Hey, who is going to win the B-Ball game tonight,
the Lakers or the 76ers, and what will be the
score?
LLFO
S

If you want to make easy money, forget the NBA, put money on Mexico winning at home world cup qualifier soccer game on sat.
I am a Sixers fan and this is too depressing, Lakers win again.

No way Athos. Mexico hasn't beat anybody since Cauhtemoc Blanco got injured. Costa Rica has been playing very well. Costa Rica 2 - Mexico 1

Chargers
Take the tie then because Costa Rica will not win in Azteca Stadium with 100,000 fans, I think they have an 80% win record for world cup qualifiers at home.
Blanco or no Blanco, Mexico sucks. I did put $300 last week on France vs Mexico.

Because they're playing at the Azteca is the reason I put the score 2-1. Otherwise I would have said CR 4 - Mex 0

The way Mexico is playing right now, they would be lucky with a draw.

0-3 in the Confederation Cup!!

Nothing but a rout will save Meza's job, but the home crowd will give them an edge. Still I think Mexico's long unbeaten streak at the Azteca stadium will come to an end this year, Probably July 1st... LOL

At least the club teams are salvaging Mexico's pride. Cruz Azul may even with the Libertadores Cup, South Americas biggest and most important club tournement, especially when the owner of Boca Juniors, their opponent in the Finals, has announced he will sell all of the first team players at the end of the season for financial reasons.
Hardly inspirational for the team going into the championships

OG

OG

You sound like my man. Any future bets for next year world cup?
There is this thing called EuroCaliente which deals with sports from Europe. The odds are friendlier than regular Caliente. Different sheet set and different pc system, no bar code so you need to trust cashier to enter right numbers. I have been paid so far with slight 5 mn delay not the 2 seconds thing.
Was able to get -200 for Germany at Albania while it was -350 or so on regular board.
If you want a gimme this weekend, put money on Juventus, that's italian league last round, they play ont he road against a bad team in a must win game.

Oops, Costa Rica just beat Mexico 2 - 1. Anyone want to guess how long it takes for Meza to get fired?

Costa Rica beat Mexico 2-1. I seem to remember someone predicting that outcome on this board

Orgngrndr

BTW what is on July 1st. Is that the up coming US vs Mexico game?

Chargers
Indeed I was wrong but no money lost as I stick to "sure thing" in my mind.
Sun July 1st is U.S.A. at Mexico.
Heck we get Mexico score but not U.S. score on this board. How about Jamaica vs U.S.A. showed on tape delay at 2:00 pm.
That coach is gone tonight for sure as now they are in trouble to qualify.
How about a more challenging game of soccer England at Germany Sept 1st???

I did not realize we have a few soccer fans among sires.
For those living in Cox Cable area, unlike me, the junior world cup is shown on slight tape delay most days from Argentina on Galavision, Univision will pick up other games not shown by sister company.
The U.S. has a good team, I am serious, but not good enough to win, hope they can reach 1/4 finals with Connor Casey and Landon Donovan in their lineup.
I checked my favorite team, they are taking this tournament very seriously with a lineup filled entirely of professionals including teams like Liverpool and Bayern Munich. They are also bringing their own cook despite staying at the local Sheraton.
Should be wide open and entertaining. Starts tomorrow.

Athos said
If you want to make easy money, forget the NBA, put money on Mexico winning at home world cup qualifier soccer game on sat.

SO "easy money" is a different thing then "a sure thing"

I didn't hear if it was a final score or not. But durring the Mexico/CR game they announced USA 1 - Jamica 0

U.S. 0 Jamaica 0

Both Goalkeepers made brilliant saves.

I think the U.S. waited to long to put in Razov and Kirovsky, as they both ignited a moribund U.S. offense in the last 20 or so minutes.

Say goodbye to Mesa... You just do not loose at Azteca. The U.S. played to a 0-0 tie at Azteca in the 98 WC qualifying and it was, according to some Mexican journalists, " the darkest day in Mexican soccer History". They are probably now just HOPING for a result like that on July 1st against the U.S. Unless the "Tricolores" turn their team around they will miss qualifying.

The US under 20 team should beat China and the Ukraine and until Yesterday I would have picked Chile over the U.S. HOWEVER, I believe the time the Chilean team spent in the massage parlor the other day has SAPPED their competitive juices...LOL. (See my message under ..The winners of the ClubHombre honarary membership goes to...) under the Genearl Board. A Soccer team full of (Future) Mongers always has my support.


OG

Jeez, not to second guess or anything, Chargers, but I hope you didn't put a lot of your hard earned money on that Mexico v. Costa Rica bet. At -450 you woulda had to to make any serious scratch. OUCH!

OOPS. Second guessing Athos, not Chargers. This reading comprehension thing gets tricky sometimes.

Porker
I bet only on sure thing and not easy money as Chargers pointed out.
It was indeed Mexico first loss ever in world cup qualifiers.
But the Juventus advice is a good one, will be shocked if it does not happen.

OG
I did not realize they had to play Ukraine and Chile, could be interesting.

Well can't lose all the time:
Juventus 1 - Atalante 0
Not good enough as AS Roma won the Scudetto by beating Parma 3-1.

Predictions for the US/Mexico game: Mex:2-US:1

I give this one to Mexico because they are not as bad they seem to be playing, thet'll be at home, at high altitude and as the new Mexican futbol coach put it: "We will break our soul in search of a victory". If they don't there eliminated. That's good motivation.

The U.S. on the other hand will be missing Clint Mathis and Josh Wolff. the heroes of the prevoius Mexico/US game due to injuries, and their captain, Cladio Reyna, due to Suspention for yellow card accumulations. They don't need to win here, in fact a tie will do just as good, so I look for the US team to be defensive with opportunistic counterattacks and go for the tie.


OG

Sunday 1/4 final of Copa America between Chile and Mexico in Columbia at 2:00 pm or so. I would expect AB to be either deserted or crowded with locals who do not own a color tv.

Just checked soccertv web site.
Thankfully, Univision holds the spanish language rights for the next two world cup so all games will be shown live next year (1:00 and 3:00 am kickoff) which means that whichever U.S. network gets the english rights will not show games on ppv.
EPL is still shown on sat and mon but Fox EPL show has been cancelled (that was a great show btw).
French league is shown live on TV5 every sat. You may need Canadian feed for that one.
Italian Serie A I expect still live on sat on fox sports world.
On ppv Germany-England is available sept 1st 10:30 am.
TV Azteca is launching an LA based local station channel 54.
PSN is still not available on US satellite systems. They show all world cup qualifiers from Europe/South America live.
For cable viewers, COMCAST is dropping Fox Sports World from their channel lineup.

Its not a real sport if you dont use your hands.

It's not a real sport if you get to stop and ask coachie-woachie what to do. ;)

Brazil got big break with Uruguay losing to Venezuela 2-0 yesterday.

Agreed. But it's still a shock to watch for Brazil's "breaks" when other teams aid their faltering hopes. I want to see a day when qualifying for the WC isn't as hit-or-miss with the notion of promoting the teams MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED AT THE TOURNAMENT. I mean, Holland is almost guaranteed to already be out; but the US and Costa Rica are almost guaranteed to already be in. What's with THAT?

Holland fucked up big time and is out unless Ireland falters against no name team, Irish are not that good but were able to tie Portugal at home.
Holland lost in Portugal, lost and tied Ireland.
It's a world cup so weaker sisters have to be invited.

and Portugal could quite possibly be the best team in the world...Holland is just in a bad bracket.

Blazers
You gotta to beat the best to be the best.

This saturday:
USA-Honduras, win and US is practically qualified 10:00 am espn.
Jamaica-Mexico, not sure about kickoff time, maybe on telemundo??? Mexico wins and they are right back.
Germany-England 10:30 am from Munich available on ppv $19.95 actually AB will show game, Caliente doubtful, have not figured out how to order on directv, anyone knows?
Other interesting game Ireland-Holland, available only in British pubs or in TJ on Sky/PSN dish, early game 7:00 am from Lawnsdone Road.
Next week Brazil in Argentina.

Remeber the 10:00 am is EASTERN time it's 7:00 am for us in Cal And AZ.

US should win, but I would not be surprized by a tie. Honduras will be without star striker Suazo but have many more offensive weapons.

The US defense is in good shape, its offense is suffering however. Reyna, O'brian, Wolff, Mathis,and McBride are out with injuries. Reyna is the biggest of those injuries, he a key playmaker.

On the bright side Cobi Jones is back, as well as Langdon Donovan. They might be the difference if the the US can sort out their midfield. I look to attacks over the Hoduran defense as well as the wings with Jones and Stewart.

Mexico is playing with a lot more confidence, and the Jamaica match will be a test. Both teams need the win and are motivated.

Costa Rica should have a relatively easy time over the "new look" T&T.

OG

Don't forget Scotland versus Croatia.

The CONCACAF games are pretty much last-gasp. After this weekend's results, there will be very little left up in the air. Mexico must win. Top three qualify out of six. There are more games throughout the following week and a half. Here are the CONCACAF specifics (fresh from the FIFA website):

sept 1
T&T vs CR, Port of Spain, 16:00
USA vs HON, Washington DC, 10:00 (am)

sept 2
JAM vs MEX, Kingston, 16:00

sept 5
HON vs JAM, Teguchigalpa, 19:30
MEX vs T&T, Mexico City, 12:00 (oof, noon at Azteca!)
CR vs USA, San Jose, 20:00

sept 7
HON vs T&T, San Pedro Sula, 12:00
USA vs JAM, Foxboro, 14:00
CR vs MEX, San Jose, 12:00

sept 11
JAM vs CR, Kingston, 14:00
T&T vs USA, Port of Spain, 15:00
MEX vs HON, Mexico City, 13:00 (1 pm at Azteca ain't much better -- prolly worse!)

Current standings (August 29, 2001), all teams have played 6 games. CR leads by second tie-break (total goals scored). Top three go to Korea/Japan 2002.

team, w-d-l, gf:ga, pts
CR , 4-1-1, 12:7, 13
USA, 4-1-1, 7:2, 13
HON, 2-2-2, 13:11, 8
JAM, 2-2-2, 5:8, 8
MEX, 2-1-3, 8:8, 7
T&T, 0-1-5, 4:13, 1

All game times in local time at stadium. Home teams listed first.

Yeah, missing Reyna is a drag. So too McBride, but strikers are a dime a dozen. Mexico does look "better", but is that saying much? I think they would do well at the Cup, if they could get there -- same old story ... qualification unfairly misrepresents nations who have fewer players that play abroad. So, if you're good enough that your talent is wanted elsewhere, you do poorly. Harrumph. I think CONCACAF only deserves 2 places, by the way ... and Africa only 2. Give the rest to Europe.

Looking forward to the Latin soccer fans' flaming reponses ...

;)

BG

Concacaf may deserve 2 spots but Africa deserves 4.
Yes game played in the morning in DC. Makes no sense, American tv logic.
Scotland always finds a way to qualify somehow then gets shut out in world cup. Ah those days of Billy Bremner and Peter Lorimer...

Caliente odds:

Germany even
Tie +200
England +175

Scotland +110
Tie +170
Croatia +195

Rep Ireland +210
Tie -110
Holland -190

I don't know how to read your odds. What's the numbers means, dude?

But I can see the idea of giving Africa more than 2. I was being a bit hyperbolic. I don't know how many exactly I'd recommend for African nations -- I just hope they and the Asiatic representatives DO WELL when they get to Korea/Japan. My biggest frustration, is always (since 1970 I've been watchin' these Cups!) seeing teams that did well in qualifying, WASTE our broadcast / competition time at the Finals; and teams that WOULD (subjectively speaking) have done well at the Finals, sitting at home because they slipped up in qualifying.

Case in point. Czech Republic, 1998. Ranked third in the world at the time, but got DID NOT GO to the Finals at all, thanks to strange European qualifying system.

Another frustration is the manner in which "seeds" get allocated. "Historic" success with the World Cup is somehow added to the mix ... for example, thus allowing Italy to be seeded higher than England in 1998, at the head of a group instead of as one of the other 3 teams in a group, despite the fact that England qualified ABOVE Italy in their qualifying group. Hunh?

Well, you explain FIFA to me, I'll buy you a beer. Hahahah!

Final point: the games will be on at 2 am or so, North American time. Anybody got any clues about all that? Are we gonna just have to resist checking the e-mail and the web-sites until Telemundo shows it delay-cast (or ESPN, God help us, with that idiot Tommy Smith yammering about how Zidane doesn't have good touch and Owen needs to speed up and Veron doesn't have much vision for the game ... AAAARGH!!!). Or are we gonna have to get night jobs so we'll be up at that hour in June and July next year?

Oooooh, can't wait can't wait! My prediction ... best team to not win the Cup, Portugal. Worst team to win the Cup, France. Greatest frustration, Holland watching from home. Most nations in the semi-finals, South America: Brazil and Argentina. An African team will make the semi's too. (Wow!) And the USA will make it OUT of the group play, and then do reasonably well in the round of 16, either winning or playing well but losing depending on who they draw as an opponent.

BG

Book_guy,

I agree. FIFA's selection process does seem arcane, but it is most likely the result of UEFA, not FIFA. UEFA has had a stranglehold on the selection process for the last 40 years, despite having South American teams win the World Cups as many time or more than European Teams. UEFA members on the FIFA Board gurantee that there will always be a substatial amount of European Teams in the Finals, despite the growth of soccer in the Third World.

You only have too look at the WC selection process for SA and CONCACAF as opposed to Europe. Europe has 13.5 spots and tries to justify it by including in the Euro-finals such soccer powerhouses as Albania, Lichtenstein,San Marcos,Latvia,Andorra,Luxembourg,Malta and the like. These teams are just filler to justify more spots. As a result you get lots of European groups with one or two teams ranked in the top 50 and the rest in the 100-200.
Ocassionally you get a Denmark or Northern Ireland put in an incredibely weak group and makes it to the finals. We then hear the hype from the Euro-press how great the emerging Danish football program is to get them to the finals.
Now look at the Western Hemisphere, all the weak teams, such as Netherland Antilles, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Grenada, etc., are all weeded out in preliminaries to make the qualifying pool smaller and the subsequent WC final spots fewer.

This didn't come about by accident. UEFA which hold a lot of power in FIFA made sure that half the qualifying spots went to Europe.
Asia this year gets FOUR spots this year. (What a joke!!) . But they got the extra spots by threatening to pull out the WC. Asia used the sympathy for underdogs to get the extra spots after the debacle over the South Africa/Germany World Cup Selection (You really didn't think an African Nation would get the World Cup over a European Nation in Head-to-Head voting, Did you??)
While It is true that Europe has an an old and famous football tradition. With the fall of the Iron Curtain, it did get stronger as teams from Eastern Europe got to play Western European Nation on a regular basis, and the Eastern Bloc players were fully integrated into the better European leagues. But I still think its a shame and injustice that a football nation like El Salvador or Guatamala where there are more futbol players that the whole population of San Marino or Litchenstein are denied an opportunity to compete for a finals spot. These are not emerging soccer nations like China or Saudi Arabia, but are soccer mad countries with a proud but underlooked tradition. Hey how many other Nations have gone to war over soccer??

I firmly beleive that CONCACAF deserves it three spots and should be eligible for at least another 1/2 (ie., a playoff with SA for the 4th spot), but until the stranglehold of UEFA is broken you'll see the same old tired selection process that favors the European teams.


OG

book_guy
I remember falling asleep watching Brazil-Uruguay in 1970, my first world cup too played in Mexico btw.
For next year, first round games will be at 11:30 pm, 2:00 am and 4:30 am.
For second round games, 11:30 pm and 4:30 am.
All games shown live on Univision (55 games) and Telefutura (9 games new channel) so U.S. networks will have to show games on free tv, not decided yet which network.
How about watching first game live then tape other 2 games, get up early and go to work late.
For second round, watch all games live with a nap before first game.
I believe they use FIFA ranking for seeding these days, France no 1, Brazil or Argentina no 2 so could meet only in finals. Other top european teams are Spain, Italy, Portugal. They will try to help home teams as well, Japna/Korea, as top group seed.
For bets, you have 3 choice, you can bet for team A, team B or a tie, odds vary depending on team.
For example, to bet germany to win you get even money. For a tie, you get 2 to 1, for England to win you get 1.75 to 1. So it is difficult as you have 1 chance out of three then you get bad reward if you choose a favorite. Easy money can be made when a sure thing. For example, bet money on Portugal vs Andorra (I think -700) this weekend for little reward but as easy money as it gets.

For weak teams mixed in with the stronger boys, look no further than Oceania (which gets .5 positions, they playoff with SA) Australia, which is NOT a powerhouse beat the Solomon Islands or Tonga something like 36 nil a couple months ago.

Orgngrndr: I like your explanation (vaguely), but I totally disagree with just about all your assumptions. See, I think Europe has MORE teams that could entertain and be worthy opponents at the Cup, and CONCACAF has FEWER. I would hate to see Guatemala supplant Holland, for example.

So, whereas I agree with you that the arcana are probably the product of in-fighting among the various more or less powerful continental associations, with UEFA at the forefront of "more powerful," I disagree with you that this has led to things overly favoring Europe. I think things currently UNDERLY favor Europe, with TOO MANY spots going to developing nations.

Your point about El Salvador and Guatemala being "soccer mad" and not developing at all, is well made. Unlike, say, Egypt, where there's a growing middle class but very little historical support for the national soccer team, the Central American nations have been playing and supporting soccer for generations. So, in that manner, to some extent, I agree with you that they deserve better representation from FIFA in the WC qualifying schemae.

In the long run, I'd like to see WORTHY teams go to Korea / Japan. I don't want to see Andorra, Lichtenstein, or the Faeroe Islands waste bandwidth any more than you do. But I don't think that those teams which are left out, from Europe, are WORSE than those teams which are left out from CONCACAF. I think they're much much better. The Czechs, Russians, Poles, Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, Finns, Northern Irish, and Belgians are all fighting, effectively, for two places. But they could all (in my subjective, un-provable opinion) kick serious butt on any of the teams from CONCACAF or CONMEBOL who DO qualify at the bottom of qualification. So, to me, the European nations are under-represented, because more spots to Europe would mean more good teams going to Korea / Japan.

I understand that you disagree with this assessment, and that you think (for example) Honduras or Bolivia would be a more worthwhile team to win a spot. I can't swallow that. I do think it's interesting, the things you've pointed out about UEFA -- their relative power, the fact that they "stack" the deck in their favor with little also-rans that everybody knows are just "fake" soccer teams -- and I do think, as you do, that the fan base in Latin America is often disregarded, especially since USA 94, in favor of "developing" a fan base in third-world nations that don't have one. So, we can agree that Africa and Asia are "stealing" spots from worthier nations; and we can agree that UEFA has a strangle-hold on much FIFA maneuvering; we can also agree that San Marino and the Canary Islands are a joke (and so are the Netherlands Antilles and Grand Cayman). But where we disagree, is on where Honduras, Bolivia, and Venezuela line up relative to Russia, the Czech Republic, and Denmark, for example.

Final point. You won't agree with this paragraph at all, but I gotta say it. What teams from the Western Hemisphere have won the World Cup, or been in at least the semi-finals, in a GOOD and REPRESENTATIVE way, in recent memory. Two. Argentina and Brazil. All other Latin nations come and go, with the whims of political dictatorships. Etcheverry and Bolivia; no, it's Valderrama and Colombia; no, wait, Mexico is faltering, and then succeeding, and then faltering; hang on, didn't Chile have a pair of strikers for a while? Once a long time ago Uruguay was a world power. Nowadays Paraguay has a goal keeper and a bunker-style defense. No consistency. But England, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Holland, to name but a few, can ALWAYS field a team that could, on a given day, beat just about anyone, and can always field a team that DESERVES to make it to the Finals because that team will RAISE THE LEVEL of play there. With any of those nations at any time in their history, and certainly at any time in the last two or three decades, you're guaranteed a good game. You can't say that about Ecuador.

In the long run, there's no way to know which of the "didn't make it" teams actually are better than which other ones. We only ever know who is top of the top -- the World Cup Winner. The Champion. There are no close-fought matches for the coveted ninety-third -- versus -- ninety-fourth places, especially not if those two positions happen to reside in teams on different continents. So the comparison that we need to do, in order to reconcile our specific difference, can only seldom be played out on the actual pitch. I see that you use the FIFA world rankings as a manner of juxtaposing those teams, and that is one means. But I think, that those rankings are habitually skewed in favor of South American teams, because they are based partly on who you beat. So, if Upper Volta beat Brazil (high ranked) in a competitive game, they get more points in the FIFA ranking than if they were to beat Holland. And yet the two nations (Brazil and Holland) are, nowadays, right about equal, in any average betting man's opinion. Historically, for me, the FIFA world rankings are misrepresentative in exactly the opposite way as you complain that the qualification systems for the World Cup are misrepresentative. Consequently, we've got a circular discussion -- you say that CONMEBOL and CONCACAF deserve more spots because, among other things, the FIFA rankings demonstrate their superiority; while I say UEFA deserves higher FIFA rankings than the current ranking system allows. No solving that one.

And, by the way, I am happy the Cup in 2006 will be in Germany and not South Africa. I think South Africa should get it some day, but I don't think their security and stadiums will be ready yet. The Germans always put on a good show. I'd like to see it go back to Brazil some time soon, too. Actually, here's a funny suggestion: I recommend that England host all World Cups from now on out. We could have their referees (I personally think they're better refs than any other nation; another debatable proposition) and their stadiums, and they'd have instant access to all the information they needed about hooligans; and the English national side would NEVER be allowed to play, they'd just have to stiff-upper-lip themselves about not being allowed to "take advantage of the home field" because, well, that's just not cricket. That way, we'd save them the embarrassment of their perennial qualification malaise, they'd provide the world with the spectacle that they could take credit for, and everyone would be involved right at their proper level. The Brits would grumble about "having to take a hit for the team" and "not always getting what you want," but, well, they love that passive-aggressive self-aggrandizing immolation, don't they? A ready-made martyrdom for Britain, the best pitches and stadia in Europe, refs that actually know the rules, linesmen who know "at the time the ball was played" is not just a confusing musical taunt invented by the fans at White Hart Lane ... whaddayathink? We could even invite the Queen.

Well, it's still a lovely day to watch football, regardless of your opinion of European versus Latin. I am gonna love every minute of it. In 1998 I only missed a few first-round games; in 1994 I didn't miss ONE MINUTE of anything. 4:30 AM, did you say. Jayzus. It's probably broadcast exactly for prime-time in Iran.

Oh, you didn't explain FIFA sufficiently for a beer. Not just yet.

;)

BG

Tomorrow 7:00 am kickoff is because game is on espn2 and college football has priority.
I'd play for a tie if I am US coach and counter. Honduras has a good forward.

World Cup play-off draw

Play-offs in Europe
2nd placed Group 6 v 2nd placed Group 3
2nd placed Group 5 v 2nd placed Group 9
2nd placed Group 7 v 2nd placed Group 4
2nd placed Group 1 v 2nd placed Group 8
The first-named team will play the first leg at home.
Dates: First leg: 10/11 November 2001, second leg: 14 November 2001

Play-offs UEFA/Asia
2nd placed UEFA Group 2 v 3rd placed AFC
The first-named team wil play the first leg at home.
Dates: First leg: 10 November 2001, second leg: 15 November 2001

Play-offs South America/Oceania
Australia (winner Oceania) v. 5th placed South America
The first-named team will play the first leg at home.
Dates: to be determined.
The play-offs must take place before 25 November 2001

Germany may be too confident, they already booked a flight to Bangkok in Nov for friendlies in humid weather.
Go England... not only do they need a win in Germany which has lost 1 game in wc qualifying in their history on home soil. But they need to win their remaining games and score enough goals to pass Germany in goal differential.
In 1972 with same scenario in Euro, England tied Germany 0-0 after losing in Wembley 3-1.
The good news is Memet Scholl is out as well as Jeremies. English squad is in full gear.
Pregame show at 9:30 am on ppv.

Mehmet Scholl is about as close to God as the Germans have right now ... the Germans will be playing for the draw, no doubt. The English will be playing to win, either on the pitch or, failing that, in the Bierstube after the game.

So FIFA already knows which European group plays in the Asia-playoff? How did they determine that already? I thought it was based on relative levels of the second-placers. Or something.

Anyway, tomorrow's the big day. Do or die for England and Holland and Mexico; close enough for Germany and Republic of Ireland and Scotland and the USA. Oh, and by the way, there's something going on in South America too, according to some rumor or other ...

Germany 1 - England 5, great game unless you are teuton. Best game for england since 1966. After giving up an early goal, shaky marking, it was all England with fantastic winner from Gerrard and hat trick by Owen. With the win England has won goal differential and Germany is not going to Bangkok but Ukraine or Bielorussia in Nov. First half was great soccer, 2nd half blowout, never seen German on their knees like this.
Scotland 0 - Croatia 0, Scotland needs to win in Belgium next Wed.
Ireland 1 - Holland 0, goal diff will decide between Portugal and Ireland. But second place finisher plays asian team in nov.
Iceland 3 - Czech Rep 1 wow czech were 5 to 1 fav.
USA 2 - Honduras 3, US too slow, thanks for Directv for cutting game off and show NFL advertising. I called to complain but missed 30 mn of second half. Stewart missing pk sealed the game.

where were they showing the england german game.

Chingow
I watched game at home on ppv but I assume AB or Caliente in the alley would show game as well.

Woweee how 'bout 'dem Irishmen? The Dutch looked terrible -- I take back everything I said about Holland "deserving" to qualify and their group being unreasonably difficult. If they're gonna play like that, they can just stay home and good riddance.

Woweee how 'bout 'dem Englishmen? Can't say enough about Owen's finishing. Gerard is awesome. De Tchermans will haff a machor Reckoning.

Woweee how 'bout 'dem Icelandishermen? The Czechs are throwing it all away ... again ... harrumph.

And a personal hooo - raaah for the Poles. Haven't they clinched now?

And for the Hondurenos, too. USA doesn't quite "have it," whatever "it" is ... passion, or something. I know, Latin nations get out of control with their passion to the point that it's detrimental, but really, USA beat ourselves. It's a DREADFUL result for Mexico.

And what WILL Mexico do to get into this World Cup? There's not much they CAN do now ...

Any hombre in SJ, CR???
Ticos are getting ready for a big celebration on wed night. With a win over USA, CR clinches a spot in wc. CR has a better team, tough task for Americans.
It's a mess now with 4 teams fighting for 2 other spots. Mexico barely won in Jamaica as amateur players just got tired in second half.
USA can win in Trinidad and must beat Jamaica at home.

Go CR! Although I support USA as my "home" team and would love to see the state of the game improved here, I think CR is the only worthy side in all of CONCACAF right now. The Mexicans have self-destructed, the USA lacks depth (we sure looked for shit against Honduras, without our regular starters), and Honduras and Jamaica (although enthusiastic) are just too amateur to put in a good showing in Korea / Japan. What I want, is teams who will put in a good showing once they get there. Costa Rica so far seems to be the only one from all of North and Central America and the Caribbean. Can't figure why ... we're mostly mad for soccer here ... just small nations, I guess.

BG

Costa Rica wins the big one!! Guaranteed qualification at K/J 02. Good for the Tico's ... not that I saw any native-looking players out there, but CR certainly deserved to get the better of the USA.

But I think the announcers for ESPN got it wrong, when they said the US is now on the outside of qualification looking in. Here's how I see it. With two games to go, three teams -- USA MEX and HON -- are vying for two spots. But USA has the advantage of looking forward to two minnows for opponents, while the other two teams must play one another and CR. Looks to me like we're in the driver's seat. Any draw among them sends us to J/K, any slip-up among them sends us to J/K, and since they're playing one another, SOMEONE'S got to slip up or draw, right?

But then, the USA has never been one for really sealing the deal as far as soccer goes. Can someone tell me why Sanneh hasn't been deported back to Germany yet? Did he EVER complete a pass to a teammate? grrr. Frustrating.

Anybody see the MEX JAM game, live or on TV? What about the European games? Comments?

The USA could beat Albania ranked 86th in the world, but not sure about beating Jamaica then winning in Trinidad.
England was mediocre but beat Albania made of unknown players.
Sweden qualified by winning in Turkey. Spain is also qualified.
Brazil despite losing 2-1 in Argentina is in good shape with 3 easy games left.
I hate that useless Cobi Jones, Agoos always throws the ball away, the midfield is clueless. Defenders are just hackers. But US goalie is pretty good and Landon Donovan will be a good player.

You seem to be the sort of guy who thinks exactly the opposite of me ...

I think Cobi Jones and Jeff Agoos are the only US players with any sense of the tactical game. Agoos does give it away often, but that's because he's defending for six, since the rest of the defense doesn't actually play intelligently. Sanneh, on the other hand, simply isn't defending. Aside from head-balls, I can't figure out why he's on the field. Donovan's OK in my books, as is the goalie Friedel. We always have good goalies. Fonseca for CR was my "jugador mas valiosa," not Pope or Regis or any other member of the obviously outclassed USA side.

Yeah, Sweden Spain Poland ... the picture is filling in. I think England did look mediocre against Albania, but these games are all too close together. Hell, most of CONCACAF plays TOMORROW after having played yesterday. That's silly.

But then again, you explain FIFA to me and I'll buy you a beer ... but you seem to think Agoos is no good, so I doubt your ability to explain FIFA will be any higher than your ability to analyze defenses ... heh ...

;)

Some easy money can be made on Sat, very small return but so what 99% guarantee:
Italy-Hungary
Portugal Estonia
Rep Ireland Cyprus
Denmark Iceland
Scotland Latvia
England Greece
All home teams in a must win game vs inferior teams