Dos a Cero
September 11, 2013 7:51 AM   Subscribe

After (intentionally?) missing a last second penalty kick, the US Men's National Team beat Mexico in Columbus by a now famous final score. Following the game, the team watched Honduras hold on for a 2-2 draw against Panama which officially cemented the team's slot in the 2014 World Cup. An unassuming venue [autoplay video], Crew Stadium was the first purpose-built soccer facility in the US, and it has become the preferred location for the US to take on its most-powerful CONCACAF rival.
posted by Rock Steady (136 comments total) 9 users marked this as a favorite
 
And with that, the US did better than Holland, who won 2-0 against Andorra and also qualified, but still should be ashamed to have so much difficulty with what is largely an amateur side.

England's 0-0 draw with Ukraine ain't great either.
posted by MartinWisse at 8:06 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


I'm going to call it now for posterity, and hopefully won't have to eat my words. This may make me look silly next year, but fuck it:
The US is going to make the semifinals in 2014.
Well, either that, or they're going to implode and go out in the first round, but let's not talk about that possibility.

This is the strongest team we've ever fielded, when they have their shit together, and, as a country, we should no longer settle for just being happy to be there: we can and should expect the US team to not only qualify but win their group.
posted by scrump at 8:14 AM on September 11, 2013 [5 favorites]


Funfact: Kyle Beckerman was in the same gradeschool class as Eric Snowden.

WHAT ARE YOU HIDING IN THOSE DREDS, KYLE!?
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:17 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]


robocop is bleeding: "WHAT ARE YOU HIDING IN THOSE DREDS, KYLE!?"

IS IT A DEFENSE?

please say it's a defense
posted by scrump at 8:25 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]


I call the Quarterfinals again for the USA but of course it all depends on the group we're drawn into. I'd love to see a USA/Iran/Costa Rica/England group for the rivalry/political reasons alone. Good lord, that would rule.
posted by josher71 at 8:25 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]


Meanwhile Canada slumps to a 1-0 defeat against 151st ranked Mauritania in a friendly in Spain...so far away...so very far away.

Well done USA. I'll pull for you all in Brazil, but you are not going to make the semi finals. Not a chance.
posted by salishsea at 8:28 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


I had no idea that this was happening but neat to see that we won.
posted by octothorpe at 8:30 AM on September 11, 2013


I'd love to see a USA/Iran/Costa Rica/England group for the rivalry/political reasons alone.

Do Costa Rica and England have a bitter rivalry? (On a serious note, it is lots of fun to play England. That tie in South Africa was pretty sweet.)
posted by Area Man at 8:36 AM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


This is all from an American perspective, rivalry wise.
posted by josher71 at 8:42 AM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


Usually all the CONCACAF teams are in the same pot for the draw, so the USA can't play Costa Rica in the group stage unless they're somehow among the top eight teams in the tournament in the FIFA World Rankings when the draw happens (technically top seven + host, but when the host is Brazil...)

But yeah, it'd be fun to play Iran again. Hopefully it goes better than it did in '98.
posted by jackflaps at 8:44 AM on September 11, 2013


It's been great to watch Columbus provide a true home field advantage for these qualifiers. Having stood in a vast sea of blue Honduran fans at a qualifier at RFK stadium back in 2001, I can tell you that it is no fun for fans, or I imagine the players, to feel like a visitor on your home soil.

Oh, and Costa Rica, cheaters never prosper.
posted by Otis at 8:47 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


It is so hard to make myself care about football from a US perspective. Mostly I just find it really fulfilling to see the US team lose decisively to countries large and small, all over the world, again and again.
posted by elizardbits at 8:48 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


It is so hard to make myself care about football from a US perspective. Mostly I just find it really fulfilling to see the US team lose decisively to countries large and small, all over the world, again and again.

The past 13 victories must have been tough.
posted by josher71 at 8:51 AM on September 11, 2013 [30 favorites]


elizardbits: "It is so hard to make myself care about football from a US perspective. Mostly I just find it really fulfilling to see the US team lose decisively to countries large and small, all over the world, again and again."

I used to feel that way, but at this point I kind of feel like us not qualifying at all for a World Cup for 50 years prior to 1994 was enough penance.

And, frankly, our performance in the last World Cup was more or less exactly what we deserved.

I guess I feel like association football, at least for the time being, is one of the last major sports that the United States national teams genuinely compete in: the US sports-industrial complex hasn't gotten its claws into it just yet, and the players for the USMNT are still recognizably human beings.

And it's a US team that can, and does, get the shit kicked out of it on the regular.

All in all, it's good for the soul, and I find that it allows me to root for them in an uncomplicated way, because they're really having to work at it.
posted by scrump at 8:54 AM on September 11, 2013 [6 favorites]


The US getting its shit together over soccer/football is one of the things that gives me hope, actually. It somehow gives me a glimmer of a thread of hope that someday we'll be able to play nicely with other countries instead of just throwing our weight around and telling everyone else what to do. And it's good for our character to learn how to lose gracefully.
posted by ambrosia at 8:56 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]


Eh, not really. I usually don't start watching til the knockouts.
posted by elizardbits at 8:56 AM on September 11, 2013


All in all, it's good for the soul, and I find that it allows me to root for them in an uncomplicated way, because they're really having to work at it.

I find the USA! USA! chant distasteful, because it feels like taps into American power in other fields, but other than that it's really, really nice to have something where I can support my country just like everyone else supports theirs. We win, we lose, we're a little good, but not great; we're just folks. It's nice.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 8:58 AM on September 11, 2013 [5 favorites]


Eh, not really. I don't start watching til the knockouts.

Sigh.
posted by josher71 at 8:58 AM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


I find the USA! USA! chant distasteful, because it feels like taps into American power in other fields,

This a thousand times over. My relations with the US team are complicated at best and people calling the US 'we' in this thread is actually making me squirm* and the USA! USA! chant is actually a huge part of that.

*This is totally my problem and I'm not objecting to you doing it.
posted by hoyland at 9:01 AM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


It is so hard to make myself care about football from a US perspective. Mostly I just find it really fulfilling to see the US team lose decisively to countries large and small, all over the world, again and again.

Well, that sounds fun.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:01 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]


Uh, sorry? I prefer UEFA matches over CONCACAF? I am a monster I guess.
posted by elizardbits at 9:01 AM on September 11, 2013


For years, we feared playing in the Azteca. I think Mexico is starting to fear the Columbus Crew Stadium.

The real story here, though, isn't the US qualifying. The real story is Mexico on the edge of elimination. CONCACAF's final round of qualifying has six teams in it -- thus nickname, The Hex. You play home and away against everyone in the Hex (so, 10 games), three points if you win, one if you draw, nothing if you lose. At the end, top three in the table go to the WC, and 4th goes to a home-and-away with New Zealand (the Oceania qualifier) for the last spot in the big dance. 5th and 6th stay home.

The rule of thumb for qualifying -- Win At Home, Tie On The Road.

We've done that easily with only a couple of hiccups (road losses to Honduras and Costa Rica, road draw at Mexico, road win at Jamaica, and four wins at home.) While we've dropped the one point for the tie twice on the road, the three points we won in Jamaica means we've effectively tied on the road (4 games, four points) and we've won at home (4 games, 12 points.) Our last two, btw: Jamaica here, then Panama there.

Mexico, however, is in a bad spot. Currently, they're 5th on the table (1-5-2, 8 pts), tied with Panama (also 1-5-2 8 pts.) Yes, if it ended today, Mexico would be out. 1st tiebreaker is total goals scored in the group, and Mexico is badly behind here -- 4 goals for Mexico, 7 for Panama.

Mexico's best hope is two wins (Panama at home, Costa Rica on the road) which would put them at 14 points. Since Panama can't win out if Mexico does, Panama could have no more than 11 (L to Mexico, win against the US) and Honduras can't have less than 11 (what they have now) so a double win for Mexico puts them no higher than 3rd (CR has 15 already) and no worse than 4th (Jamaca can only reach 12, Panama can only reach 11 if Mexico beats them.)

The suck part of this is the last game for Mexico, that road game with CR. Costa Rica is very tough and has a strong home field advantage. They beat the US 3-1 just last week.

If they beat Panama and lose to CR, things stay very dicey. They'd need Panama to lose the final game (easy) and/or Honduras to lose both games (CR at Home, Jamaica on the Road.) In either case, Mexico would be tied for 11 with one of those two teams. If both happened, they'd be fighting for third, but....

The bad part of this is the first tiebreaker, which is goals scored by the team. Right now, Honduras has 10, Panama 7, and Mexico only 4. So, if they end up tied with Panama, then need to score four more goals than Panama does in the last two games, and if they end up tied with Honduras, they need 7 more.

Which is a tall freaking order. And Honduras has a game against Jamaica (0-4-4 4 pts) which makes it unlikely that Honduras is going to end under 14. Basically, unless they blow out Panama, they're almost certainly out of the World Cup, and even if they do blow out Panama, they need to beat CR to have a decent shot at a straight qualify.
posted by eriko at 9:04 AM on September 11, 2013 [14 favorites]


Uh, sorry? I prefer UEFA matches over CONCACAF? I am a monster I guess.

No, it's that you say you don't watch until the knockouts and crow about the USA being beat in those rounds by nations big and small. That would be, Brazil, Germany, and Ghana. None of these are footballing minnows.
posted by josher71 at 9:04 AM on September 11, 2013


There are a huge number of extremely valid criticisms to be made about nationalism and jingoism in sports, especially as regards the US.

For myself only, I tend to see the USA chant much differently if the context is a sporting event where the US team could very well lose. It's the difference between spirit and piling on.

International football is one of the last places where the US is just another team, one with a not particularly distinguished history, and that makes all the difference in the context.
posted by scrump at 9:05 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]


International football is one of the last places where the US is just another team, one with a not particularly distinguished history, and that makes all the difference in the context.

Men's international football.
posted by eriko at 9:07 AM on September 11, 2013 [13 favorites]


My relations with the US team are complicated at best and people calling the US 'we' in this thread is actually making me squirm*

I had an Israeli professor in college who once claimed that Israeli papers had a standard practice of referring to the Men's basketball team as "we" when they won, and "they" when they lost. No idea if that's true or not, but I choose to believe it because it feels true.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 9:08 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Men's international football.

True. Don't cheer too loudly for the women!
posted by dsfan at 9:09 AM on September 11, 2013


Men's international football.

Very true.

I find the USA! USA! chant distasteful, because it feels like taps into American power in other fields,


I find the chant distasteful but also fun as hell to chant and at USA soccer games is the only time I don't feel like a total shithead doing it.
posted by josher71 at 9:09 AM on September 11, 2013


Uh, sorry? I prefer UEFA matches over CONCACAF? I am a monster I guess.

Not a monster! Just don't really understand why people show up in threads to say 'who cares'
posted by Kwine at 9:09 AM on September 11, 2013 [6 favorites]


hoyland: My relations with the US team are complicated at best and people calling the US 'we' in this thread is actually making me squirm* and the USA! USA! chant is actually a huge part of that.

I totally get what you are saying, and I agree that rooting for the US as a non-jingoistic American* can be problematic, but I think in international soccer, calling your own country's team "we" and chanting are such a part of the game that I don't really object.

*I know
posted by Rock Steady at 9:10 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


eriko: "The real story is Mexico on the edge of elimination."

Quoted for goddamned truth. Mexico's collapse has been almost Shakesperian, and things just got worse for them with Honduras drawing against Panama.

On top of that, Jamaica proved last night that they're not planning to just lie down and take it. Costa Rica utterly owned the US in their match: the same US team that just put away Mexico 2-0 and sits at the top of the group.

And Jamaica drew against Costa Rica last night.

Even discounting for the "it's qualifying, weird shit happens" effect, this makes for a pretty grim picture for Mexico. My gut feeling is that they're not going to qualify, and that the reaction within the country will be...extreme. Not a position I'd wish on anyone.
posted by scrump at 9:10 AM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


Chicharito seemed anonymous last night. Not sure what is going on with him.

And I feel good for Wilson Palacios who had a nice goal last night for Honduras. He's had a rough go at the club level the past few years and personally after his brother was kidnapped and murdered.
posted by josher71 at 9:16 AM on September 11, 2013


In re: Mexico not qualifying.

ESPN Deportes (Spanish) estimates that failing to qualify for the World Cup will cost Mexico around $600 million.
posted by scrump at 9:19 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Jurgen Klinsman has created the deepest roster for the USMNT in living memory, and after last nights dos a cero victory without the likes of Altadore, Besler, and Cameron (for yellow card accumulation), and, and, and Micheal "The General" Bradley sidelined due to a sprained ankle appears to be poised for a helluva run in Brazil.
posted by vozworth at 9:22 AM on September 11, 2013


I totally get what you are saying, and I agree that rooting for the US as a non-jingoistic American* can be problematic, but I think in international soccer, calling your own country's team "we" and chanting are such a part of the game that I don't really object.

This is what 'complicated at best' meant. I'm probably more inclined than most to parse the USA chant as aggressive, but I do.

The bit about people calling the US 'we' making me squirm is a bit tangential mentioning it made my comment rather unclear. I don't actually object to it (and call England 'we' on occasion), but it triggers the 'Oh, god, they're going to starting chanting USA and trying to aggressively show how much more American they are than me' thought in my head, even though that's obviously not going to happen.
posted by hoyland at 9:23 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Chicharito seemed anonymous last night. Not sure what is going on with him.

Dude is spooked. His time at ManU is likely up come January when Moyes goes big in the market to wash away the failures of the summer window.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:24 AM on September 11, 2013


Mexico will make the World Cup now that Chepo's gone. Both Guillermo Ochoa and Carlos Vela refused to play for him; I'm willing to bet that Vela, at least, will be back for the final round of qualifiers. If Panama couldn't beat Jamaica at home (when Jamaica was down to 10 men!), they're not gonna do well at the Azteca.
posted by asterix at 9:30 AM on September 11, 2013


I think Mexico is toast. They look like they've lost faith. It's time to fire the coach they just appointed, who was the the assistant before, and start over with someone new.
posted by josher71 at 9:35 AM on September 11, 2013


The USA USA chant has always bothered me as well. It's not out of line with what fans of other national teams do but it always feels so aggressively imperialistic when other US fans do it. Or it's more political than team-oriented? I don't know, it's a complicated relationship we all have with our home countries.
posted by bfootdav at 9:36 AM on September 11, 2013


Don't citizens of other countries cheer for their teams and chant when their national teams play? I'm not understanding what's so uniquely terrible about fans of the U.S. team chanting. Sure, U.S. nationalism and national identity can have a dark edge, but that's true of just about every country.

There are plenty of sports in which the U.S. are underdogs. Join me in becoming a fan of World Cup cross-country ski racing! Norway ("the red army") dominates and its flag-waving fans are fanatic.
posted by Area Man at 9:37 AM on September 11, 2013 [5 favorites]


And Jamaica drew against Costa Rica last night.

Yeah, but that was a meaningless game to CR -- they cinched a WC berth when the beat the US last week. I haven't looked at the lineups, but I wouldn't be surprised if they send the 2nd team out.
posted by eriko at 9:41 AM on September 11, 2013


Sure, U.S. nationalism and national identity can have a dark edge, but that's true of just about every country.

Yeah, but it feels a bit different for the lone superpower, don't you think? Maybe I'm just indulging in American Exceptionalism by thinking that our nationalism is more fraught than that of other countries?

In summary, Cobi Jones is a land of contrasts.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:48 AM on September 11, 2013


I have a ... different (maybe?) ... relationship with the USMNT.

I'm not a fan out of some sort of allegiance to GOD AND COUNTRY. I am a fan because the players all sort of have one thing in common and I have the same thing in common with them - but that's also why I support the Sounders who play in Seattle, where I live. The fandom is a result of happenstance.

So it doesn't squick me out, personally, to cheer USA! USA! USA! on Facebook after last night's win because it's the equivalent of saying SEATTLE*clap clap*SOUNDERS*clap clap*. In the latter example I'm not boasting about the inherent superiority of Seattle and its culture (unless we have beat the Timbers in which case I certainly am. Ahem.

Maybe if we were called The United States Freedom Eagles our chant could be FREALGES! FREAGLES! FREAGLES! or something. I don't know. The point is, USA!3 is just a thing some fans yell because we have to yell something and it isn't always on account of some nationalistic grossness.

But of course sometimes it is in which case, I dunno, assholes are everywhere.
posted by Tevin at 9:49 AM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


Now I want a GO FREAGLES scarf.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:50 AM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


I'm not a US citizen. The USA! USA! chant doesn't bother me at all when it's directed at an actual USA team, like at soccer or the Olympics. When it's directed at an individual from the US like a boxer fighting a European it's kind of weird. When it's used at a political event, it's generally for disgraceful purposes.
posted by IanMorr at 9:51 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]


I'm fine with the singing and chanting, but to me the USA! chant is bothersome less because of the nationalist jingoism (though there's that) and more because of the frat-boy-esque tone. It's just too dull and unimaginative for me; it's got all the creativity of yelling "you suck!" and that's enough to reject it right there.
posted by nickmark at 9:56 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


"Dos a Cero" seems to have been the big chant last night in Columbus, but what if Mexico had beaten the U.S. by 2-0? It seems like a risky chant. Something that can turn bitter.
posted by Area Man at 10:00 AM on September 11, 2013


Dempsey just had to have missed on purpose, right? He denies it, of course...

'“It's this mystical thing, right? It's like this ghost,” said midfielder Alejandro Bedoya. “Clint missed that penalty and it's like something that's haunting, that happened on purpose.”'

That is great. And it was hilarious when Chicharito, I think, was tapping at his fake watch and Parker, I think, was shrugging "I don't care" ... That was funny.
posted by J0 at 10:15 AM on September 11, 2013


True. Don't cheer too loudly for the women!

What? I think you're missing that people here acknowledge that the USWNT is more dominant than the men's.

more because of the frat-boy-esque tone. It's just too dull and unimaginative for me; it's got all the creativity of yelling "you suck!" and that's enough to reject it right there.

I just... it's the name of the country. It's a chant. I don't see subtlety being necessary.
posted by psoas at 10:16 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Some Mefites really do not get sports.
posted by Aizkolari at 10:19 AM on September 11, 2013 [8 favorites]


When it's used at a political event, it's generally for disgraceful purposes.

My issue with the chant is that it reminds me of this; not saying there's a good reason for that, it just does which is why I feel a little weird when it happens. Not hugely weird, and not saying anyone who uses the chant has any kind of bad nationalistic or jingoistic feelings; it's just how I react to hearing it.

That said, from a purely sonic standpoint, it sounds great. I get why it's popular.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:26 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Maybe it's my age but "USA!, USA!" just seems more like something you'd chant while you're kicking an anti-war protester in the head, not cheering a sports team.
posted by octothorpe at 10:27 AM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


And then there's the group of supporters known as Sam's Army. I'm sure they don't mean that to be political but it does conjure up some images, no?

Or maybe it's this general feeling among liberals that patriotism/nationalism is declasse? Cheering on the lads is fine but cheering on your culture to defeat another culture in a sporting affair is not so OK?

I don't think there's an answer to this. I'm not alone in wincing when I hear the chant but I don't get all angry about it either since it appears to be perfectly in line with the behavior of other countries' fans. And heck, most of the time US fans are less radical/rabid than others. And thank the gods for that.
posted by bfootdav at 10:38 AM on September 11, 2013


To be fair, the people I have known in supporters groups (American Outlaws) have cared much more about beating the other team on the pitch far more than proving some sort of cultural superiority.
posted by Tevin at 10:49 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Yeah, but that was a meaningless game to CR -- they cinched a WC berth when the beat the US last week. I haven't looked at the lineups, but I wouldn't be surprised if they send the 2nd team out.

Hmm, are you sure? This article indicates it was not already clinched.

If Costa Rica had lost to Jamaica, they would still be at 14 points with two to play. If Mexico had beaten the USA, they would have 11 points and could pass CR with a win against CR and a draw against Panama. Even assuming the USA win over Mexico, if Mexico (or Panama) won its last two matches by sufficiently large margins and CR lost both, Mexico would be at 14 as well and could win on the tie-breaker.
posted by nave at 10:51 AM on September 11, 2013


If you're in this thread, you may want to read #9

So when the US team arrived for the return fixture, they found a nation that had saved up sixth months' worth of bile just for them. Most visiting teams get whisked through customs in privacy; the Americans were forced through the most public areas of the airport, all of them filled with bellowing locals. Then security staff stood aside as their coach was pelted with eggs. "It was a good welcome," said Tim Howard. "It was kind of fun. We don't always have that reception. It's cool."
posted by ersatz at 10:55 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]


Thanks for that article.

I was starting to forget precisely how much I loathe Luis Suarez.
posted by Tevin at 10:59 AM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


This is a football match folks not a dark political agenda asserting dominance with the heel of a boot on some poor third world banana republic.

The funniest chant yet in this campaign was in Seattle against Panama back in June, "We bring the noise, We bring the rukus. USA aint nuthin to fuck with." youtube linky
posted by vozworth at 11:00 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]


"We bring the noise, We bring the rukus. USA aint nuthin to fuck with."

Definitely got chanted in Baltimore when I was at the game there.
posted by josher71 at 11:02 AM on September 11, 2013


Other countries' football cheers are all about social and economic justice, if I understand foreignese correctly.
posted by Mister_A at 11:20 AM on September 11, 2013 [13 favorites]


It's a chant. I don't see subtlety being necessary.

Maybe not subtlety, but I certainly place a high premium on creativity when it comes to chants. And on surrealism to a degree, but that kinda comes with being a Minnesotan soccer fan.
posted by nickmark at 11:22 AM on September 11, 2013


To be fair, the people I have known in supporters groups (American Outlaws) have cared much more about beating the other team on the pitch far more than proving some sort of cultural superiority.

To be sure! I know I didn't mean to imply that I thought fans of the team are using the sport as a stand-in for political means. Fans are there to have a good time: drink, cheer, chant, drink, etc. Loads of fun. It just to those of us watching on TV without the benefit of the booze and camaraderie and what-have-you that it makes some of us uncomfortable.

But by all means, keep at it! One of the ways that fans of other national teams will begin to respect the US soccer program is if the fans demonstrate knowledge of how soccer fans are supposed to act in support of their team. If our fans were all like "whoo!" and "woot!" with no chanting, drumming, and other outlandishness, then no one would take what was happening on the pitch seriously at all.

But maybe there's something better than USA! USA! USA!?
posted by bfootdav at 11:23 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


In most countries the football fans just sing This Is My Song:

This is my song, oh God of all the nations,
a song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
but other hearts in other lands are beating
with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on clover leaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
This is my song, thou God of all the nations;
a song of peace for their land and for mine.

posted by Area Man at 11:26 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]


Maybe not subtlety, but I certainly place a high premium on creativity when it comes to chants. And on surrealism to a degree, but that kinda comes with being a Minnesotan soccer fan.

So, lots of Yellow Submarine is what you would prefer? Also, more sea monsters?
posted by Area Man at 11:26 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


But maybe there's something better than USA! USA! USA!?

Be the change you wish to see in the world.
posted by josher71 at 11:27 AM on September 11, 2013


I honestly can't tell which comments are sarcastic trolls, and which are honest complaints that people who support a certain sports team vocalize said team's name during the competition.
posted by sideshow at 11:30 AM on September 11, 2013 [5 favorites]




So, lots of Yellow Submarine is what you would prefer? Also, more sea monsters?

Hey, this is MetaFilter - cool it with the in-jokes.
posted by nickmark at 11:34 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


In most countries the football fans just sing This Is My Song Seven Nation Army.
posted by asterix at 12:00 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


Club over country, every time. I'll root for the US, half-heartedly, and I'll jump up and down if we go far into the World Cup, but I won't cry like I will for my Sounders or my Spurs (Tottenham, not San Antonio).

The problem with the USA is that, while they have Sounders (Dempsey, Johnson, Evans) they also have horrorshows like Donovan and Beckerman, who are my arch-enemies.

I think if I'm going to root for anyone, it's going to be Belgium: Verthongen, Dembélé, Chadli, plus attractive opponents like Mignolet, Mirallas, Fellaini, Kompany, even Hazard and Vermaelen don't set off alarms like a guy like Beckerman does. That's a really, really strong squad. Though I'll also pull hard for almost any African country, just on general principles. And Colombia (who I think might actually win the thing). Lots of countries, really.

WHAT ARE YOU HIDING IN THOSE DREDS, KYLE!?

Bedbugs? Termites? [shudder].
posted by Fnarf at 12:03 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


I don't mind U.S.A. chants at all, but did anyone else think the game-specific "Land of the Free" scarves last night were a bit weird? I hope our fans do treat them as game-specific and we've seen the end of them.
posted by CheeseLouise at 12:06 PM on September 11, 2013


The rise of winking-but-also-sincere nationalism among a certain segment of young Americans is fascinating. I work and am friends with guys who say "Murrica!" and I know that they mean it on one level but don't want to seem like someone who would say it totally without irony, and the whole thing is complicated and also brought pants like this into the world. I guess it's post-post-ironic patriotism?
posted by Copronymus at 12:06 PM on September 11, 2013


I wouldn't find chanting the name of your country to be uncommon, i just think people generally dislike americans displaying any sort of nationalism by this point.

The US in a world cup semifinal? lol.
posted by palbo at 12:10 PM on September 11, 2013


I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air,
They fly so high,
Nearly reach the sky,
Then like my dreams,
They fade and die.
Fortune's always hiding,
I've looked everywhere,
I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.

posted by bdz at 12:23 PM on September 11, 2013


One of the ways that fans of other national teams will begin to respect the US soccer program is if the fans demonstrate knowledge of how soccer fans are supposed to act in support of their team

From what I can see, in other nations, you are supposed to be extremely violent to the other team's supporters, and there's bonus points for being a neo-nazi or directly supported by a criminal organization.
posted by eriko at 12:41 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Maybe not subtlety, but I certainly place a high premium on creativity when it comes to chants.

2-4-6-8. Brown has prostitutes. (Cornell Hockey, 1986. Represent.)
posted by The Bellman at 12:43 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


I don't mind U.S.A. chants at all, but did anyone else think the game-specific "Land of the Free" scarves last night were a bit weird?

Not to mention poorly proofread
posted by Otis at 12:46 PM on September 11, 2013


Other countries' football cheers are all about social and economic justice, if I understand foreignese correctly.

Yeah, the English mostly chant about military victories ("one world cup and two world wars", "10 German Bombers" and the Dambusters theme to the Germans; "if it weren't for the English you'd be Krauts" to everyone else in Europe); the Irish ("no surrender to the IRA"); and the delightful "I'd rather be a Paki than a [name of person from country you're playing]. I've seen Italian crowds with "IRA" banners when they played England, the Dutch at least have the moral high ground when they chant "give us back our bicycles" at the Germans (reference to German soldiers fleeing on stolen Dutch bikes).

Then you get to the club level where things get really nasty.

Americans chanting "USA, USA" seems pretty much unproblematic from where I'm standing.
posted by Infinite Jest at 12:47 PM on September 11, 2013 [5 favorites]


So it doesn't squick me out, personally, to cheer USA! USA! USA!

The reason USA is chanted is because our gear often has USA written as the team name, because "United States Of America" is too long", and it's easy to chant.

Plus, the first big time anyone heard it was the "Do You Believe In Miracles?" hockey game, and that moment sort of stuck in people's minds.
posted by eriko at 12:48 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Yeah, the English mostly chant about military victories

You forgot "Who ate all the pies?"
posted by eriko at 12:49 PM on September 11, 2013


The whole reason to follow international soccer is to get the high of patriotism and jingoism without the need for actual warfare ime. Sort of like those electronic cigarettes.
posted by rollick at 12:54 PM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]


I don't mind U.S.A. chants at all, but did anyone else think the game-specific "Land of the Free" scarves last night were a bit weird?

Many football fans outside of the U.S. believe they live in the lands of the oppressed. They hate us for our freedom. So seeing that slogan on the scarves can sting.
posted by Area Man at 12:57 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


Country before club here. And, I'm surprising myself right now on how vehement I'm feeling about the sentiment.
posted by josher71 at 1:22 PM on September 11, 2013


I agree with Plaschke: Champagne is for champions. Qualifying for the World Cup is expected for the USMNT at this point. Act like you've done it before.

That being said, I'll be cheering for them.
posted by ob1quixote at 2:04 PM on September 11, 2013


It's the United States national team. It's a sports team. You cheer your team's name, and in the States, often identify with the team, so .... I find nothing wrong at all with chanting USA USA USA, or making some kind of "we" reference.
posted by Atreides at 2:24 PM on September 11, 2013


Qualifying for the World Cup is expected for the USMNT at this point.

Via Twitter: "#USMNT's streak of 7 straight World Cups is longer than any streak England, France or Netherlands have ever had."

His timeline addresses many of the default responses about CONCACAF. Just saying, don't ever take it for granted.
posted by inigo2 at 3:15 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Compared to Premier League chants, USA! USA! seems chaste and unimaginative. Perhaps we just need to sit down and write some proper substitutes, e.g., for USA v. England:

One-One to the USA
One-One to the USA
One-One to the USA
We thank you Robert Green.


Also, I urge you all to read the best World Cup-related MeFi comment ever made in the 2010 World Cup thread about the USA by Errant re: the Chileans.
posted by Dr. Zira at 4:08 PM on September 11, 2013


The US in a world cup semifinal? lol.

Ok, I'm getting sick of this shit. Except for Oliver Kahn transforming into the Ubermensch and Torsten Frings handballing off the line without penalty and sending-off, the US would probably have already made a World Cup semifinal in 2002, because they were by far the better team; Landon Donovan by himself outshot the entire German offense. 16 non-host nations have made a quarterfinal appearance since 2002. Only 5 of them have done so more than once: England, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Argentina (and only Brazil have made the quarterfinals in those three tournaments running). Of the remaining 11, the teams with better records of qualification and advancement than the US are Italy, France, and the Netherlands. Portugal has not qualified nearly as often but they did make the semifinals two tournaments ago and UEFA is harder to qualify out of, so I'll call that a toss-up.

That puts the US somewhere in the bottom end of the top 10-12 performers at the World Cup over the last three tournaments, if you're going by data and not anecdotal bias or how good a team looks on paper. A quarterfinal berth is the expected target for a nation in that tier, and once in the quarterfinals, all it takes is one win to make it to the semifinals. I'm not going to say that's definitely going to happen, but it's very far from an out-of-hand dismissal.
posted by Errant at 4:10 PM on September 11, 2013 [8 favorites]


Compared to Premier League chants, USA! USA! seems chaste and unimaginative.

Just to be clear, the American Outlaws (main US supporter group) have a ton of different chants that are done throughout games. Despite what people in this thread seem to think, it's not just "USA USA" for 90 straight minutes.
posted by inigo2 at 4:12 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


Also, I urge you all to read the best World Cup-related MeFi comment ever made in the 2010 World Cup thread about the USA by Errant re: the Chileans.

Heh, and they're almost certainly going to be there again. I've got my woad and mushrooms all ready.
posted by Errant at 4:13 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Just to be clear, the American Outlaws (main US supporter group) have a ton of different chants that are done throughout games. Despite what people in this thread seem to think, it's not just "USA USA" for 90 straight minutes.

Indeed.
posted by Dr. Zira at 4:20 PM on September 11, 2013


I've got my woad and mushrooms all ready.

Unfortunately Chile's out-and-out attacking in '10 was down to their coach, who's since left. They're still fun to watch, though, particularly Vidal.
posted by asterix at 4:53 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


"Superpower, Superpower, USA!" is a particularly obnoxious chant.
posted by Area Man at 5:19 PM on September 11, 2013


Oh, for sure, Marcelo Bielsa is my spirit animal, and Bilbao have been a lot of fun under him. But I don't think all the singleminded savagery went with him, if Chile's standings this qualification round are any indication.
posted by Errant at 5:43 PM on September 11, 2013


Where is Bielsa going to next?
posted by Fnarf at 5:56 PM on September 11, 2013


I'm not going to say that's definitely going to happen, but it's very far from an out-of-hand dismissal.

And Argentina haven't been to a semifinal in like 20 years, England probably since '66, etc. which doesn't prevent the respective peoples to believe they'll surely win it this time and whatever, but if you counter the sort of big-team snobbery that i displayed in my teasing comment with data and rationality, then well, i'm afraid i can't take your (and by logical extension, the entire USA's) football pedigree seriously, sorry.
posted by palbo at 6:11 PM on September 11, 2013


There are plenty of sports in which the U.S. are underdogs. Join me in becoming a fan of World Cup cross-country ski racing! Norway ("the red army") dominates and its flag-waving fans are fanatic.

That's true, but I can still never see the US as underdogs in anything ever. Even if their rugby team was playing the All Blacks. As soon as I see the stars and stripes, it's over. It represents too much wealth and power.
posted by Greener Backyards at 6:18 PM on September 11, 2013


TEAM FREAGLES.
We can make this happen.
posted by Dr. Zira at 6:41 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Indeed.

Wow. Other than the Tim Howard one, those frankly SUCK. "Dos et cero!" is far better.

However, the Tim Howard one is freaking beautiful. It's up there with Portland's "Build a bonfire" or Sheffield United's "Greasy Chip Butty." But the rest? Lame, lame sauce, lame sprinkles, and a side of lame.
posted by eriko at 7:01 PM on September 11, 2013


"Superpower, Superpower, USA!" is a particularly obnoxious chant.

Yeah. In other football, I wanted to start a chant, to "He's got the whole world in his hands..." every time Smokin' Jay Cutler was sacked last year.

He's got a linebacker on his head
He's got a linebacker on his head
He's got a linebacker on his head
He's got a linebacker on his head
First and twenty! (repeat)

posted by eriko at 7:07 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Cornell Hockey, 1986. Represent.

ESS EYE EEE VEE EYE SEIVE SEIVE SEIVE!

Of course being the kind of person I am, the chant I always remember is...

COSINE SECANT TANGENT SINE!

anybody?
posted by eriko at 7:14 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


England probably since '66,

1990? Why, yes, England may have failed to qualify for the next World Cup. They're talented like that.
posted by hoyland at 7:22 PM on September 11, 2013


Most of the calls for Bielsa seem to be back on the national stage. There's an editorial suggesting him as a replacement for Trappatoni if Ireland don't qualify, which now seems fairly likely, but that's probably wishful thinking. Same for Australia. He's never coached an English-speaking team, and I don't really see him starting now. His move to Bilbao was surprising to me, but in hindsight makes a lot of sense: both Chile and Bilbao have a strong "national" identity which plays into his holistic aesthetic. My guess is that he'll probably look for something similar. I heard Peru floated as an idea the other day, either at country or club level, and that's kind of an interesting idea.

Wow. Other than the Tim Howard one, those frankly SUCK.

A few of those chants are revisions of Sounders chants, and yeah, they're not great. The Sounders version of "We Are Here" is better, shot through with references to supporter history and tagged with an unofficial fourth "fuck you" verse, which I believe AO uses as well.
posted by Errant at 7:42 PM on September 11, 2013


Wow. Other than the Tim Howard one, those frankly SUCK. "Dos et cero!" is far better.

On the bright side, Arsenal supporters will already know "USA 'til I die" so there's that.
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:50 PM on September 11, 2013


A few of those chants are revisions of Sounders chants, and yeah, they're not great.

Why is that everything I hear about the Sounders sucks, and everything I hear about the Timbers is great?

I just might have to join the Timbers Army, given that there's *NO MLS TEAM IN CHICAGO*.

Seriously. They're in Bridgeview. I don't want to drive to a match. That would interfere with beer.
posted by eriko at 7:53 PM on September 11, 2013


On the bright side, Arsenal supporters will already know "USA 'til I die" so there's that.

I so want to win the World Cup, and win it against Germany, just so we can sing "Two World Wars and One World Cup" too.
posted by eriko at 7:53 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Oh, you mistake me. The Sounders versions are fine. The AO revisions are subpar. Everything about the Timbers is awful and stupid. Try and guess where I live.
posted by Errant at 8:13 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


COSINE SECANT TANGENT SINE

THREE POINT ONE FOUR ONE FIVE NINE


(That chant is from memory, btw. I remember it from an SI article in about 1990.)
posted by grubi at 8:13 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Wow. Other than the Tim Howard one, those frankly SUCK.

That one I thought might actually be a little over the line. Is the 'screw you' a reference to the fact that Howard has Tourette's, or am I missing some other connotation?
posted by deadmessenger at 8:19 PM on September 11, 2013


Try and guess where I live.

Downstate Illinois.

Dude. Chainsaw. That's effing AWESOME in all ways.
posted by eriko at 8:19 PM on September 11, 2013


That chant is from memory, btw.

A winner is you.
posted by eriko at 8:20 PM on September 11, 2013


I know, the best part about the chainsaw is when they don't get to use it and the dude just has to stand there holding it for two hours. It's pretty great, I agree.

That one I thought might actually be a little over the line. Is the 'screw you' a reference to the fact that Howard has Tourette's, or am I missing some other connotation?

No, that's pretty much it, and they don't exactly say "screw you" either. My favorite one of those is after Andy Goram, arguably Rangers' best ever goalkeeper, was reported to have been diagnosed with a mild form of schizophrenia, the Rangers fans started chanting, "Two Andy Gorams, there's only two Andy Gorams." Which is medically inaccurate and fucking hilarious.
posted by Errant at 8:43 PM on September 11, 2013


Oh, and Costa Rica, cheaters never prosper.

Jeesh. That clears out any residual guilt I felt about the Snow Game.
posted by A dead Quaker at 9:16 PM on September 11, 2013


In related news, USA jumps six places to #13 in the latest FIFA world rankings. And, oh dear, England drops three places to #21.
posted by zakur at 8:25 AM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


There's a kind of irony in the fact that hosting the World Cup means you're going to go down in the world rankings, because you're not going to be playing far fewer "important" (i.e. competitive) matches, so there just aren't very many ranking points available to you.
posted by Errant at 9:55 AM on September 12, 2013


zakur: "In related news, USA jumps six places to #13 in the latest FIFA world rankings. And, oh dear, England drops three places to #21."

If you prefer the Elo, it has the US at #15.

Quickly comparing the two top 15s, here are the FIFA and Elo ratings, in the same table. As you can see, a lot of the same teams show up in both, but the Elo notably still has England in the top 15, and includes Sweden, which FIFA has at 22 (!). As well, FIFA has Greece, whereas Elo has them at 20, which is woefully inaccurate (IMO).

In the FIFA column, I've italicized teams that are ahead of the US in both FIFA and Elo rankings.
    FIFA	Elo
1.  Spain	Spain
2.  Argentina	Brazil
3.  Germany	Germany
4.  Italy	Argentina
5.  Colombia	Netherlands
6.  Belgium	England
7.  Uruguay	Italy
8.  Brazil	Uruguay
9.  Netherlands	Portugal
10. Croatia	Colombia
11. Portugal	Sweden
12. Greece	Chile
13. USA		Croatia
14. Switzerland	France
15. Russia	USA
Personally, I tend to subscribe to whichever ranking system has us rated less favorably, on general principles. That aside, whatever your bias, the US is being assessed by both ranking systems as one of the top 15 international teams.

The keys are Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore. With Bradley healthy and Altidore eligible, the US can legitimately claim to be a contender for the semifinals.

And I think it's absolutely fair to consider the US a dark-horse contender for the whole shooting match.
posted by scrump at 9:56 AM on September 12, 2013


I'd argue that the reinvention of DaMarcus Beasley at left-back has been a major contribution, and definitely one I don't think a lot of people saw coming. Eddie Johnson finding form again hasn't hurt either. I'm not sure I'm willing to say Altidore is the key yet -- I've thought that before and been burned, because he does have a habit of not showing up when it matters -- but there's no question that Michael Bradley is the most integral player on the team.

And, in other news, the fairytale of Cape Verde is over, as they've been thrown out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player against Tunisia.
posted by Errant at 10:17 AM on September 12, 2013


Errant: And, in other news, the fairytale of Cape Verde is over, as they've been thrown out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player against Tunisia.

Aww, man.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:21 AM on September 12, 2013


And the new head coach for Mexico is Victor Manuel Vucetich, most recently of Monterrey where he won 3 CONCACAF Champions League titles in a row.
posted by Errant at 10:54 AM on September 12, 2013


As well, FIFA has Greece, whereas Elo has them at 20, which is woefully inaccurate (IMO).

Basically, Greece have been good at getting (often excruciating) wins at qualifying games against mediocre teams and the ranking reflects that though I'd hardly call us the 12th best team in the world. The 12th most consistent team is more like it.
posted by ersatz at 1:34 PM on September 12, 2013


Errant: "DaMarcus Beasley at left-back has been a major contribution"

I have to say that I have real problems with DMB even getting playing time at this point, and I know that's heretical, but there you are.

There's something to be said for history and past experience, but there's also something to be said about delivering when it counts, and DMB is simply not performing when it counts. He's slow, his field sense seems to have corroded, and his defensive skills are...lacking.

Both DMB and EJ, frankly, could benefit from showing a bit of the same fire in the belly that Donovan's been showing. I don't know that there's any force outside God himself who can force EJ to actually run when he's not directly involved in a play, but maybe having to fight for his life will spark something in DMB.

Of course, keep in mind that I've never forgiven Oguchi Onyewu for giving up the foul against Ghana that led to the PK goal, so it's not like I'm the most measured observer of the team.
posted by scrump at 2:03 PM on September 12, 2013


Errant: "And, in other news, the fairytale of Cape Verde is over, as they've been thrown out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player against Tunisia."

So what you're saying is that things got a little...

<SUNGLASSES>

Fly-by-night in Tunisia?

</SUNGLASSES>

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAH i'm sorry
posted by scrump at 2:08 PM on September 12, 2013


There's something to be said for history and past experience, but there's also something to be said about delivering when it counts, and DMB is simply not performing when it counts. He's slow, his field sense seems to have corroded, and his defensive skills are...lacking.

Eh, that would bother me more in a different formation than Klinsmann's 4-2-3-1, where using the fullbacks as lopsided wingbacks with the defensive midfielders covering helps to overload the opposition defense. As for slow...I don't see that, at all. He made a number of excellent runs into space on Tuesday, as well as pressing high up the field and presenting the rear midfield with extra options. I'm not saying he's the most natural defender in the entire world, but I think I have basically the opposite opinion from you.

Both DMB and EJ, frankly, could benefit from showing a bit of the same fire in the belly that Donovan's been showing. I don't know that there's any force outside God himself who can force EJ to actually run when he's not directly involved in a play, but maybe having to fight for his life will spark something in DMB.

Respectfully, I would argue that it already has. He barely played for the national team between 2009 and 2013. Then Klinsmann tried him out at left-back, and he started doing very well. Then he captained the (B-side, to be sure) national team to a Gold Cup victory. Then he's started every or almost every WCQ match. In the 2013 competitive calendar year, the US defense has let in 13 goals in 14 games. Less than a goal a game is really quite good, and DMB's been a big part of that defense this year. I don't think it's accurate to say that he's been lacking defensively, not delivering, or not up for it.

As for EJ, sure, I live in Seattle, I know how lazy everyone thinks he is. I believe that in 9 competitive appearances this year, he has 5 goals and 2 assists, and that the US with him in the side is posting around 2.8 goals per game. With production close to a goal a game and the kind of impact he can make either starting or subbing, I don't really care if he sits in a lawn chair for most of the match.

Of course, keep in mind that I've never forgiven Oguchi Onyewu for giving up the foul against Ghana that led to the PK goal, so it's not like I'm the most measured observer of the team.

I don't think it was a foul to begin with, and I blame Bocanegra for fluffing his relatively easy clearance so badly that the ball got popped back into his penalty area for the decision to get made. But don't take that as a defense of Gooch, who I dislike immensely.
posted by Errant at 3:49 PM on September 12, 2013


Errant: "Eh, that would bother me more in a different formation than Klinsmann's 4-2-3-1, where using the fullbacks as lopsided wingbacks with the defensive midfielders covering helps to overload the opposition defense. As for slow...I don't see that, at all. He made a number of excellent runs into space on Tuesday, as well as pressing high up the field and presenting the rear midfield with extra options. I'm not saying he's the most natural defender in the entire world, but I think I have basically the opposite opinion from you."

DMB is by far less of a problem than the unholy clusterfuck on the center-right side, so I'll try to keep an open mind. You're probably right on the merits. I may also be suffering from seeing DMB try to basically carry the entire backline, which would be hard if not impossible for anyone.

What I don't know is what the hell we're going to do to shore up the right side, because, ye gods. That, more than anything else for the USMNT, is what gives me nightmares. We were marginally better against Mexico, but we're going to get cut to pieces if we try that shit in the group rounds.
posted by scrump at 4:54 PM on September 12, 2013


Well, I like Brad Evans at right-back more than Fabian Johnson, but let's be honest, without Bradley or Geoff Cameron really stepping up like he did against Panama, we're going to struggle against most any team with a strong left winger, which is basically every team that's better than us.
posted by Errant at 5:31 PM on September 12, 2013


BIONIC STEVE CHERUNDOLO TO THE RES oh who am I kidding
posted by scrump at 6:30 PM on September 12, 2013


Haha. I thought he had a pretty good tournament last time around. But, yeah, no. We've never really been great at the full-back positions, maybe because for a long time in the late 70s to the early 90s, the American style was usually a 3-3-4 or a 3-4-3 through all of youth soccer. Because defending is boring, or so the story goes.
posted by Errant at 7:09 PM on September 12, 2013


Cameron has been getting a lot of playing time at right back for Stoke and has looked more and more comfortable there even though he is a converted center back. I like him there better than the other current options.
posted by josher71 at 6:42 AM on September 13, 2013


Because defending is boring, or so the story goes.
Tell me about it. I lost one of my best defenders this year because of that attitude. I trained this kid with speed and power into one of the best center backs in his age group, but his dad thinks he should be a "Star" - a goal-scoring striker - so he took him to another team.

He started and played nearly every minute of every game for us last year. Now he's sitting the bench with his new team. When will parents ever learn? :sigh:
posted by zakur at 7:28 AM on September 13, 2013


zakur, if you run into them again, you can tell them that the best player in my or any nearby hometown played forward through high school and college, but once he got drafted 2nd overall into the MLS he spent ten fruitful years as a defender, and is now the head coach of the Revolution. He did lose the title by missing a penalty once, though, so swings and roundabouts.
posted by Errant at 9:34 AM on September 13, 2013


Investigation concerning the dive by Joel Campbell during the away WCQ in Costa Rica which caused Bessler to miss the Mexico game.

I believe there are also additional complaints about booing during the US anthem, failing to supply game balls, and other 'unsportsmanlike gamesmanship' that occurred prior to the CR match.

:dons tinfoil sombrero: I think this investigation results in a behind closed doors match between Mexico and Costa Rica for the Ticos last home game qualifier on October 15th. Advantage El Tri? There are powerful forces at work to get Mexico to Brazil.
posted by vozworth at 12:45 PM on September 13, 2013


There's no way that results in a closed-doors match. No way.

Actually, no, there's all kinds of ways, let me rephrase. There's no way that should result in a closed-door match. Here's what I'm looking forward to: the US paying tribute to their fans by picking 46 of them out of a hat to play in the next two games. Let's give Mexico the best possible chance to enjoy the World Cup from the comfort of their living rooms.
posted by Errant at 1:07 PM on September 13, 2013


No, because there is still a small chance (very very small, true) that if the US rocks their next few games and a few choice teams lose, then the US end up top 8 in FIFA rankings, which then helps with the World Cup group draw. (Up until the time FIFA changes how the group draw is done in order to help out the teams they want to.)

(Yes, very very very small chance. But a chance nonetheless.)
posted by inigo2 at 1:41 PM on September 13, 2013


Costa Rica Facing Sanctions as FIFA Investigates Actions During Qualifier vs. USMNT, Daniel Karell, Soccer by Ives, 13 September 2013
posted by ob1quixote at 5:24 PM on September 13, 2013


The ruling will come down on sanctions in the next 72 hours.

My guess:
1. Joel Campbell three game suspension for international matches.
2. Behind closed doors match against Mexico in October.
3. Mexican officiating crew for US/CR match get lifetime ban for international matches.

I was really pissed about the CR match, and I almost FPP'd an Olberman piece. I think it fits right here.
posted by vozworth at 7:08 PM on September 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


FIFA warning no sanctions or punishment. I'm glad I was wrong.
posted by vozworth at 9:17 AM on October 3, 2013 [1 favorite]


« Older Like a Prickly, Grouchy, Floating Bath Toy   |   (guitar noise) weeEEE-WEEeeoo (/guitar noise) Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments