Concacaf 2010 World Cup Qualifying Wraps Up

Central and North America’s Best Make it to South Africa 2010

Oct 15, 2009

The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualify directly for the finals in South Africa while Costa Rica faces a playoff against Uruguay.

While the USA had already qualified on October 11 with a fantastic away win in front of rabid Honduran fans in San Pedro Sula (3-2), they went into their final match against Costa Rica in Washington DC with the desire to end on a high. This dream finale almost did not happen as the Costa Ricans, in desperate need of a win to secure an automatic spot in South Africa, had failed to read the script. Brian Ruiz put the Ticos 2-0 up inside of 24 minutes and it seemed that the team from Central America would leapfrog rivals Honduras. But, Bruce Arena’s team, showing great physical conditioning and maturity, put on a late late show and with goals from Michael Bradley and then Jason Bornstein deep in injury time, pulled the game back to a 2-2 draw. This result left the Costa Ricans smarting and with the very real fear that they may not make it through a two legged playoff against Uruguay for the last available place at the World Cup Finals in South Africa 2010.

Honduras Triumph!

Reaching the World Cup for the first time since Spain 1982, where they gave an admirable performance, Honduras has come of age and taken a place at the top table. For a long time the Hondurans have been showing a great deal of promise but have never really managed to put a sequence together, in part due to lack of finances, and in part due to internal strife in their impoverished nation. Carlos Pavon, Honduras’ all time top scorer and talisman, profligate in front of goal in the loss to the US made great amends and scored the only goal in the 1-0 away in San Salvador.

Mexico Qualify Again

Perennial favourites Mexico had stuttered somewhat in this qualifying round but with home matches won when they counted they put the risible Eriksson era behind them and under the gaze of coach Javier Aguirre steered themselves into second place. It is difficult that the Mexicans will ruffle any feathers nor threaten any of the big teams in South Africa but with quality players such as Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez, the precocious Dos Santos and old timer Cuauhtémoc Blanco they cannot be completely written off.

The Rest

The Concacaf World Cup qualifying league is often much derided by those inhabitants and followers of UEFA and Conmebol groups, but their qualifying process is just as arduous and competitive as many others and often more difficult. In a format that pits teams such as the Netherlands Antilles and Bermuda in a preliminary round and then weeds out the weaker nations before ushering in the likes of the USA, Mexico et al, means for a great deal of travel and potential for upset.

How the League Ended

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