Reyna is healthy just in time to step in for McKennie.
I would be hesitant about literally burning points in a dumpster before we've qualified. CR is very capable of jumping us with that mentality. I might agree with you to sit Adams since he's on a yellow card. Reyna should be a sub because I don't think he'll be in starting shape. Dest and Pulisic better be in the XI. Pefok is also my first choice striker this window. The man has 8 goals/2 assists since December. He's the only American striker scoring goals right now (Former Loons Plug: besides Christian Ramirez
) .
It'll be interesting to see what he does. Remember that these are three games over seven days - for most positions you can't have someone play in all three games and expect them to go full speed. Put Dest and Pulisic in for a full 90 against Mexico like you say, then you realistically have to pull them out of some parts of the Panama and CR games, and of course there's the risk of anyone playing in the Mexico game picking up a card or getting injured. My point is that the second two games are more important than the first, so you need to have your full "A-Team" ready for those.I would be hesitant about literally burning points in a dumpster before we've qualified. CR is very capable of jumping us with that mentality. I might agree with you to sit Adams since he's on a yellow card. Reyna should be a sub because I don't think he'll be in starting shape. Dest and Pulisic better be in the XI. Pefok is also my first choice striker this window. The man has 8 goals/2 assists since December. He's the only American striker scoring goals right now (Former Loons Plug: besides Christian Ramirez
We have won every game against Mexico since 2019. We haven't lost in Azteca since 2009. This is Mexico's worst team in decades. Step on the gas and punch your ticket to Qatar before going to San Jose. If Gregg trots out a full B squad in Azteca, he shouldn't be allowed on the plane to Orlando.
Estadio Nacional is historically a tougher away fixture than Azteca. I like our chances for points at Azteca more than San Jose. Playing scared in a huge rivalry in the first fixture sets a negative tone for the entire window.
Pefok wasn't good. There's no excuse for his miss.
I wish we had Sargent in camp - Sargent would have given us a possession striker with some size (great for playing Mexico) and a backup to Weah as a right-winger (nice for the Panama game).
Top spot, versus second or third, really doesn't matter. It won't change our seeding for the World Cup draw.
No but it would have been nice to rub it in Canada’s face. Too little too late though.
You’re right that their FIFA ranking assures they’ll be in a group of death. They’re gonna wind up in pot 4 of the draw and have to play a top European and South American team. Unless they end up in the Qatar group.
Pot 1: Qatar, Belgium, Brazil, France, Argentina, England, Spain and most likely Portugal.
Host is always in Pot 1.
Agreed that Canada will be in a group of death, but that's partly because Canada will be in it as they will be one of the really strong pot 4 teams. It will be interesting to see how Canada does in the World Cup. This seems to be a special team and a team whose best players are relatively young. If Davies come back at full strength they could advance.
I think Canada can sneak into pot 3 if they win tonight and hop Tunisia. As a result of Wales continuing to have their games cancelled it sounds like Wales is going to be in Pot 4 which benefits Canada.
Would a tie have gotten them into pot 3? Canada scored relatively late and it was called back on a VAR review that was pretty spotty. Ah well, it is important to remember that this is the first time since 1986 that Canada has been in and even more crazy, this was the first time since 1998 that Canada even made the final stage of Concacaf qualifying. Hopefully they can surprise a little bit in Qatar.