Maybe you paid attention to the U.S. soccer team's underwhelming performance at the Beijing Olympics. Amazingly, a lot of people I've talked to didn't realize that team was a U-23 squad, with only three overage players. Sure if would have been nice to medal, but in the grand scheme of things, the Olympics are an afterthought in the world soccer community. Tonight, the United States National Team full national team heads to the Guatemala City (10 p.m. EST) for the first of six games in the second stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualification. (Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago are the other two teams in Group A.) The top two from the group advance to the final qualifying round. Pretty simple, as the U.S. is clearly the favorite and expected to advance.
However, most of the voices around the soccer nets have taken a dim view on the U.S. chances, focusing primarily on the lack of scoring punch this team has packed in 2008, even though the Yanks annihilated poor Barbados 9-0 aggregate in the first-stage qualifier earlier this summer. That two-leg victory came shortly after the U.S. went scoreless in three friendlies against England, Spain and Argentina. Guatemala isn't exactly on par with those world powers, but should play a defensive scheme to limit space for the Americans.
As usual U.S. all-time leading-scorer Landon Donovan will be in the crosshairs, alongside the other three forwards listed on the roster -- Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Brian Ching.
Of note, the U.S. is 4-0-4 against Guatemala in World Cup qualifying -- all the wins on home soil. The U.S. is only 1-4-4 overall in Guatemala, with the last victory coming in 1988.
Wednesday is a FIFA International day. Some friendlies around the world of note include: England v. Czech Republic; Sweden v. France; Russia v. the Netherlands; Denmark v. Spain and Wales hosting Georgia. (Georgia's Sept. 6 qualifier against Ireland will be moved to a neutral venue. Mexico also plays Honduras in Group B CONCACAF qualifiers.
