Official World Cup 2014 Qualifying Thread (Blame It On RIO)

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

No subs for Cuba? What's going on?

We need to stay focused and destroy them.

I'd rather play them full strength. This has trap game written all over it given the reputation of our program overthe years. Like you said, put them down early amd control the pace.

[The Big Chill]

1-0!! Great little pass from Simeon Jackson.

[browna]

As expected, Canada all over Cuba. With 9 corners and 20 attempts at net against the shorthanded (no subs) Cubans, only 1-0 at half time.

If Canada can open it up and get 4 or 5, an outside chance that Canada could get goal difference if tied.

Right now, US tied with Antigua. US needs to get a result in one of these last two games, or else.

[The Big Chill]

You have to be kidding me. No Occean for Honduras now.

[The Big Chill]

Good result in the end. Come on now Panama, help us out and win by a couple tonight.

[browna]

Canada wins 3-0. Should've been 4 or 5 but thats ok. Gives them a decent goal differential. See what happens with Honduras and Panama which kicks off in 30 mins.

Hopefully this gives them confidence for Tuesday, and hope for a blackjack game in Panama later this evening.

[Mango]

All in all, a solid result. As stated, it should have been 5-0 or so, but we'll take it for now. Tuesday is going to be intense.

[Trojan97]

Can someone tell me if this is correct please...

A Panama win tonight would mean Canada would be able to advance with a loss on Tuesday provided their goal differential remains better than Honduras following the game.

A Honduras win tonight means Canada would need a win to guarantee they move on. If Honduras wins by 1 tonight and then ties Canada on Tuesday, they would be tied for points and have the same goal differential. According to FIFA's wiki page for World Cup Qualifying, it would then go to head to head points which would again be tied. After that, it goes to points accumulated in matches between the tied teams (would be the same), goal differential in matches between the tied teams (tied), greater number of goals scored in games between the tied teams (would again be a tie). At this point, it states that FIFA would schedule a playoff game on neutral ground.

If Honduras wins by 2 tonight, Canada would need a win to get in on Tuesday as Honduras would own the gf/ga between the two teams.

Forgot to add, a draw tonight means Canada would qualify with a win/draw on Tuesday.

***This is assuming Panama walks all over Cuba in their final game***

Is this correct?

[GirlySports]

yes that's all correct.

Panama 0-0 Honduras at the half.

Pretty even, Panama missed a sitter near the end of the first half

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

yes that's all correct.

Panama 0-0 Honduras at the half.

Pretty even, Panama missed a sitter near the end of the first half

They also hit a post on a partial breakaway earlier on. Frustrating to say the least..

[browna]

http://www.ussoccer.com/tournaments/...-breakers.aspx

This seems to say that Canada would lose a tie breaker with HON based on points between the two games if they lose (and assuming Honduras loses by 1 tonight, and beats Canada by 1).

Regardless, always leery about the type of game going on right now between two teams such as this cut from the same cloth/in the same region, considering they know the Canada result before kickoff. Panama knows they'll roll over Cuba regardless, and be on 12 points with at least a +4 goal differential (assuming they would lose by 1 to Honduras and beat Cuba by 1 at least).

Which means its down to Honduras or Canada....Panama probably, all things equal, prefer to have fellow Central Americans going through as opposed to Canada (or the US). A suspect goal against Panama, or a boring 0-0 tie in the second half of the game tonight, would not surprise me in the least, which gives Honduras a better chance and better rested for Tuesday.

Before I get accused of the tin hat conspiracy, there's a reason the final group matches of the World Cup are played within each group at the exact same time, not staggered like the other group games. The most blatant example of this in a big competition was Peru in 1978 WC. Different World Cup format, with a round robin for the second round. Final game of the round robin, hours after Brazil beat Poland, Argentina played Peru. The hosts Argentina needed to win by 4 to reach the WC final. 2-0 at half, but then a collapse by Peru and ends a 6-0 final and Argentina leap frogs Brazil to get to the final in their home country.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...u-senator.html

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by browna

http://www.ussoccer.com/tournaments/...-breakers.aspx

This seems to say that Canada would lose a tie breaker with HON based on points between the two games if they lose (and assuming Honduras loses by 1 tonight, and beats Canada by 1).

Regardless, always leery about the type of game going on right now between two teams such as this cut from the same cloth/in the same region, considering they know the Canada result before kickoff. Panama knows they'll roll over Cuba regardless, and be on 12 points with at least a +4 goal differential (assuming they would lose by 1 to Honduras and beat Cuba by 1 at least).

Which means its down to Honduras or Canada....Panama probably, all things equal, prefer to have fellow Central Americans going through as opposed to Canada (or the US). A suspect goal against Panama, or a boring 0-0 tie in the second half of the game tonight, would not surprise me in the least, which gives Honduras a better chance and better rested for Tuesday.

Before I get accused of the tin hat conspiracy, there's a reason the final group matches of the World Cup are played within each group at the exact same time, not staggered like the other group games. The most blatant example of this in a big competition was Peru in 1978 WC. Different World Cup format, with a round robin for the second round. Final game of the round robin, hours after Brazil beat Poland, Argentina played Peru. The hosts Argentina needed to win by 4 to reach the WC final. 2-0 at half, but then a collapse by Peru and ends a 6-0 final and Argentina leap frogs Brazil to get to the final in their home country.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...u-senator.html

The conspiracy theory is an interesting one. Things certainly have slowed down for Panama in the second half.

[GirlySports]

It was not really a boring tie and I think Panama would prefer Canada in the HEX than Honduras since they all have to play again. There are no friends in the HEX.

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

It was not really a boring tie and I think Panama would prefer Canada in the HEX than Honduras since they all have to play again. There are no friends in the HEX.

Panama defended hard and then really pushed back at the end. All things considered, a good result for Canada. A Honduras win would have been awful.

It will be interesting to see what type of strategy the Canadians use on Tuesday. Honduras is going to be coming at them guns blazing. If Canada sits back and plays for a tie they are going to be in trouble IMO.

[The Big Chill]

Well, win or draw and we are in.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Trojan97

Panama defended hard and then really pushed back at the end. All things considered, a good result for Canada. A Honduras win would have been awful.

It will be interesting to see what type of strategy the Canadians use on Tuesday. Honduras is going to be coming at them guns blazing. If Canada sits back and plays for a tie they are going to be in trouble IMO.

If I were Canada, I'd sleep and change on the plane. I am guessing Canada's hotel will have issues with running water and electricity the night before and the team bus will have 4 flats when they wake up in the morning. Then, same issues in the stadium dressing room. Get on the field, and 11 man Honduras and the man in black, to beat or at least draw.

That said, all in front of them. Honduras, as hostile and inconvenient as it may be, isn't anywhere near going to be the pressure of going into Azteca next round, or is the team anywhere near the same as a team like Mexico, so may as well get used to getting a result on the road against a beatable team. Destiny in their own hands, which is all you can ask.

Get through this, and I believe the pressure is off the country will pay closer attention, and I think they magically make a run and get in to Brazil 2014, as I stated here last year.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Unfortunately I missed the match but it's awesome to see we won! Go into Honduras, fate is in our hands. What more could you ask for?

[Jimmy Stang]

I recorded the match and stayed away from social media. I would have liked another goal and could have done without Occean's red. Given the number of chances, it should have been 6-0. But a win is a win and they got the job done.

The scoreless draw between Panama and Honduras is an interesting one. The task for Canada is still huge, and the Hondurans will be motivated for the win on Tuesday. We all knew that it would come down to a win in Honduras to make it through, and although it is comforting to know that a draw will do it now as well, you can guarantee that this has gong show written all over it. The usual antics with the hotels and whatnot, and also the usual CONCACAF officiating. Hold on, kids. Tuesday could be crazy.

[Matty81]

Occean's red was ridiculous... Only good part is cavallini's gotta get called up now.

Would be smart if our fed actually had some money to say in San Salvador and fly in the day of the match. I think thats's only a 45-60 minute flight and they would have total peace and quiet.

Knowing the CSA they'll probably not only not do this but have the team staying ground floor in some dump in san pedro sula centre after an 8 legged flight down in coach.

Hope they can pull off a result... Totally agree about panama and honduras playing a bit coy. Honduras especially is the greasiest fed in concacaf.

[Jimmy Stang]

Just a heads up that the game on Tuesday will kickoff at 2:00pm Mountain. Weird. It's almost as if Concacaf doesn't want most of the continent to be able to watch it live.