So far, all the groups aside from group B in CONCACAF have had a definite favorite. The two groups left to preview are not so clear-cut. Group E features Belize, Grenada, Guatemala and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It also features a couple of great players, including one that may be the difference for his team winning the group or failing to advance. The winner will join USA, Jamaica and the winner of group F in the next round.
Belize
FIFA rank: 148
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 9-0 on aggregate to Mexico in round two
Thanks to its two victories against Montserrat in the first round, Belize currently holds its highest FIFA ranking ever at the moment. The two wins were just the second and third in the country's history in world cup qualifying, the other being against Saint Kitts and Nevis in round one of qualifying for the 2010 finals.
Keep in mind that Belize is lucky to still be in the competition at this point. On June 17th, two days before the second leg against Montserrat, FIFA suspended Belize for government interference in football. If the match was not rescheduled by July 10th, Belize would have been thrown out of the competition. Fortunately for the country, FIFA lifted the suspension on July 7th.
Generally regarded as the weakest Central American nation, Belize has never qualified for a CONCACAF Gold Cup or even advanced out of the group stage of the UNCAF Nations Cup, the tournament between the seven Central American national teams. In eight tournaments, Belize has never won a match and its only points are three draws, one against Guatemala and twice versus Nicaragua.
Most of Belize's national team members play in the domestic league, the Belize Premier Football League, which was won by the club Belize Defense Force Football Club. The team's elite players play in the stronger Honduras domestic league, such as goalie Shane Moody-Orio, midfielders Elroy Smith and Harrison Roches and striker Deon McCauley. McCaulay is currently the second top-scorer in CONCACAF thanks to his four goals in the first round.
Belize does not have the talent, depth nor facilities (they may play its home games in Honduras) to compete in this group and the country's best-case scenario would be coming in third in this group.
Grenada
FIFA rank: 120
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 5-2 on aggregate to Costa Rica in round two
Grenada made it in to the top-seeded pot due to strong performances in the past two Caribbean Cups, which helped them qualify for the last two Gold Cups. The side finished second in the 2008 Caribbean Cup, defeating Cuba on penalties in the semifinals before falling to Jamaica 2-0 in the final. In the 2010 edition, Grenada placed fourth, losing to Jamaica in extra time in the semifinals.
Despite making the 2009 and 2011 Gold Cups, Grenada's performance in both tournaments have not been anything to write home about. The team has lost all six games they have played in the competition, scoring just one goal while conceding 25. In 2011, one of the losses was to fellow group member Guatemala, a 4-0 thrashing, not a good sign for Grenada's hopes of topping this group. However, they were missing an integral part of their side.
Shalrie Joseph is the best player the country has ever produced. He has played for the New England Revolution since 2003, appearing 228 times and scoring 33 goals. The two-way midfielder has attracted interest from Europe with Celtic being interested several times. Joseph has been named to the MLS best XI four different times in his career. For the national team, Joseph has 30 caps and played in the 2009 Gold Cup and past World Cup qualifiers. However, he declined the invitation to participate in the 2011 Gold Cup, wanting to play for his club instead. It is uncertain if he will make the same decision for the qualifiers since MLS does not break for FIFA dates. The Revolution currently sit far outside the MLS playoff picture, so there is not much incentive for Joseph to stay with the club for late season games. Joesph's presence on the field for Grenada changes so much, he controls the offense,breaks up plays on defense and is a real game-changer.
As for the rest of the squad, members mostly play in the lower divisions of England, MLS or in the country's domestic league. Midfielder Craig Rocastle is an important player and plays for Sporting Kanasas City. Forward Marcus Julien is a unique member of the squad. Instead of following fellow national team players to England or the USA, Julien plays for North Imphal Sporting Association in the Indian second division.
Grenada may be the only top-seeded team that is not favored to advance out of the group. They have the talent to win, but must work out their defensive issues and convince Joseph to play in the qualifiers if they want a chance at moving on.
Guatemala
FIFA rank: 115
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round three with five points from six games
Surprisingly, Guatemala was not in the top-seeded pot for this round. One of CONCACAF's above-average teams, Guatemala was relegated to the second pot because of its failure to qualify for the 2009 Gold Cup, poor performances in 2010 and in the 2011 UNCAF Nations Cup.
Guatemala did have a satisfactory performance in this summer's Gold Cup. They advanced to the knockout stage with four points from their three group games, a 4-0 win against Grenada and a 0-0 draw with Honduras. In the quarterfinals they took an early lead versus eventual champion Mexico, but were beaten back by two second half goals.
Historically, Guatemala has never qualified for the World Cup, with its best result coming in 2006 qualifying. There the side made the final round hex. They finished fifth with 11 points from their 10 games, just two points back of Trinidad and Tobago, who would go on to qualify for the finals after defeating Bahrain in the intercontinental playoff. In 2010 qualifying Guatemala reached the third round, but failed to advance after losing out to the USA and T&T once again.
Guatemala's best players are a mix of the old and the new. Carlos Ruiz, 31, now plays for Veracruz in Mexico after years in MLS and is Guatemala's leading goalscorer with 44 goals. Marco Pappa, 23, currently plays for the Chicago Fire and has greatly impressed this year. Pappa has three goals for the national team including one against Grenada in the Gold Cup. Most of the rest of the team plays in the domestic league where C.S.D. Municipal is the most successful team.
Guatemala is a team that has traditionally played very well at home and will need to defeat Grenada at home if they want to advance. If they get great performances from their midfield and defense, they should have enough to win the group.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
FIFA rank: 161
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 7-1 on aggregate to Canada in round two
Like its similarly named island nation Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' best qualifying result came during 2006 qualifying. Back then, the side defeated Nicaragua 6-3 on aggregate in the second round to make the third round and group stage with Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and SKN. St. Vincent defeated SKN both times but fell in its other four games and did not advance along with Mexico and T&T.
Recently, St. Vincent had a decent showing at the 2010 Caribbean Cup. They advanced to the second qualifying phase after coming in second place in their group in round one. A 7-0 win over Montserrat was enough to see them through on goal difference following draws with SKN and Barbados. In round two St. Vincent finished bottom of its group, losing to T&T, Haiti and Guyana.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the stronger nations in the Caribbean, but has never qualified for the World Cup and has only made one Gold Cup, way back in 1996 where they qualified due to its second place finish in the 1995 Caribbean Cup.
The players that make up the national team mostly play in the domestic league, the NLA Premier League. The current champion is Avenues United Football Club. Other squad members play in Trinidad and Tobago including all-time leading scorer Shandel Stewart who has scored 35 international goals. The side is relatively young and includes 21-year-old Cornelius Stewart who plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not have the talent nor experience to repeat its accomplishments from 2006 qualifying and will be fitting Belize to stay off the bottom of the group.
Prediction
This group may hinge on whether or not Joseph decides to play for Grenada and will likely go down to the final game between Grenada and Guatemala. I think Guatemala wins the group narrowly because of better team defense.
1. Guatemala
2. Grenada
3. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
4. Belize
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