All the major European leagues finally got going last weekend but World Cup qualifying this weekend and in midweek takes centre stage. The European qualifying competition is the last of the federations to get going but to honest there is little for a neutral fan to get excited about this this weekend.
The most interesting games are in CONMEBOL and CONCACAF.
Argentina vs. Paraguay
Paraguay currently leads South American qualifying with a third of the fixtures complete. They have 13 points, two more than second place Argentina. Paraguay’s one loss to date came away to Bolivia 4-2 in the last round of matches.
On the other hand Argentina racked up full points in their first three games before stumbling in the last three. Over that period Argentina have lost 2-1 to Colombia, drawn 1-1 against Ecuador and finished scoreless away to Brazil. In 2006 WCQ Paraguay drew this game 0-0 and beat Argentina 1-0 in the return.
A lot has been made of Argentina’s second straight Olympic gold including a number of articles on how it sets Argentina up for the 2010 World Cup. The fact is that there is no modern day correlation between Olympic and World Cup success – two very different beasts. You have to go back to the first two World Cups (19030 and 1934) to find Uruguay and then Italy hold both titles at the same time.
Chile vs. Brazil
If there is any remotely close to a pick-me-up for Brazil it is a match against Chile. In the countries last five meetings Brazil have won four and drawn one while scoring 19 goals and conceding a single. You have to go back to August 2000 to find the last time Chile beat Brazil – 3-0 that day. However, the countries meet this time with 4th placed Chile a point and a place above Brazil.
Despite two losses in their opening six games (away to Argentina 2-0, and a surprising 3-0 loss in Santiago to Paraguay) there is a feeling that Coach Marcelo Bielsa may have a squad that can push for a top four spot.
On the other side Brazil Coach Carlos Dunga is in a hole and he has not stopped digging. An emphatic loss to Argentina at the Olympics and only two wins in six WCQ matches and there is a strange 2002 WCQ déjà-vu feeling about this campaign.
Colombia vs. Uruguay
If you are looking for goals this game may be the one to watch out for. In the last five games between these two there have been 21 goals. Uruguay are unbeaten in the last four (3 wins and a draw) since losing 5-0 to Colombia in WCQ in June 2004.
So far in CONMEBOL qualifying Uruguay are top scorers with 15 goals in six games, although Colombia boasts the best defensive stats with only 2 goals against. This game is a six-pointer with Colombia currently sitting third with 10 points and Uruguay fourth with 8 points.
Cuba vs. USA
The long-standing political stand-off between these two countries will bring a bit more media attention to this game. The USA’s last trip to Havana came over 60 years ago when they lost 5-2. The US started off WCQ with a great result (winning 1-0 away to Guatemala) and by next week at this time they could have a iron grip on Group 1. They follow this game with a home match against Trinidad and Tobago on September 10. Cuba lost their opener to ####mp;T 3-1 and are badly in need of three points.
Canada vs. Honduras
After a disappointing result in their opener against Jamaica (1-1 home draw) Canada faces Honduras. With Mexico the hot favourite to progress from group 2 there is probably a mini group of Honduras, Canada and Jamaica being played out with any points taken from Mexico a bonus.
Another draw would not bring an end to Canada’s hopes for a trip to South Africa in two year’s time but it would certainly place them firmly behind the eight ball. In order to move on Canada would have to get points off of Mexico and in all likelihood have to win on the road in Honduras and Jamaica.
Canada has a decent record against Honduras in international play 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in last 10 meetings. In WCQ since 1981 Canada has won 3, drawn 3 and lost only 1. Interestingly enough the three draws have all come from very late Honduras equalizers and two have been from the penalty spot.
After this weekend’s play Canada have a trip to Mexico to look forward to next Wednesday while Honduras will play their first home game with Jamaica providing the opposition.
Because of Hurricane Gustav this weekend’s match between Jamaica and Mexico has been moved to Mexico City. This means that Mexico will play their first three games at home while Jamaica will be in the opposite position.
Fulham’s win over Arsenal was no fluke. The Cottagers played high quality football and totally outplayed Arsenal in the midfield.
Stoke City took the lead twice against Aston Villa only to be pegged back each time. But they persevered and got a stoppage time winner from Mamady Sidibe in their first top flight game at home since 1985.
It may not have been pretty but that should not overshadow the fact that the USA got off to a great start to the semi-final round of World Cup qualifying with their first ever competitive win in Guatemala.
The New York Red Bulls are hitting their stride at the right time. A 3-0 win over Houston means that the Red Bulls are now unbeaten at home in their last six home games and have scored nine goals in their last three. Considering that the Houston Dynamo had been rattling up wins and goals the last few weeks it was an impressive outing for the Bulls.
Best forgotten…..
A little over two years ago Chelsea paid Milan a king’s ransom for the services of Andriy Shevchenko. To that point in his career Shevchenko has scored at a rate better than a goal every two games and although he scored on his debut for Chelsea only eight more goals were to follow over the next two seasons. It would be considered a poor return on a striker that cost $6M let alone $60M and no matter which way you look it the move failed miserably. The lesson – no transfer comes with a guarantee of success.
For most nations a bronze medal at the Olympic Games is more than a satisfactory return. But for Brazil’s men's soccer team and the fans back home it is nothing less than abject failure. Brazil has been become overly fixated on winning a men’s soccer gold at the Olympics – the one title that has eluded them over the years. Silver medals in 84 and 88 were followed by a bronze in Atlanta. This time it was another bronze and should Brazil stumble in their next World Cup qualifying match away to Chile in just under two weeks time it will be a coup de grace for coach Carlos Dunga.
Best goals…. There were a slew to choose from this week and here are my picks in no particular order.
Chad Barrett’s equalizer for Toronto against New England Revolution was his 7th goal of the season. It was a thunderous left foot strike that flew past the Revolution’s Doug Warren.
Liverpool’s winner against Boro might also be categorized as crime of the week. Nonetheless Steven Gerrard’s shot right on full time was not only beautifully struck but it was a clutch goal for the home side.
A very cute header from Hull’s Richard Garcia gave the away side a share of the points against Blackburn.
Jakub Blaszczykowski (Kuba to the fans and commentators) sent a swerving right footed drive from the edge of the penalty area into the roof of the Bayern Munich net for Borussia Dortmund.
Goal feast……
Not only goals galore but a few reds as well as Real Madrid beat Valencia 4-2 in the Spanish Super Cup second leg and took the trophy 6-5 on aggregate. When you consider that Real was down 4-2 on aggregate and down to 10-men by half time it was a remarkable result. But remarkable was to become extraordinary.
Ruud van Nistelrooy narrowed the gap to a single goal from the penalty spot only five minutes after the restart but then did his side no favours when he was sent off with 16 minutes to go. Playing nine against eleven and a goal down with a quarter of an hour left Real Madrid then stunned Valencia with three goals before Morientes scored a consolation goal for Valencia.
Sergio Ramos and substitutes Reuben de la Red (another red for Real Madrid?) and Higuaín all scored. It was all amazing stuff and a shot in the arm for Real Madrid who starts their title defense away to Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday. Valencia is at home to Mallorca.
Best Howlers…… A badly misplayed corner by Pat Onstad gifted Jamaica an equalizer in midweek World Cup qualifying against Canada. Onstad who is normally so reliable for Houston punched an Andy Williams corner into his own net shortly after Julian de Guzman has given Canada a one goal lead.
Best Players…. The Fulham midfield of Davies, Bullard, Murphy and Gera was outstanding in Fulham’s 1-0 win over Arsenal.
Elano may have scored twice for Manchester City against West Ham United but it was Stephen Ireland that set both goals up. Ireland was irrepressible in midfield for City as they chalked up a much needed win.
Stat facts Middlesbrough last won at Anfield was on March 6, 1976 with goals from John Hickton and Terry Cooper. Since then Liverpool has won 19 and drawn 6 against Boro at home.
Michael Owen’s headed goal against Bolton was his 19th Premiership goal for Newcastle. Of the nineteen, nine have now come from his head. This is quite a contrast to Owen’s record of only seven headers out of 118 goals during his time with Liverpool in the Premiership.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce might want to be really clear about kick off time when his charges play at Hull next Saturday. In their two games so far Wigan has conceded three goals and they have all come in the first ten minutes.
What was said….
Jonathan Wilson with a remarkable story about Croatia’s Darijo Srna.
Marcela Mora y Araujo on Argentina’s performance at the Olympics.
Steve Tongue on the fall of the FA’s CEO Brian Barwick and the changes that have still to come.
Mike Ticher questions the purpose of the Men’s Olympic soccer tournament.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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