| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Karl |
Posted - Jan 04 2004 : 8:51:28 PM
NORTH/CENTRAL AMERICAS AND CARIBBEAN:
Tough semi-final Group 2 looms
With a long qualifying procedure through the North and Central Americans and Caribbean Zone, the most prominent football powers of the region have been separated until later in the preliminaries. The opening home-and-away contests feature some appealing match-ups however.
The Cayman Islands will be looking for revenge against Cuba, who knocked them out of the last qualifying tournament 4-0 aggregate. Improving side St. Vincent and the Grenadines face a tough trip to Nicaragua, while Canada should have a more straightforward time with Belize in the two direct matches to determine who goes into the next round. Tiny Caribbean island Grenada will face an interesting challenge in Guyana with the winner taking on the United States, while Aruba will make the same trip to the north coast of South America to face Surinam.
Bermuda should earn a date with El Salvador since they will likely prove far too strong for Montserrat, and Haiti will likely meet the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica after being drawn against Turks and Caicos. Antigua and Barbuda will also likely be too good for minnows Netherlands Antilles.
If all goes according to the seedings, Group 1 of the semi-finals will feature the U.S. against El Salvador, Panama and Jamaica, Group 2 will be a feast of footballing talent with Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Canada, while Group 3 might include Mexico, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Nicaragua or St. Vincent. |
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