Bolivia wins in a rout

Not sure what the commentator is saying but it's probably something like this:

"Maradona is a failure! How can he lose this badly to Bolivia and keep his job?? He will get ran out of his job after losing 6-1!"

No venue yet for US-Mexico

Since the CONCACAF Hexagonal Draw came out and it was determined that the US would host Mexico in February, speculation has swirled about a possible venue?

Would Columbus play host to the game for the third consecutive time?

How about, as a reader suggested here, Rio Tinto Stadium? It may still draw quite a few green-clad supporters but February in Utah could be downright bitter.

Or maybe some other small, out-of-the-way site like Rentschler Field in Hartford, where the US has already played a World Cup qualifier?

Or how about the Rose Bowl? What about that? It's not small. It's not out-of-the-way. It's not freezing cold. And it's certainly not difficult for thousands of Tri fans to get to.

But it's a huge game, possibly the most important US home game since, what, the Gold Cup final? Or the last US-Mexico qualifier? Regardless, home games against Mexico are huge and when they have added implications they take on even greater significance.

Now, the Rose Bowl idea is not mine. Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes about that as a venue option the US should consider but probably won't. Before you dismiss that as silly - and for the record I don't think it's silly - read the story and hear him out because he brings up some good points.

For starters, history suggests the US will not lose that game. They haven't lost a home qualifier to Mexico since Sept. 10, 1972. Twice in the 80s the US hosted Mexico and Mexico couldn't beat the Americans. Playing before 90,000 anti-US, pro-Mexico fans is nothing new to the Americans. You think that would rattle Landon Donovan? Or Tim Howard? Or Clint Dempsey? These guys have all played in big games against Mexico and have done well.

Anyway, read the rest of the story. And at least try and not dismiss Zeigler as easily as the federation apparently has.

Fears abound

Cancha's cover today. The headline reads "I'm frightened, I'm frightened, I'm very frightened"

Subhead: "With a painful performance and loss, Mexico barely gets through to the Hexagonal on goal differential; if Eriksson's Tri continues this way, the next phase will be dreadful."

Youth comes through

The United States did not need to win Wednesday's game against Guatemala to advance to the Hexagonal - four wins in their first four games helped keep the final game little more than a tune-up.

But several young players needed to perform, and that's exactly what happened on Colorado. Kenny Cooper and Freddy Adu scored second-half goals and the U.S. beat Guatemala 2-0 to close out their qualifying campaign with a 5-1-0 record.

Now, Cooper isn't exactly young - at least not compared to Adu - but he showed why he belongs on the United States. Cooper made a perfect run on a well-placed cross from fellow striker Jozy Altidore and did well to finish his opportunity.

Later in the second half, Adu knocked a well-struck free kick into the back of the net to seal the victory.

Adu and Cooper are both fan favorites, both whom many expectations have had placed on them. Warranted or not, the two players have a lot to live up to and anything short of goals and consistent play will likely be considered failure.

For Cooper, though, all he needs is an opportunity. Despite scoring 18 goals in league, Cooper had not played in any World Cup qualifiers and was always the most bizarre omission whenever the national team roster came out. Cooper's supporters (of which I am one) must now keep from saying "I told you so" and need to hope Wednesday's performance was strong enough to allow for future call-ups.

Adu, meanwhile, showed why he can be so dangerous. His passing skills are an asset for sure but often Adu overdribbles and does not utilize his teammates to his best ability. But while that part of his game will continue to develop, his set piece ability is extraordinary. Wednesday's goal was no bit of luck as Adu did exactly what he intended to.

Adu and Cooper each have a long way go but the two gave hope for the future of the United States, hope that if nothing else the depth will increase substantially entering 2009. With 10 World Cup qualifying games and participation in the Confederations Cup, the U.S. will likely need every last bit of depth in a busy and important year.

Mexico-Honduras highlights

One thing that does not bode well for Mexico is their ability to completely fall apart at the seams. When all hope was lost at the end of Wednesday's game, Mexico unraveled. First, Gerardo Torrado was sent off for a challenge from behind. Then, and perhaps more surprisingly, Carlos Vela was sent off for a tackle from behind. Vela is supposed to be a polished European-based talent but he's apparently not immune to cheap shots.

Anyway, here are the highlights. First the goal, then the parade of rough challenges from Mexico.

Barely

Mexico lost to Honduras 1-0 on Wednesday night in San Pedro Sula in a result that sent both teams through to next year's Hexagonal. Jamaica beat Canada 3-0 but fell short of advancing on goal differential.

Honduras, though, was the only team to actually earn their ticket on Wednesday. Mexico closed out a horrid three-game road stretch that saw them pick up just one of a possible nine points. However, the one point was enough to get Mexico through.

Final group standings:
1. Honduras 4-2-0, 12 points, plus-four
2. Mexico 3-2-1, 10 points, plus-three
3. Jamaica 3-2-1, 10 points, even
4. Canada 0-4-2, 2 points, minus-seven

In the end, Mexico went through on goal differential.

The dust won't settle for weeks if not months on Mexico's current state. A team that fancies itself a World Cup quarterfinalist has struggled to get past the semifinal round, a phase that should be merely a stepping stone for the Hexagonal.

The problem, though, is not with the coaching staff. Sven-Goran Eriksson may very well be in the hot seat but a coaching change would be the worst thing Mexico could do right now. Since Ricardo Lavolpe was not brought back following the 2006 World Cup, El Tri went through Hugo Sanchez in a matter of 18 months, as he went from the sure-fire, number one choice to the problems behind Mexico's ills. To blame this horrid performance on another coach would be misguided blame once again.

Mexico is clearly not the same team as it has been in the past. Whether it's the field that has all but leveled out in CONCACAF or Mexico's lack of a true superstar or the mentality or whatever, something is amiss with El Tri.

The Hexagonal field is set, and at this point, based on how each team played in the semifinal round, Mexico is not a sure thing to advance.

Costa Rica
El Salvador
Honduras
Mexico
Trinidad & Tobago
United States

The way Mexico played on Wednesday, games in the US and Costa Rica would be sure losses while Trinidad would also stand a good chance to win. Only El Salvador would be hard pressed to beat El Tri.

Sink or swim

Today's US-Guatemala match will be a proving ground for some youngsters who are looking to make a name for themselves in the future, both short-term and long-term. Players like Brian Ching, of course, need not worry too much about trying to show well in order to get called up again, but those kinds of players are in the minority.

It's time for players like Kenny Cooper (yes, one of the top goalscorers in MLS falls into this category), Chris Rolfe and Michael Parkhurst to play well in order to help round out the player pool and for guys like John Thorrington, Sean Franklin and Davy Arnaud to try and show they belong.

Here's a column by Noah Davis of Goal.com (via Yahoo) with similar thoughts on the matter.

Do, or die a painful death

One of the stories we'll be keeping a close eye on here is World Cup qualifying, in particular the Mexico-Honduras game as well as the US-Guatemala match.

Mexico, of course, is in a dire position... okay, well, maybe not dire in the sense that they can lose and still advance to the next round, but it's certainly not a desirable position. If Mexico comes out with guns blazing and wins in convincing fashion, then these last two games can easily be dismissed. But if Mexico struggles and ties or loses and still goes through, perhaps there will be some sort of lingering negative affects come the Hexagonal next year.

As for the US, there is no such emotion heading into tonight's game. It's all about auditions now as players will either try to secure their starting spot, try to show they should get more playing time or just try and get more call-ups. This will likely be the last US match until the annual end-of-January game at HDC, and for that matter likely the last activity until camp breaks in January at HDC.

Here's a story from Grahame Jones of the LA Times that touches on Mexico's fate as well as pieces on what else is going on in the world of international soccer today.

Not possible... or is it?

Before the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying began, few expected Mexico to struggle. Sure, Mexico had a seemingly tough group but Mexico is Mexico and all they need to do is show up to succeed, right?

Uh, no. Not right. Not even close.

Mexico has everything to play for on Wednesday in Honduras. While a loss won't necessarily eliminate Mexico, if El Tri does lose and the unthinkable happens, how catastrophic would that be for El Tri? We're talking a setback of several years at least. They'd be in the same boat as Cuba, Canada, Panama... other area minnows who failed to get to the Hexagonal.

I took a look at the scenario in more detail for SI.com.

Once again, though, I'll post the situation here. For Mexico to miss out, Honduras and Jamaica need to combine for a plus-eight margin on Wednesday. So scores of 5-0 and 3-0 or 4-0 and 4-0 or 6-0 and 2-0 would eliminate Mexico.

Not likely? No, probably not. It would be difficult for Mexico to lose by a pair of goals and have Jamaica completely tear apart a Canada team that showed a lot of pride in tying Mexico 2-2 last month.

But it still is a possibility, however slight. And how bad is it that Mexico is even in this situation to begin with?

Hex set soon

On Nov. 19, three CONCACAF nations will join the United States, Costa Rica and El Salvador in the Hexagonal field and the six nations won't have to wait too long to find out their respective paths to the 2010 World Cup.

FIFA announced that the draw for the Hexagonal round will be held on Nov. 22. Now, if Mexico qualifies (I fully expect them to but there is a chance, albeit a small one, that they won't) I predict that they will host the US on the last weekend in March, as they did in 2005. Just a guess...

Also, that day the 2009 Confederations Cup draw will be held. Participating nations are: the United States, Brazil, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Egypt, Iraq and the hosts South Africa. The US will have either Brazil, Italy or Spain to deal with but it better hope it gets drawn into a group with just one of them and not two.