USA v Costa Rica
- This is a must bet every qualifying year, though you must know you're taking the inferior team. The problem is there are so many other factors involved when the US play abroad and the very worst conditions they face is in San Jose, Costa Rica. The US are now down to third choice RFB as Chernundolo is out and Heyduk still injured so will probably have to go with young Marvelle Wynne who is competent offensively but a liability on defense. None of the US players, other than maybe Wynne with Toronto FC, are used to playing on artificial turf, and especially not on cement turf in 100 degree weather. The US is made up mainly of European players so only 12 have been together last week to practice with the other half of the squad showing up Sunday night and Monday. Add to this that several of their players (Freddy Adu, Benny Feilhaber, Jozy Altidore, Jonathan Spector) may not even be fit since they see so little time with the clubs and I see continuity as a big problem. The US just cannot figure out their LFB issue either so looking at Beasley probably filling in there, which is a complete joke. Adding to the distractions was the resignation from assistant coach Peter Nowak who accepted the head coaching job for the expansion MLS franchise in Philadelphia...why he did not wait a week is beyond me since Philly don't even have a squad yet. Also Maurice Edu will not be available in midfield, and he has been in great form overseas. One more thought is that 5 starters have 2 yellow cards and cannot afford to miss Saturday's match with Honduras, which they will with 1 more caution.
Costa Rica called up 18 domestic players so they should be much more prepared for the match, with respect to teamwork. Estadio Saprissa is probably the most difficult venue to play at in Concacaf and the US have never won there, 0-1-6 in CR, with their last point coming 24 years ago. In qualifying matches they are 0-0-6 4/13. The US, as a whole, have no success in Central America, where they are 7-8-18 despite always having the better squad. Obviously both sides in great form in qualifying, USA 7-1-1 21/5 and Costa Rica 8-0-1 23/5, but each team's home results are insane. Both are 5-0-0 and Costa Rica have allowed no goal (13/0) while USA have allowed just one (16/1). So as sure as I am that the USA will not win the midweek match, I'm even more sure the USA wins the return match later in qualifying. I am a big USMNT supporter but I can't see any chance of pulling 3 points and would be very lucky to pull 1. They will never tell you this but I am sure the team just wants to get out of Costa Rica healthy because they know a home victory over Honduras this weekend virtually guarantees their ticket to South Africa. The Ticos are 18-2-1 at Saprissa all-time...
big bet on Costa Rica PK
- This is a must bet every qualifying year, though you must know you're taking the inferior team. The problem is there are so many other factors involved when the US play abroad and the very worst conditions they face is in San Jose, Costa Rica. The US are now down to third choice RFB as Chernundolo is out and Heyduk still injured so will probably have to go with young Marvelle Wynne who is competent offensively but a liability on defense. None of the US players, other than maybe Wynne with Toronto FC, are used to playing on artificial turf, and especially not on cement turf in 100 degree weather. The US is made up mainly of European players so only 12 have been together last week to practice with the other half of the squad showing up Sunday night and Monday. Add to this that several of their players (Freddy Adu, Benny Feilhaber, Jozy Altidore, Jonathan Spector) may not even be fit since they see so little time with the clubs and I see continuity as a big problem. The US just cannot figure out their LFB issue either so looking at Beasley probably filling in there, which is a complete joke. Adding to the distractions was the resignation from assistant coach Peter Nowak who accepted the head coaching job for the expansion MLS franchise in Philadelphia...why he did not wait a week is beyond me since Philly don't even have a squad yet. Also Maurice Edu will not be available in midfield, and he has been in great form overseas. One more thought is that 5 starters have 2 yellow cards and cannot afford to miss Saturday's match with Honduras, which they will with 1 more caution.
Costa Rica called up 18 domestic players so they should be much more prepared for the match, with respect to teamwork. Estadio Saprissa is probably the most difficult venue to play at in Concacaf and the US have never won there, 0-1-6 in CR, with their last point coming 24 years ago. In qualifying matches they are 0-0-6 4/13. The US, as a whole, have no success in Central America, where they are 7-8-18 despite always having the better squad. Obviously both sides in great form in qualifying, USA 7-1-1 21/5 and Costa Rica 8-0-1 23/5, but each team's home results are insane. Both are 5-0-0 and Costa Rica have allowed no goal (13/0) while USA have allowed just one (16/1). So as sure as I am that the USA will not win the midweek match, I'm even more sure the USA wins the return match later in qualifying. I am a big USMNT supporter but I can't see any chance of pulling 3 points and would be very lucky to pull 1. They will never tell you this but I am sure the team just wants to get out of Costa Rica healthy because they know a home victory over Honduras this weekend virtually guarantees their ticket to South Africa. The Ticos are 18-2-1 at Saprissa all-time...
big bet on Costa Rica PK
