2010 World Cup Qualifying

[AndrewPF]

I was a wreck after the game today, I was so confident we'd pull it out. I really REALLY want a victory in :censored:ing Port of Spain. Don't ask me why, but for personal reasons I need us to beat the crap out of the Soca Warriors. I'd like that a lot.

[-kj]

It definitely wasn't just the players they were throwing things at. I was in the US supporters' section at Azteca for the game. It was insane.

[AndrewPF]

It definitely wasn't just the players they were throwing things at. I was in the US supporters' section at Azteca for the game. It was insane.

Did Security have to help the US supporters exit at field level? I've read about that being done at Azteca before.

[Breakwood]

It definitely wasn't just the players they were throwing things at. I was in the US supporters' section at Azteca for the game. It was insane.

Fences have never stopped Mexicans before, why would they stop them now

[-kj]

I posted this over in the photogs thread in the lounge, but I'll go ahead and cross-post it here.

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I was in the first group of gringos to arrive at the stadium around noon; there were probably about sixty or so of us who met up in Zona Rosa (our Minnesota group is staying near the Zócalo) and took the metro and light rail to the stadium. After milling around outside the perimeter gates for a bit and enjoying some food from one of the vendors outside, we were given a set of gates to come through then asked to wait just inside. Once our police escort arrived, we walked around to the opposite side of the stadium and were brought in through our own stadium gate. (We were patted down just inside both gates as well.)

After we were all inside, we were brought up to our section; we got there at roughly 1:00p. I was one of the very first in the section, and took a spot just above the walkway. There were no individual seats, just concrete benches with numbers marked out; our ticket numbers meant nothing, of course, as we just treated it as general admission. To my left were about three seat areas, then what you see in the picture: security lining both sides of a barbed-wire-topped fence. On the right side of the section there was another line of security, but no fence.

Before the game, we got some verbal and visual abuse (lots of fingers, etc), but nothing really thrown. Many people seemed to take it in good spirits; others, decidedly not.

Other US fans started making their way in later, including a large group that bought a package from Ole Ole. (US$200 was a bit much for my taste for a game ticket and bus transportation to/from the game. In contrast, my game ticket was US$18 via US Soccer, it cost MXP$2 each way for the Metro and MXP$2 for the light rail to the game; we didn't take it on the way back, but I'll explain that a bit later.) At 2:30p, they finally brought beer, though I think they were ripping us off: the beer they sold us was MXP$60 each, and we think they were selling it cheaper for others.

As we got closer to kickoff, they started letting Mexican fans climb through our section and go to the section above us. There weren't any problems while that was happening, as far as I could tell, but there were no police between that section and our section. Also, right before kickoff, a few Mexican fans were allowed to sit on the outskirts of our section. This struck me as a bad idea, though they mostly seemed to be families, and definitely seemed to be calmer than the people outside the section.

When the US anthem was played, we could barely hear it to sing along; the Mexican fans blew horns and whistled throughout the anthem. We still tried to belt it out as best we could, of course. Then, kickoff at 3:00p.

Nine minutes in, Charlie Davies scored. We went nuts, of course. That's when the rain of beers and such started. Ten minutes later, Mexico scored, and it got worse. Things calmed down a bit, though the anger of the fans towards us showed throughout.

At half, things were pretty much calm. Then the second half started. There were the occasional things still thrown, especially after a big altercation between players about fifteen minutes from time. Then the second Mexico goal happened, and it was insanity. Amongst the Mexican fans, there was a mix of celebration for the goal and venomous hatred towards us. Beer, plastic bottles of soda and water, plastic horns, cups of soup (which they sold at the game), coins, etc. I believe I ended up wearing more beer than the one I drank during the game.

Before the final whistle, the first few columns of people closest to the security on either side were told to leave the section and go to the concourse. Right after the final whistle, the rest of us were escorted out. They had cordoned off the section of the concourse through the entire game, and security reinforced it while we were out there. We were then escorted down the concourse and out of the stadium, having to deal with things thrown at us from above while walking.

Once outside, they cordoned off a large area. The then started marching us across the parking lot, security with shields on all sides. Many fans were hurling insults, and even a few more objects they hadn't thrown inside. There were a decent number of people who were waving, applauding, giving thumbs-up, and even shaking hands and giving high-fives over the security. We were walked to where the Ole Ole buses were, and those people got on the bus.

Security then realized we hadn't all come that way. After fifteen minutes or so, we started marching back across the parking lot. This time we definitely got more positive reactions than negative, though I did worry about the people who were following us along. I had one Mexican fan ask to have his picture taken with me, which actually carried me a little outside of the security without me noticing, but they got me back in very easily.

Once we got to the far end of the lot, there was a police paddy wagon. Many people got in, but there was obviously not room for all of us. Right as I was getting up to it, they pulled a few people out of the wagon, and took the rest of us around it to a police bus. Once inside, we got a police escort through the heavy traffic to the Universidad station of the Metro, the end of one of the lines--and not the line that leads directly to the stadium. Once there, we were on our own; but while the train was jam-packed, we really didn't encounter any problems. Our group got back to the hotel at roughly 7:30p after having left to meet the other fans at the hotel in Zona Rosa at about 9:30a. It was a long day.

All in all, I'm glad I made the trip to see the game. It was an experience I'll definitely never forget, and only a small amount of Americans have witnessed first-hand. I'm not sure, however, that I'm all that interested in doing it again. Only time will tell.

The rest of Mexico City has been great, though today I'm so wiped that I'm going to spend some time just laying low in the hotel. We've done some very cool stuff: went to a league game in Toluca, saw the pyramids at Teotihuacan, rode in a gondola in Xochimilco, took a tour of Estadio Azteca (most of which was spent at field level), and have had plenty of great stuff to eat and drink. Tonight, we're going to the Lucha Libre. Tomorrow, I'm flying home. I've had a great time, but I'm ready to go home.

[GFB]

Dang Mockba. Thanks for the play by play!

What do you think would have happened if the US managed to win the game? In your opinion, how much worse would it have been?

Off topic, but that story reminded me of my trip to Columbus for the UM/OSU game...

[-kj]

It certainly would have been worse. I think part of what made the reaction towards us so bad is that the US scored first. Mexico lives and dies with the national team, and lately times have not been good. When Davies scored (and what a fantastic goal it was), it was the first lead the US had ever held on Mexican soil. That was unacceptable to the Mexican fans. Had the US won? I can't imagine. I'm not sure I was fearing for my life after the game, though I did fear for my safety at times. After a win, I'm wondering if I would have been correct in fearing for my life.

[WJMorris3]

Bumping this, thanks to the number standing at eight - Brazil got in yesterday, and Ghana got in today. And CONCACAF is tight, with the top four separated by a point, three games to go. No one wants that playoff spot, that's for sure.

[TFoA]

Lost in the shuffle of the official start of College Football is the fact that Qualifying is back on, and the hex took a dramatic turn in CONCACAF today with these results.

US comes from behind to beat El Salvador 2-1.

Honduras continues to absolutely annihilate people on their home turf, beating Trinidad & Tobago 4-1

Mexico pulls off a stunner in San Jose and thumps Costa Rica 3-0

So now the standings in CONCACAF are as follows:

Honduras (13 points, +7 goal differential)

USA (13 pts, +4 GD)

Mexico (12 pts, +2 GD)

Costa Rica (12 pts, -3 GD)

Top 3 Teams qualify for World Cup, 4th place goes into playoff vs. 5th place COMMEBOL team

So yeah, freaking Honduras is now at the top, and Costa Rica are on the outside looking in. However, the table could change once again with the games on Wednesday:

USA @ T&T

Costa Rica @ El Salvador

Honduras @ Mexico

If things go the way that I predict them, the US and Mexico will be the top 2 teams in the table, and Costa Rica will officially be fighting for 3rd place with Honduras. The Costa Rica-Mexico game from Saturday was arguably the biggest result of the entire CONCACAF hex. Mexico's "back", Costa Rica's fading, Honduras are making a surge, but as long as the US keep on getting good results and taking care of business, they could pretty much punch their ticket to SA 2010 with a win in Port of Spain on Wednesday.

[Jarred Revolver]

I seriously hope CR9 is sitting at home and watching the World Cup

[xxjdm66]

Check this website out, there's a section were you can simulate the outcome of different games in World Cup Qualifying from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. Fun stuff and don't forget to checkout the chicas section.

p.s. it's in spanish

CONCACAF:

http://www.mediotiempo.com/multimedia/infografias/simuladores&cual=408

CONMEBOL:

http://www.mediotiempo.com/multimedia/infografias/simuladores&cual=415

[Saintsfan]

I thought it might be useful to put a list of teams who have qualified for 2010 now

South Africa (hosts)

Japan

Australia

South Korea

Netherlands

North Korea

Brazil

Ghana

Only 24 places to be filled now, more qualifiers to follow on Wednesday.

[NEW.ERA]

On the next matchday (Sept 9th) these are the nations that can qualify for South Africa if everything goes there way.

Final birth in the Asia will go to either Bahrain or Saudi Arabia after the drew 0-0 on Saturday/

In Europe

Group 1 Denmark will qualify for the World Cup if they defeat Albania AND Hungary lose to Portugal AND Sweden do not defeat Malta.

Group 3 Slovakia will qualify for the World Cup if they defeat Northern Ireland AND the Slovenia-Poland match ends in a draw.

Group 5 Spain will qualify for the World Cup if:

* they defeat Estonia AND Bosnia and Herzegovina do not defeat Turkey

or

* they draw with Estonia AND Turkey defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group 6 England will qualify for the World Cup if:

* they defeat Croatia

or

* they draw with Croatia AND Ukraine do not defeat Belarus.

Group 7 Serbia will qualify for the World Cup if they defeat France.

In South America

Chile will qualify for the World Cup if:

* they defeat Brazil

or

* they draw with Brazil AND Colombia do not defeat Uruguay AND Ecuador do not defeat Bolivia

or

* Colombia lose to Uruguay AND Ecuador lose to Bolivia AND Venezuela do not defeat Peru AND Argentina do not defeat Paraguay.

Paraguay will qualify for the World Cup if:

* they defeat Argentina

or

* they draw with Argentina AND Colombia do not defeat Uruguay AND Ecuador do not defeat Bolivia.

[BrySmalls]

On the next matchday (Sept 9th) these are the nations that can qualify for South Africa if everything goes there way.

Final birth in the Asia will go to either Bahrain or Saudi Arabia after the drew 0-0 on Saturday/

Actually, the winner between Bahrain/Saudi Arabia will go on to face New Zealand in an Intercontinental play-off with the first leg on October 10th (hosted by Bahrain or Saudi Arabia) and the second leg on October 14th (hosted by New Zealand).

[NEW.ERA]

On the next matchday (Sept 9th) these are the nations that can qualify for South Africa if everything goes there way.

Final birth in the Asia will go to either Bahrain or Saudi Arabia after the drew 0-0 on Saturday/

Actually, the winner between Bahrain/Saudi Arabia will go on to face New Zealand in an Intercontinental play-off with the first leg on October 10th (hosted by Bahrain or Saudi Arabia) and the second leg on October 14th (hosted by New Zealand).

My mistake misread wikipedia.

[BrySmalls]

On the next matchday (Sept 9th) these are the nations that can qualify for South Africa if everything goes there way.

Final birth in the Asia will go to either Bahrain or Saudi Arabia after the drew 0-0 on Saturday/

Actually, the winner between Bahrain/Saudi Arabia will go on to face New Zealand in an Intercontinental play-off with the first leg on October 10th (hosted by Bahrain or Saudi Arabia) and the second leg on October 14th (hosted by New Zealand).

My mistake misread wikipedia.

Not the first time someone has said that.

[AndrewPF]

My girlfriend is from Trinidad, so a USA loss is unacceptable tomorrow.

[TFoA]

My girlfriend is from Trinidad, so a USA loss is unacceptable tomorrow.

What, do y'all have a bet going on? If so, you could work this out so that even if the US somehow loses, everybody wins.

[Saintsfan]

Group 6 England will qualify for the World Cup if:

* they defeat Croatia

or

* they draw with Croatia AND Ukraine do not defeat Belarus.

Ukraine and Belarus have drawn, England need only a point from the game at home to Croatia which is about to kickoff!

Edit England lead 1-0 after 10 mins (Lampard penalty after Lennon tripped in the box)

[NEW.ERA]

Group 6 England will qualify for the World Cup if:

* they defeat Croatia

or

* they draw with Croatia AND Ukraine do not defeat Belarus.

Ukraine and Belarus have drawn, England need only a point from the game at home to Croatia which is about to kickoff!

Edit England lead 1-0 after 10 mins (Lampard penalty after Lennon tripped in the box)

England win 5-1 and secure a birth to South Africa and Bahrain on literally the final play score and advance on away goals to play New Zealand in the AFC-OFC playoff.