[DC 86]

Agree with a lot of the above except that it is Mexico who has the most talent in Concacaf. Mexico's weakness is defending speed and set plays in the box (corners and free kicks).

Everyone, including the US, plays Mexico by parking the bus in front of their goal and counterattacking when given a chance.

Canada is surprisingly good in this WCQ. It will be Canada, the US, and Mexico directly qualifying to Qatar in some order, with Panama taking on New Zealand to also qualify.

Disagree. Mexico's roster has aged and Tata hasn't successfully incorporated the next generation. The US is less experienced but more talented. The US certainly didn't park the bus when they played them in the qualifier in Cincinnati in November. For the entire second half the US completely controlled the game and both goals came from open play, neither from a set piece. Totally false that the US was simply counterattacking. Mexico had better chances in the first half but the game was wide open, the US was not bunkering. Pretty much the same in the Nations League final in the summer.

I agree with everything Treefence wrote. Canada has been the best team in CONCACAF this cycle, they drew with Mexico at the Azteca and beat them at home, just as they drew with the US in Nashville and beat us at home. It's not embarrassing to lose to Canada on a frozen astroturf field in Ontario, especially given the US had more and better chances. But what was bad was the US's lack of cohesion and urgency. Canada had a clear game plan and was organized and gritty. Berhalter hasn't established a clear identity or consistent attacking plan through fifteen qualifying games, he's an MLS caliber coach leading players who play for big clubs in Europe and start Champions League games.

Canada has a four point lead in the table with the US, Mexico and Panama all within one point. As Treefence said, beating Honduras (currently bottom of the table) is an absolute must-win tomorrow, and then the Panama game will be critical to avoiding the playoff.

[DC 86]

Agree with a lot of the above except that it is Mexico who has the most talent in Concacaf. Mexico's weakness is defending speed and set plays in the box (corners and free kicks).

Everyone, including the US, plays Mexico by parking the bus in front of their goal and counterattacking when given a chance.

Canada is surprisingly good in this WCQ. It will be Canada, the US, and Mexico directly qualifying to Qatar in some order, with Panama taking on New Zealand to also qualify.

Disagree. Mexico's roster has aged and Tata hasn't successfully incorporated the next generation. The US is less experienced but more talented. The US certainly didn't park the bus when they played them in the qualifier in Cincinnati in November. For the entire second half the US completely controlled the game and both goals came from open play, neither from a set piece. Totally false that the US was simply counterattacking. Mexico had better chances in the first half but the game was wide open, the US was not bunkering. Pretty much the same in the Nations League final in the summer.

I agree with everything Treefence wrote. Canada has been the best team in CONCACAF this cycle, they drew with Mexico at the Azteca and beat them at home, just as they drew with the US in Nashville and beat us at home. It's not embarrassing to lose to Canada on a frozen astroturf field in Ontario, especially given the US had more and better chances. But what was bad was the US's lack of cohesion and urgency. Canada had a clear game plan and was organized and gritty. Berhalter hasn't established a clear identity or consistent attacking plan through fifteen qualifying games, he's an MLS caliber coach leading players who play for big clubs in Europe and start Champions League games.

Canada has a four point lead in the table with the US, Mexico and Panama all within one point. As Treefence said, beating Honduras (currently bottom of the table) is an absolute must-win tomorrow, and then the Panama game will be critical to avoiding the playoff.