Group D is next as we continue to preview the second round of CONCACAF qualifying, which starts Sept. 2nd. This group features Canada, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia. The winner joins Honduras, Cuba and the winner from group C which, we previewed a couple days ago. Canada must have been happy to draw this group, not only are they the overwhelming favorite, but they also get to visit three different tropical islands where the weather is a lot nicer than Canada. Let's begin our preview with the Canadians.
Canada
FIFA rank: 102
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round three with two points from six games
After yet another disappointing Gold Cup, Canada failed to advance from group play, Canada must try to shed their label as CONCACAF's underachievers with a successful run in qualifying. Canada has only qualified for one World Cup in their history, back in 1986. Since then their qualifying campaigns have been full of falling short of expectations.
Bad luck has a strange way of striking the Canadians. In the Gold Cup this summer they were minutes away from advancing, leading Panama 1-0. However, in the 91st minute they gave up a goal on a goalmouth scramble that saw the ball ping off of several players before ending up in the back of the net courtesy of Luis Tejada.
Qualifying has not gone well for the Canadians since making their lone World Cup appearance. In 1990 qualifying they were upset by Guatemala in a home-and-home series in the early round. The next cycle brought bitter defeat, in penalties to Australia in the intercontinental playoff. They made the final round of qualifying for the 1998 edition, but ended with just six points from 10 games and a -15 goal differential. After winning the 2000 Gold Cup, Canada expected to make the 2002 World Cup. They did not even make the final round of qualifying, with Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago advancing out of their group in round three. They fell at the same point in 2006 and 2010 qualifying, finishing bottom of its group both times.
The problem for Canada is scoring goals. Dwayne De Rosario is a great player, but is now 33 and his production will begin to fade away. Ali Gerba has talent and will be counted on to score along with De Rosario. Will Johnson, Atiba Hutchinson, Josh Simpson, Nik Ledgerwood and Julian De Guzman provide a suitable arsenal in midfield, one whose quality surpasses the weaker teams but can not quite measure up to the giants of CONCACAF. In net, Lars Hirschfeld brings experience, but lacks the quality to be a game-changer.
Canada should be able to navigate its group without much of a problem, but it has stumbled in situations before. The next round, should they make it, will be the true test for Canada.
Puerto Rico
FIFA rank: 141
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 6-2 on aggregate to Honduras in round two
After a decade of struggles, a lack of infrastructure in the country and lack of talent, Puerto Rican football has seen a small surge as of late. This can be credited to the success of the club team Puerto Rico Islanders in the North American Soccer League as well as a more focused effort to improve the national team such as the 2008 creation of a domestic league.
In the 2010 Caribbean Cup, Puerto Rico won its group in the first preliminary round of qualifying. The side won all its games, against Anguilla, Saint-Martin and the Cayman Islands. They were eliminated in the second preliminary round, losing all three of its matches.
Most of the national team's members play for the Islanders or in the USA for either colleges or clubs in the lower divisions. Several members of the squad come from the domestic league, mainly Sevilla FC Puerto Rico, who finished the regular season in first place in 2011. Puerto Rico has also started searching for Americans with Puerto Rican eligibility to call in to the squad.
Puerto Rico will not win the group, but may impress with some surprising results and potentially come in second place.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
FIFA rank: 122
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 4-2 on aggregate to Belize in round one
SKN had its best qualifying run during 2006 qualifying. The side beat US Virgin Islands in round one and Barbados in round two to make it to the group stage in round three. However, they were severely over-matched against the likes of Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. SKN lost all six games and only scored two goals while giving up 24. Still, making that round was a great accomplishment for the tiny island nation.
The team failed to get past the second preliminary round of qualifying in the 2010 Caribbean Cup. They won their group in round one with five points, defeating Montserrat and drawing Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In round two they did defeat Puerto Rico, which is a good sign for this round, but fell to Guadeloupe and Grenada.
Earlier this year the team played two friendlies against Grenada, a team that qualified for the Gold Cup and was seeded in the first pot for this round of qualifying. SKN picked up to nice results, drawing the first game 0-0 and winning the second 1-0. That's a good sign heading into this round. SKN will continue to prep by playing an exhibition game against India on the 16th.
Most of SKN's players are unattached or play in the weak domestic league. A few do play overseas with the most noteworthy being current Vancouver Whitecaps striker Atiba Harris. Harris is known for his time at Chivas USA, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake and for being Micah Richards' cousin.
SKN does not have the talent to repeat their underdog run in 2006 qualifying, but they should have enough to place second.
Saint Lucia
FIFA rank: 183
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 9-1 on aggregate to Guatemala in round two
Saint Lucia can count itself lucky to make the second round of qualifying. One of the five first round winners, the side lost the first leg 4-2 to Aruba and seemed to be headed out. They rebounded and won 4-2 in the second leg, and then scraped through in penalties to advance.
In the 2010 Caribbean Cup, Saint Lucia finished bottom of its group in the first round of preliminary qualifying with its lone point being a draw against the Netherlands Antilles. They played tight games against the two advancing teams Guyana and Suriname, falling by one goal to each. Saint Lucia is the second-lowest ranked team in CONCACAF next to Bermuda who is ranked two spots lower.
The country's domestic league was created in 2005 and is called the Saint Lucia Gold Division. All but a few players on the national team play in the domestic league. The few that do not play in Trinidad and Tobago. One player that has appeared twice for Saint Lucia provides serious intrigue.
Zaine Pierre plays for W Connection in Trinidad and Tobago and has attracted interest from English Premier League teams. A young attacking midfielder, Pierre is only 17. Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City and Stoke City have been linked in the past year as well as several clubs in Spain and Italy. Pierre's play in qualifying if he is called in is something to keep an eye on.
Saint Lucia does not have the talent to win games against these type of teams, its best hope is to try and keep games close and steal some points here and there.
Prediction
Canada will not stumble in this round and advance easily while SKN and Puerto Rico will battle it out for second with Saint Lucia bringing up the rear.
1. Canada
2. Saint Kitts and Nevis
3. Puerto Rico
4. Saint Lucia
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