04/23/24
April 02, 2009
El Tri dump Sven: After his charges lost again, 3-1 to Honduras, and his team sitting fourth of six in WC2010 qualifying Sven Goren Eriksson was given walking papers today by the FMF. Mexico have some decent players who also missed lots of playing time to injuries and suspensions in his 10 months as boss, so is this a panic by the federation or was SGE just unable to connect with the team?
posted by billsaysthis to soccer at 05:37 PM - 14 comments
... and Maradona and Argentina get plastered (6-1) by Bolivia ... BOLIVIA???
posted by jjzucal at 06:13 PM on April 02, 2009
Sven's strongest claim to being a good international manager was that he took the trauma out of England's qualification. He seems to have merely added it to Mexico's.
FIFA's gift of 3.5 qualification places to a weak confederation like CONCACAF is so that the USA and Mexico always get through. There's still plenty of games to go, but who'd want to be the first Mexico manager to fail to qualify?
posted by owlhouse at 06:32 PM on April 02, 2009
What's funny about Argentina losing, other than Argentina losing, is that Maradona was a big supporter of Bolivia's right to play home matches at the ridiculous elevation of La Paz.
Owlie, FIFA know that long term there is huge money in having USA be in the top rung of the game. And by FIFA I mean the presidents of all the other national FAs, not just Splatterman. Your Socceroos did after all just jump to Asia to improve their chances of making the big tourneys.
posted by billsaysthis at 09:10 PM on April 02, 2009
I knew someone would bite. But I can't remember Oceania or Asia voting for more qualification spots for CONCACAF.
BTW - we moved to Asia to get more top class opposition, not to make it any easier. Otherwise the only time we'd be up against serious opponents would be a WCQ play off every four years. For example, Oceania's top team (New Zealand) only has to beat the fifth placed Asian team for a spot in South Africa.
posted by owlhouse at 10:09 PM on April 02, 2009
Being the top ranked team in the AFC as opposed to being the top ranked team in the OFC makes a huge difference as I see it ... as the top ranked Oceania team, you would have absolutely no room to slip up in qualifying lest New Zealand qualify first. Once you do qualify first, you have a dice roll match with the 5th place Asian team.
While in Asia, all you need to do is finish in the top 4 (or 5th and play in the same dice roll match)
posted by Ricardo at 01:20 AM on April 03, 2009
Ricardo, you're quite correct, but you're not helping me wind up the septics.
/hopes we're drawn in the same group in South Africa.
posted by owlhouse at 07:32 AM on April 03, 2009
you're not helping me wind up the septics
How 'bout you just get us some anti-biotics? I'm sKeptical of your motives.
BOLIVIA???
Take a trip to La Paz and I think your questions would be answered. From here it's straight down Interstate 95 a ways and then a mile and a quarter straight up.
posted by yerfatma at 04:22 PM on April 03, 2009
Learn something new everyday. We're on city sewer, so I don't take it personal or nuthin'. I'd make a joke here about going out to rev my 4x4 and act like a redneck, but you live in Australia.
posted by yerfatma at 05:31 PM on April 03, 2009
1. You know what the Aussies are saying? "See you in South Africa, ha-ha-ha!"
2. Now that Jose Mourinho has a job, might Sven come back to host "I'm on Setanta Sports?"
3. The U.S. will do wonderfully in CONCACAF, then proceed to get bounced after the WC first round.
posted by jjzucal at 06:01 PM on April 03, 2009
It's not Sven's fault! After all he lead England all the way to the World Cup Semi-Fin...
Oh, wait.
Fuck Sven.
posted by Drood at 01:06 AM on April 04, 2009
Have you guys seen the new--but not yet on their website--Jack in the Box TV ad with Jack visiting his brother/relative(?) in prison? That relative so reminds me of the Potato, what do you think?
posted by billsaysthis at 03:14 PM on April 04, 2009
^I recognise the words, but that sentence makes no sense to me.
posted by owlhouse at 07:26 PM on April 04, 2009
Riding Jozy Altidore's hat trick the USA are meanwhile first in the group and look to have some answers to where the goals will come from. Admittedly Trinidad & Tobago are not a serious test and yesterday the American passing was strained at best and the players seemed to go slack after the second goal. Neither of which will be possible at the Confederations Cup this summer or SA2010 next year if we're to have any chance of good finishes.