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.....be a walk in the park for us. For those of you that thought by beating Bahamas 7-0 and 6-0 was something to be proud of well the stakes just got alot higher.
We are in a very, very, tough group in the next round. Our opponents are
Honduras
Mexico
Canada
To me this is the group of death. I bet Simoes is scratching his head rite now.
See Below.....
Home Team Listed First
15:00, Barbados v USA
15:30, Guyana v Suriname
17:00, Cuba v Antigua and Barbuda
18:00, El Salvador v Panama
18:00, Netherlands Antilles v Haiti
19:30, Bermuda v Trinidad and Tobago
Live Updates.
Bermuda vs. Trinidad and Tobago The Bermuda Triangle may be over the National Sports Centre on Sunday. That could spell disaster for Trinidad and Tobago, which could disappear from World Cup qualifying if it cannot overcome Bermuda in the second leg of its World Cup qualifier away in Hamilton on 22 June.
Bermuda holds a 2:1 lead on aggregate after its victory over the Soca Warriors at Macoya, Trinidad, on 15 June. Striker John Barry Nusum scored twice to put the 139th-ranked Atlantic Ocean island nation on the verge of the biggest upset in the preliminary round of qualifying.“When I wheeled around to celebrate the goal, you could hear a pin drop in the ground,” Nusum told FIFA.com about his seventh-minute goal. “That’s just what you want to do too, take the crowd out of it on the road.”
The early goal and the absence of key Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones to injury seemed to affect Trinidad and Tobago, which responded with uninspired play. That, along with the leadership void created by the retirements of Shaka Hislop, Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke, worked to the benefit of the upstart Bermudans. Soca Warriors coach Francisco Maturana will have to regroup his side if he hopes to avoid an early exit from World Cup qualifying – a crushing blow considering the nation’s qualification for the 2006 World Cup. To do that, he’ll have to figure out a way to stop Nusum and prepare his side to deal with a hostile environment. It won’t be easy for the men from Bermuda and their fans knowing that a win or draw will put them into the semifinal round for the first time since qualifying for USA 1994. “There’s a real buzz! When we got back from Trinidad on Tuesday there were TV cameras and press and friends and family members waiting for us to offer their support,” Nusum said. “It’s a special time here.”
Netherlands Antilles vs. Haiti Netherlands Antilles, the improving island nation, can advance to the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying by beating the defending Caribbean champions in the second leg of its preliminary round series at home in Willemstad on 22 June. Ranked 146th in the world, Netherlands Antilles held Haiti to a scoreless draw in the first leg at the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.
The result was surprise, but not necessarily a shock considering Les Bicolores’ recent slump that has seen it fall hard in the FIFA world ranking in a short time. If No. 113 Haiti hopes to avoid the upset, then it must quickly find the form that helped it capture the 2007 Digicel Caribbean Cup. Netherlands Antilles, which has risen almost 40 spots since the end of 2007, will be buoyed by a home crowd that hopes to witness the nation’s first semifinal round berth since the qualification campaign for the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
Guyana vs Surinam For the Golden Jaguars of Guyana there is everything to play for in the second-leg of their qualifying battle with Surinam. The two South American countries square off in a World Cup campaign for the first time since 1992 when Surinam squeaked through 3:2 on aggregate after the second-leg in Paramibo. Just as it was 16 years ago, Surinam take a one goal lead into the return match thanks to the solitary strike from Clifton Sandvliet in the first-leg. Neither side have ever made it all the way through the qualifying campaign to the World Cup itself and although there is still a way to go in the overall CONCACAF Qualifying campaign, both sides will be keen to take the next step.
Guyana’s improvement over the last couple of years has not gone unnoticed. The way things have improved over the last few years is simply amazing," said star striker Randolph Jerome, 30. "People don't really know too much about us. I always get asked: 'Is Guyana an island? How do you spell it?' But now, now people are starting to know who we are." The result of Sunday’s second-leg at the National Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana will go a long way to determining whether this progress continues or is temporarily halted by their near neighbors Surinam.
El Salvador vs Panama Panama will take a narrow 1:0 lead to Central American rivals El Salvador. The winning goal for the Panamanians came courtesy of Luis “El Matador” Tejada in the 20th minute of a match marred by the effects of heavy rain not to mention two red cards (one apiece for each team.)
Experienced Panamanian international, Felipe Baloy, is quick to point out that how much his fellow countrymen are getting behind the qualification efforts of the Canaleros. “The whole country is looking forward to it,” said Baloy, “and we the players hope to make history by getting to the World Cup finals for the first time. We know it won’t be easy because El Salvador have a very good Mexican coach, some quality players and plenty of pace. We will have to be bang on form and not approach the game with over-confidence.” El Salvador, on the other hand, have made the World Cup on two previous occasions (1970 and 1982) and are looking to make it all the way back to the big stage. “We are a good team at home,” notes Salvadorian coach Carlos de los Cobos. Sunday will prove, one way or the other, if the coach is correct.
Cuba vs Antigua & Barbuda After a seesaw first-leg encounter at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium that saw Cuba finish on the right side of a seven goal split, Sunday’s return match in Havana is likely to be a similarly closely contested affair. It has been seventy years (almost to the day) since Cuba made their only World Cup Finals appearance to date, losing to Sweden in the second round, and they will need to be at their best to overcome the spirited challenge of their Caribbean Zone rivals Antigua & Barbuda. Cuba’s German coach, Reinhold Fanz, has already set the bar high saying: “I want Cuba to realize a dream by appearing at the World Cup. The coach goes on to add, “Everything's realistic in football. Qualifying will be tough but achievable."
Antigua & Barbuda, meanwhile, let both a 1:0 and a 2:1 lead slip in the first-leg, and will be looking to be more solid defensively should they take the lead in the Cuban capital. For the small Caribbean Nation of two islands and 70,000 people, just making the next stage of the competition would be an immense achievement. Following a first round 4:0 aggregate victory over Aruba in the first round, and the three goals scored in St. John’s, the Antigua & Barbuda will go into the second-leg with the confidence that they can turn the tie around.
United States vs. Barbados Sunday’s match between the United States and Barbados will likely serve as little more than an exercise in formality. Barring a shocking 8-goal Barbados victory, the United States will once again progress to the semi-final group elimination stage of CONCACAF Qualification. In the weeks before the first-leg match, which was played in Carson, California, the United States carried with them an air of caution and respect for their Caribbean counterparts; it was an approach that paid dividends for the USA, as they never looked complacent and took the game to the Bajans from the opening touch.
The first-leg encounter saw the United States breakout of a three game goal draught with a decisive attack and precise finishing. Five different players scored for the United States in what was a historic, 8:0 win for the CONCACAF nation. After training in Miami this week, the United States will travel to Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday looking to put the finishing touches on their impressive Stage 2 start, while seeking to improve upon a 3-0-0 all-time record against the Bajans. USA Head Coach, Bob Bradley, will have the freedom of a relatively stress free approach to Sunday’s match, which will allow him to rest key players, tinker with game tactics and treat the game as a virtual friendly. This could prove priceless down the line, as it is a luxury many of his CONCACAF counterparts will not enjoy.
Next Round
Group A
Guatemala
To be determined today
Trinidad and Tobago/Bermuda - BER lead series (2-1)
USA/Barbados - USA lead series (8-0)
Antigua and Barbuda/Cuba - Cuba lead series (3-4)
Group B
Mexico
Honduras
Canada
Jamaica
Group C
Costa Rica
To be determined today
Suriname/Guyana - SUR lead series (1-0)
Panama/El Salvador - PAN lead series (1-0)
Haiti/Netherlands Antilles - Aggregate tied (0-0)
The 12 Round Two winners will contest Round Three, which consists of three round-robin, home-and-away groups of four teams with matches running from 20 August – 19 November 2008. The top two from each of the three groups will advance to the six-team CONCACAF Final Round scheduled for 11 February - 14 October 2009.
The top three teams from the CONCACAF Final Round in 2009 will automatically qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. CONCACAF's fourth place finisher will play off with CONMEBOL's fifth-place team in a home-and-away series for one of the last berths to the FIFA event.
We are in a very, very, tough group in the next round. Our opponents are
Honduras
Mexico
Canada
To me this is the group of death. I bet Simoes is scratching his head rite now.
See Below.....
Home Team Listed First
15:00, Barbados v USA
15:30, Guyana v Suriname
17:00, Cuba v Antigua and Barbuda
18:00, El Salvador v Panama
18:00, Netherlands Antilles v Haiti
19:30, Bermuda v Trinidad and Tobago
Live Updates.
Bermuda vs. Trinidad and Tobago The Bermuda Triangle may be over the National Sports Centre on Sunday. That could spell disaster for Trinidad and Tobago, which could disappear from World Cup qualifying if it cannot overcome Bermuda in the second leg of its World Cup qualifier away in Hamilton on 22 June.
Bermuda holds a 2:1 lead on aggregate after its victory over the Soca Warriors at Macoya, Trinidad, on 15 June. Striker John Barry Nusum scored twice to put the 139th-ranked Atlantic Ocean island nation on the verge of the biggest upset in the preliminary round of qualifying.“When I wheeled around to celebrate the goal, you could hear a pin drop in the ground,” Nusum told FIFA.com about his seventh-minute goal. “That’s just what you want to do too, take the crowd out of it on the road.”
The early goal and the absence of key Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones to injury seemed to affect Trinidad and Tobago, which responded with uninspired play. That, along with the leadership void created by the retirements of Shaka Hislop, Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke, worked to the benefit of the upstart Bermudans. Soca Warriors coach Francisco Maturana will have to regroup his side if he hopes to avoid an early exit from World Cup qualifying – a crushing blow considering the nation’s qualification for the 2006 World Cup. To do that, he’ll have to figure out a way to stop Nusum and prepare his side to deal with a hostile environment. It won’t be easy for the men from Bermuda and their fans knowing that a win or draw will put them into the semifinal round for the first time since qualifying for USA 1994. “There’s a real buzz! When we got back from Trinidad on Tuesday there were TV cameras and press and friends and family members waiting for us to offer their support,” Nusum said. “It’s a special time here.”
Netherlands Antilles vs. Haiti Netherlands Antilles, the improving island nation, can advance to the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying by beating the defending Caribbean champions in the second leg of its preliminary round series at home in Willemstad on 22 June. Ranked 146th in the world, Netherlands Antilles held Haiti to a scoreless draw in the first leg at the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.
The result was surprise, but not necessarily a shock considering Les Bicolores’ recent slump that has seen it fall hard in the FIFA world ranking in a short time. If No. 113 Haiti hopes to avoid the upset, then it must quickly find the form that helped it capture the 2007 Digicel Caribbean Cup. Netherlands Antilles, which has risen almost 40 spots since the end of 2007, will be buoyed by a home crowd that hopes to witness the nation’s first semifinal round berth since the qualification campaign for the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
Guyana vs Surinam For the Golden Jaguars of Guyana there is everything to play for in the second-leg of their qualifying battle with Surinam. The two South American countries square off in a World Cup campaign for the first time since 1992 when Surinam squeaked through 3:2 on aggregate after the second-leg in Paramibo. Just as it was 16 years ago, Surinam take a one goal lead into the return match thanks to the solitary strike from Clifton Sandvliet in the first-leg. Neither side have ever made it all the way through the qualifying campaign to the World Cup itself and although there is still a way to go in the overall CONCACAF Qualifying campaign, both sides will be keen to take the next step.
Guyana’s improvement over the last couple of years has not gone unnoticed. The way things have improved over the last few years is simply amazing," said star striker Randolph Jerome, 30. "People don't really know too much about us. I always get asked: 'Is Guyana an island? How do you spell it?' But now, now people are starting to know who we are." The result of Sunday’s second-leg at the National Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana will go a long way to determining whether this progress continues or is temporarily halted by their near neighbors Surinam.
El Salvador vs Panama Panama will take a narrow 1:0 lead to Central American rivals El Salvador. The winning goal for the Panamanians came courtesy of Luis “El Matador” Tejada in the 20th minute of a match marred by the effects of heavy rain not to mention two red cards (one apiece for each team.)
Experienced Panamanian international, Felipe Baloy, is quick to point out that how much his fellow countrymen are getting behind the qualification efforts of the Canaleros. “The whole country is looking forward to it,” said Baloy, “and we the players hope to make history by getting to the World Cup finals for the first time. We know it won’t be easy because El Salvador have a very good Mexican coach, some quality players and plenty of pace. We will have to be bang on form and not approach the game with over-confidence.” El Salvador, on the other hand, have made the World Cup on two previous occasions (1970 and 1982) and are looking to make it all the way back to the big stage. “We are a good team at home,” notes Salvadorian coach Carlos de los Cobos. Sunday will prove, one way or the other, if the coach is correct.
Cuba vs Antigua & Barbuda After a seesaw first-leg encounter at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium that saw Cuba finish on the right side of a seven goal split, Sunday’s return match in Havana is likely to be a similarly closely contested affair. It has been seventy years (almost to the day) since Cuba made their only World Cup Finals appearance to date, losing to Sweden in the second round, and they will need to be at their best to overcome the spirited challenge of their Caribbean Zone rivals Antigua & Barbuda. Cuba’s German coach, Reinhold Fanz, has already set the bar high saying: “I want Cuba to realize a dream by appearing at the World Cup. The coach goes on to add, “Everything's realistic in football. Qualifying will be tough but achievable."
Antigua & Barbuda, meanwhile, let both a 1:0 and a 2:1 lead slip in the first-leg, and will be looking to be more solid defensively should they take the lead in the Cuban capital. For the small Caribbean Nation of two islands and 70,000 people, just making the next stage of the competition would be an immense achievement. Following a first round 4:0 aggregate victory over Aruba in the first round, and the three goals scored in St. John’s, the Antigua & Barbuda will go into the second-leg with the confidence that they can turn the tie around.
United States vs. Barbados Sunday’s match between the United States and Barbados will likely serve as little more than an exercise in formality. Barring a shocking 8-goal Barbados victory, the United States will once again progress to the semi-final group elimination stage of CONCACAF Qualification. In the weeks before the first-leg match, which was played in Carson, California, the United States carried with them an air of caution and respect for their Caribbean counterparts; it was an approach that paid dividends for the USA, as they never looked complacent and took the game to the Bajans from the opening touch.
The first-leg encounter saw the United States breakout of a three game goal draught with a decisive attack and precise finishing. Five different players scored for the United States in what was a historic, 8:0 win for the CONCACAF nation. After training in Miami this week, the United States will travel to Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday looking to put the finishing touches on their impressive Stage 2 start, while seeking to improve upon a 3-0-0 all-time record against the Bajans. USA Head Coach, Bob Bradley, will have the freedom of a relatively stress free approach to Sunday’s match, which will allow him to rest key players, tinker with game tactics and treat the game as a virtual friendly. This could prove priceless down the line, as it is a luxury many of his CONCACAF counterparts will not enjoy.
Next Round
Group A
GuatemalaTo be determined today
Trinidad and Tobago/Bermuda - BER lead series (2-1)
USA/Barbados - USA lead series (8-0)
Antigua and Barbuda/Cuba - Cuba lead series (3-4)
Group B
Mexico Honduras Canada JamaicaGroup C
Costa RicaTo be determined today
Suriname/Guyana - SUR lead series (1-0)
Panama/El Salvador - PAN lead series (1-0)
Haiti/Netherlands Antilles - Aggregate tied (0-0)
The 12 Round Two winners will contest Round Three, which consists of three round-robin, home-and-away groups of four teams with matches running from 20 August – 19 November 2008. The top two from each of the three groups will advance to the six-team CONCACAF Final Round scheduled for 11 February - 14 October 2009.
The top three teams from the CONCACAF Final Round in 2009 will automatically qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. CONCACAF's fourth place finisher will play off with CONMEBOL's fifth-place team in a home-and-away series for one of the last berths to the FIFA event.
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