USMNT: The March to Brazil - World Cup 2014

[texasdave]

This is not really related to the World Cup qualifying that is taking place. Where do you think Messi ranks among the all-time greats? If he does at all? I am not familiar enough with the sport to have any clue. Each time I watch him on television he seems a cut above the players around him.

[Red Heeler]

Unfortunately, thanks to the wonders of the DVR, I watched Barca vs Real Madrid immediately prior to watching this match. What a drop off in quality of play.

The strategy of the CONCACAF against the US seems to be: play on the smallest, crappiest field you can get away with. The US lacks quality of passing and first touch.

[5TimeWSChamps]

http://m.mlssoccer.com/blog/post/201...layed-columbus

HELL. YES.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

http://m.mlssoccer.com/blog/post/201...layed-columbus

HELL. YES.

I'm shocked it isn't at the Rose Bowl

[WMR]

I'LL BE THERE.

[WMR]

I've been there for 01, 05, and 09 vs Mexico...

I think I've seen the USMNT play like 12 times now or something.

[5TimeWSChamps]

I'll be there also. Cannot wait

[WMR]

Getting two WCQ's at the same host site in a single cycle is something you almost never see.

Columbus really is probably the only spot in the USA where we can have a home field advantage versus El Tri.

[Caveat Emperor]

In Ohio, of all places.

[bucksfan2]

Just throwing this out there. Every other country uses their home field advantage to the tee. When US lost to Honduras they played on a terrible field in a dangerous city in high humidity. Mexico plays most of their big games in elevation at Estadio Azteca. Why doesn't the US do that? They have one of the biggest advantages in the world being able to train in altitude (Denver) while also playing in high humidity (Florida) but they really don't use that to their advantage. If I were them I would play every game in Denver (or Salt Lake) and then against Mexico I would bring them to New England or the Pacific North West.

[Hoosier Red]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

Just throwing this out there. Every other country uses their home field advantage to the tee. When US lost to Honduras they played on a terrible field in a dangerous city in high humidity. Mexico plays most of their big games in elevation at Estadio Azteca. Why doesn't the US do that? They have one of the biggest advantages in the world being able to train in altitude (Denver) while also playing in high humidity (Florida) but they really don't use that to their advantage. If I were them I would play every game in Denver (or Salt Lake) and then against Mexico I would bring them to New England or the Pacific North West.

I think in general, the US feels like they should qualify without resorting to such tactics, and that it's more important to spread the games around the country in order to grow it. I think we have seen them move away from playing a lot of home games in big cities like New York, LA, and Chicago in order to keep from putting the game where there are likely to be a lot of opposing fans.

[Tony Cloninger]

Originally Posted by Hoosier Red

I think in general, the US feels like they should qualify without resorting to such tactics, and that it's more important to spread the games around the country in order to grow it. I think we have seen them move away from playing a lot of home games in big cities like New York, LA, and Chicago in order to keep from putting the game where there are likely to be a lot of opposing fans.

Which is why the joke of the SA WCQ...by allowing for Bolivia and Ecuador to play in really high altitudes, makes it criminal to me. Ecuador is always either Top 3...or in the race only based on their home field advantage and Bolivia would probably not get a point if it had to play at normal levels.

[Yachtzee]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

Just throwing this out there. Every other country uses their home field advantage to the tee. When US lost to Honduras they played on a terrible field in a dangerous city in high humidity. Mexico plays most of their big games in elevation at Estadio Azteca. Why doesn't the US do that? They have one of the biggest advantages in the world being able to train in altitude (Denver) while also playing in high humidity (Florida) but they really don't use that to their advantage. If I were them I would play every game in Denver (or Salt Lake) and then against Mexico I would bring them to New England or the Pacific North West.

Because playing games at altitude doesn't really help when many of the Central American teams also play at altitude. Really the best bet is to play the most important games in cities where you know you'll have a home field advantage regardless of weather conditions. Of course, weather doesn't hurt, as the USMNT made Mexico play in Columbus in February the last WCQ cycle. Playing Mexico in large cities on the coasts or in the South just takes away the home field advantage because they have larger populations of Mexican descent. I say, keep playing Mexico in Columbus and keep those 2-0 scorelines coming.

[Caveat Emperor]

http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/s...world-cup-2013

This article is long, but it's a pretty harsh look at Klinsmann's methods and strategy (or, if you believe the unnamed sources being quoted, complete lack thereof).

[reds1869]

Well that was fun.

http://espnfc.com/video/espnfc/video?id=intl:1385189