medio: Bryan Rabello (Chile), Juan Fernando Quintero (Colombia), Yordy Reyna (Perú), Diego Laxalt (Uruguay) y Juan Pablo Nieto (Colombia), nombrando también entre los destacados al chileno Martínez, al ecuatoriano Esterilla y el peruano Benavente.

Delantera: Nicolás Castillo (Chile) y Nicolás López (Máximo goleador del torneo, Uruguay), sin olvidar citar al paraguayo González o el colombiano Córdova.

Injured Izaguirre, Najar out of Honduran team, Peralta, Altamirano are in

Celtic defender Emilio Izaguirre and Anderlecht defender-midfielder Andy Najar have been dropped from the Honduras national side for its World Cup qualifier match against the United States on Wednesday.

Izaguirre suffered a knee injury in last week’s mid-week Scottish Premier League match against Kilmarnock.

Najar, who last week transferred to the Belgian side, suffered his injury during an Anderlecht practice.

They were replaced on the roster by defender Orlin Peralta and forward Christian Altamirano.

Here is an updated Honduras roster:

Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia), Jose Mendoza (Marathon).

Defenders: Arnold Peralta (Vida), Bryan Beckeles (Olimpia), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes), Osman Chavez (Wisla Krakow, Poland), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, England), Juan Pablo Montes (Platense), Juan Carlos Garcia (Olimpia), Orlin Peralta (Vida).

Midfielders: Luis Garrido (Red Star, Serbia), Jorge Claros (Hibernian, Scotland), Roger Espinoza (Wigan, England), Alex Lopez (Olimpia), Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Mario Martinez (Seattle Sounders), Aldo Oviedo (Real Espana).

Forwards: Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution), Roger Rojas (Olimpia), Carlo Costly (Veria, Greece), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Christian Altamirano (Marathon).

Panama’s Perez: “our solidarity is our strength”

Panama striker Blas Perez is confident entering the first match of the CONCACAF hexagonal of World Cup qualifying. Los Canaleros will host Costa Rica in Panama City on Wednesday.

“We work hard, very hard,” Perez said in a recent interview wwth FIFA.com. “There’s a union, a harmony in this Panama team. We don’t fight with each other, we’re not greedy, and when we enter the pitch, we do it as one. Our solidarity is our strength.”

The 31-year-old Perez, who performs for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer, is playing in his third and most likely last World Cup qualifying campaign as Panama tries to book its first spot in the World Cup.

The Panamanians stumbled out of the gate during 2010 qualifying, losing to El Salvador. But the past is the past, Perez said.

“We have a different mentality now,” he was quoted by FIFA.com. “We believe in ourselves and we have a lot of veterans, like myself, who can help show the way to the younger ones.”

Panama finished second to Honduras in the Group C semifinal round, but international soccer has been on the rise in the Central American country the last several years.

Los Canaleros stunned the United States in a group match at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, becoming the first team to defeat the Americans on their own soil in the first round of the competition. Panama did not put on a display of beautiful soccer that night in Tampa, Fla., but the gritty side registered a 2-1 win.

In many quarters, this Panama team is considered the best national side to come out of the Central American country.

“Now is our best chance of qualifying for a World Cup,” Panama coach Julio Dely Valdes said.

It could be now or never.

Jamaica’s hex: “a sense of urgency”

The kickoff of the CONCACAF hexagonal round is only days away and although Mexico and the United States are favored to advance out of
the three automatic spots to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz is very much in the mix as the last Caribbean hope.

Jamaica opens the hex round against Mexico in Mexico City on Wendesday, and I consider it to be a game that will bring out the best in the Reggae Boyz since motivation is a factor. Players usually relish playing against the best and Mexico is undoubtedly the best team in the region at the present time.

Taking everything in context I feel like Jamaica has nothing to lose and all to gain in Mexico. The most important thing in that game is for the Reggae Boyz to give a good performance and keep the score close.

While all games are important, Jamaica’s next game against Panama is huge in terms of importance.

Jamaica not only has to get positive results at The Office against Panama on March 22 but the Boyz have to show up for their point in Costa Rica four days later on March 26.

The hex is very competitive and there is not much difference in the teams. According to the hex trend any of the six participating teams can lose away from home and style of play may only determine which team had the advantage in the run of play, but at times not on the scoreboard.

Player availability is the key since injury and suspensions can be hindrances. Mental and physical readiness has to be expected when technical and tactical maneuvers will create individual brilliance at opportune times for teams to score and win games.

Mexico, the U.S., Panama and Honduras were picked by the pundits as the four teams to advance, but the last time I looked at the match-ups, Jamaica and Costa Rica chances seemed just as good as any of the other teams.

With only three automatic berths available for Brazil, the fourth spot is another way of getting to Brazil. It is what I call the scenic route, via a playoff series against the winner of the Oceania region.

The most successful trend has been to take care of home field advantage. It does not always hold true when the race tightens in the second half of the schedule but at the last (2010) hexagonal round there were no undefeated teams at the end of the first half of the schedule based on the home field trend.

Trinidad and Tobago was the only team which had lost at home (Tobago) to Costa Rica in the first half of the 2010 schedule
while home field was instrumental in El Salvador upsetting Mexico and Costa Rica defeating both USA and Honduras.

Hence, it is important for Jamaica fans to turn out in their large numbers to support the Reggae Boyz, who have had an undefeated streak at The Office in Kingston in the semifinal round of the 2010 World Cup qualifying that included Mexico, Honduras and Canada and seems more capable this time around.