With CONCACAF's qualifying process resuming on Sept. 2nd, we will take at each of the six groups individually, and predict the winners in the next few days. Today, we look at group A, consisting of Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Suriname. The winner of this group will advance to the next round and be placed in group B with Mexico, Costa Rica and the winner of group B in this round. Here is a look at the teams
Cayman Islands
FIFA rank: 172
2010 qualifying result: Lost in round one of qualifying 4-2 on aggregate to Bermuda
One of many small British overseas territories, the Cayman Islands have trouble fielding competitive teams due to the lack of infrastructure and a weak domestic league. In the past, they have been able to convince players with British passports to play for the national team, but currently their call ups have all been from the domestic league.
The Cayman Islands Premier league was won by Elite Sports Club last season. However, most of the national team's most recent squad came from George Town Sports Club, who finished second last season.
Their most recent tournament was the 2010 Caribbean Cup, a qualifying tournament for the Gold Cup. The team failed to advance out of qualifying stage one, finishing second in their group with four points by drawing Saint-Martin, beating Anguilla 4-1 and falling to group winner Puerto Rico 2-0.
Not expected to threaten any of the bigger teams, it will be a huge miracle if the Cayman Islands finish second in this group.
Dominican Republic
FIFA rank: 132
2010 qualifying result: Lost in round one of qualifying 1-0 on aggregate to Puerto Rico
The Dominicans moved up 40 spots in the most recent FIFA world ranking due to their two wins last month over Anguilla in round one of qualifying. Their star player, Jonathan Faña, scored once in each leg.
Faña currently plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders in the North American Soccer League and has seven goals in 25 appearances for the club.
Before qualifying, the team participated in the 2010 Caribbean Cup where they were eliminated in the first qualifying stage. Despite beating the British Virgin Islands 17-0, they fell to group winners Dominica 1-0.
That tournament also saw the debut of University of Maryland midfielder Gonzalo Frechilla, who scored in the win against the BVI.
Recently, there has been an improvement in infrastructure in the Dominican Republic. This cycle the nation was able to host its qualifying leg after being forced to play their leg in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 qualifying.
An improved national side from last cycle, the team will not contend for the top spot, but may be able to pick up some points and spring a surprise on their best day.
El Salvador
FIFA rank: 78
2010 qualifying result: Finished fifth in fourth and final round of qualifying with six points from 10 matches
The surprise of last cycle, El Salvador made the final round, or "hex", with a big upset of Panama in the second round to advance to the first group stage in the third round.
Blessed with an easy group, the Salvadorians finished second to Costa Rica and moved onto the hex. Although they finished fifth, they had several great moments, the biggest being beating Mexico 2-1 at home.
They also tied the United States 2-2 at home and took the lead in the US before succumbing to a 2-1 loss and beat Costa Rica.
One of the few teams in this stage that have qualified for a World Cup (in 1970 and 1982), El Salvador is coached by Rubén Israel. In the 2011 Gold Cup, the team qualified for the quarterfinals where they were just minutes from upsetting Panama before conceding a goal in the 90th minute and losing in penalty kicks.
After starting the past decade poorly, the past few years have seen El Salvador as one of the rising nations in CONCACAF. Young players such as Rodolfo Zelaya, who currently plays in Russia and scored four goals in the Gold Cup, are a big reason for this improvement. Other important players include Eliseo Quintanilla, Arturo Alvarez, Steve Purdy and Jaime Alas.
El Salvador is the overwhelming favorite to advance out of this group, and it will be a shock if they fail to do so.
Suriname
FIFA rank: 110
2010 qualifying result: Finished fourth in group in third round of qualifying with two points from six matches
Last cycle, Suriname overachieved and reached the third round and first group stage of qualifying. After dispatching Montserrat easily in the first round, they upset their neighbor Guyana 3-1 on aggregate in the second.
Placed in a group with Costa Rica, El Salvador and Haiti, Suriname scored four goals and let in 19 with their lone two points coming in two draws against Haiti.
Suriname has actually produced many great players, unfortunately they do not ending up playing for the nation. Rather, the Dutch colony loses them to the Netherlands. Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were all born in Suriname, but ended up playing for the Oranje. Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Patrick Kluivert all are other players that were born in the Netherlands and had the option to play for Suriname, but did not. That is quite an impressive list of talent for such a nation that is not thought of often in the world of football.
The national team competed in the 2010 Caribbean Cup and advanced to qualifying stage two after defeating the Netherlands Antilles (now Curacao) and Saint Lucia in stage one. In stage two, they failed to advance, finishing third with four points in their group behind Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda who each had five.
Most of Suriname's squad play in their domestic league with the exception of Touvarno Pinas, who plays for Almere City FC in the Dutch Second Division. If any team can knock of the favored Salvadorians it will be Suriname, who have proven before they can punch above their weight. However, there is most likely too significant of a talent gap between the sides.
Prediction
El Salvador is far and away the best team in this group and will have no problem advancing onward.
1. El Salvador
2. Suriname
3. Dominican Republic
4. Cayman Islands
No comments:
Post a Comment