Re: World Soccer XXVIII: Campeones de NorteAmérica.
Re: World Soccer XXVIII: Campeones de NorteAmérica.
Malaysia it looks like.
And 4th right now is not a guarantee. The US right now is tied with Honduras for 3rd/4th (with the US holding the better GD) but Panama is one back with 7 and playing Mexico right now. A draw puts all three on 8 points, with the US facing a likely loss to Honduras and Panama with a great shot against T&T. Those results hold, the US is in 5th facing two do or die games just to potentially be in 4th.
I think you're being a bit pessimistic about the US's chances. The US is currently tied with Honduras for 3rd with 8 points and Panama is a point back in 5th. The three teams remaining schedules:
US: (Combined 2-0-1 (7 points) in previous meetings, outscoring opposition 9-1)
@ Honduras (previous Hex meeting - US won 6-0 in San Jose);
vs Panama (previous Hex meeting - 1-1 Draw in Panama); and
@ Trinidad & Tobago (previous Hex meeting - US won 2-0 in Denver)
Honduras: (Combined 0-1-2 (1 point) in previous meetings, outscored 1-10)
vs US (previous Hex meeting - 6-0 Loss in US);
@ Costa Rica (previous Hex meeting - 1-1 Draw in Honduras); and
vs Mexico (previous Hex meeting 3-0 Loss in Mexico)
Panama: (Combined 0-2-1 (2 points) in previous meetings, outscored 1-2)
vs Trinidad & Tobago (previous Hex meeting - 1-0 Loss in Trinidad & Tobago);
@ US (previous Hex meeting - 1-1 Draw in Panama); and
vs Costa Rica (previous Hex meeting - 0-0 Draw in Costa Rica)
Now, I get that the US has 2 out of 3 on the road, but they will be playing the 3 bottom teams in the Hex. Given that the US
should knock off Panama at home, and beat Trinidad & Tobago (particularly if their World Cup lives depend on it), a draw against Honduras keeps the US in decent shape, and a win almost assures qualification. Throw in that the US crushed Honduras 6-0 in the previous matchup this cycle, and has beaten Honduras in Honduras in 2 of their last 3 Hex meetings, and I just don't understand the doom and gloom. Is the US in great shape to qualify? No, but they are still in decent shape, and I would bet on the squad making it to Russia in 2018.