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CONCACAF Qualifying October 2008Mexico, USA and Costa Rica Clear Favourites to ProgressThe Central American, North American and Caribbean Qualifying groups for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa resume this weekend.
It will come as no surprise that the perennial regional powerhouses of the USA, Mexico and Costa Rica have all but qualified for the next round of this the long and drawn out yet much coveted process of making it to the World Cup Finals in South Africa in 2010. The most interesting games are now arguably those for second place. Group A: USA leading with Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago fighting in secondLeading Group A with 9 points the USA merely need to perform averagely their final three games and they will be through to the next round. No doubt hawks will be watching the game in Washington DC versus Cuba but this should be nothing more than a formality for the home side. Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago are neck and neck in the running for second place and perhaps the most intriguing tie of this weekend is the game that sees T & T visiting Guatemala’s notoriously hostile Mateo Flores stadium. Cuba’s tournament is effectively all over barring a miracle in DC. Group B: Mexico leads with Honduras favourites for secondAlthough the Mexican side face three games away from home to see their progression to the next round we expect them to have too much strength and depth to falter. Sven Goran Eriksson now knows his team and despite the absence of the veteran Cuatehmoc Blanco, now retired, starlets such as Carlos Vela and Giovanni Dos Santos should be able to tear holes in opposition defences. Honduras will feel assured of second place while Canada and Jamaica will have to wait four more years. Group C: Costa Rica leads while El Salvador looks an easy bet for secondCosta Rican striker Brian Ruiz, already with four goals in qualifying, will be leading the line and hoping to add to his tally versus the inferior foes of Surinam and Haiti. Now considered World Cup veterans from the CONCACAF zone the Ticos will need to build on these performances in the next round. El Salvador seem the clear bet to come runners up provided they suffer no disastrous slipups to Haiti and Surinam. The Games Are As Follows:11/10/2008 Guatemala vs. Trinidad & Tobago USA vs. Cuba México vs. Jamaica Honduras vs. Canada Haiti vs. El Salvador Suriname vs. Costa Rica 15/10/2008 El Salvador vs. Suriname Costa Rica vs. Haiti Jamaica vs. Honduras Canada vs. Mexico Trinidad & Tobago vs. USA Cuba vs. Guatemala
The copyright of the article CONCACAF Qualifying October 2008 in International Soccer is owned by Richard McColl. Permission to republish CONCACAF Qualifying October 2008 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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