Vic Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 The details are out for the CONCACAF January U20 and March U17 tournaments. U20 CONCACAF DRAW GROUP A -----> #13 Canada -----> #46 Costa Rica -----> #87 Cuba -----> NR Guatemala GROUP B -----> #1 USA -----> #22 Mexico -----> #43 Trinidad and Tobago -----> #65 Jamaica For the U20's we avoided both Mexico and the USA in our group draw. We will crossover in a semi against either Mexico (if we win the group) or the USA (if we come second). Three teams qualify for the World Cup so even a loss in the semi's gives you another lifeline in the Bronze playoff. Winning the group means the only way we wouldn't go to Germany in the Summer would be to lose back-to-back games to both Mexico in the semi AND Costa Rica in the Bronze. If we lose the group and come in second, it means either (a) knocking off the #1 Americans (which we did last time but is extremely rare) or ( beating the Costa Rica v. Mexico loser in the Bronze. So winning the group means a two-game versus a one-game margin of error. All in all a very favourable draw when combined with three spots and means we'll have to mess up pretty badly to miss a European Summer. U17 CONCACAF DRAW GROUP A -----> #1 USA -----> #46 Costa Rica -----> NR Haiti -----> NR Dominican Republic or Cayman Islands GROUP B -----> #13 Canada -----> #22 Mexico -----> #43 Jamaica -----> NR Nicaragua, Panama or El Salvador (tournament runs 11/24-28) The U17's are a far different story. First, only two teams qualify for the World Cup (and not three like U20 as T&T are the hosts). Second, we drew Mexico which means the only path to the World Cup next Summer will be to either: a) beat Mexico and Jamaica to win the group, and then beat a very good Costa Rican program in the semi place second in the group and then beat the #1 Americans in the semi The American U17 program is a bit of a juggernaut so qualification essentially means beating Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica with no margin for error. Ian Bridge has his hands full and then some. He also has no full-time NCAA training programs to leverage like at U20 and senior, and like our U20 program does not have the benefit other CONCACAF programs do of a small geographical footprint that enables their teams to train together for a long time as a club team/unit and avail themselves of that comfort level. Let's hope there's some magic here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ref Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 In my opinion the U17 programs in Central America are not that well developed. Not that ours is that great either, but at least our girls would have been playing organized and structured competitive soccer for longer. And following our tradition Bridge may field some tough cookies there. I think our changes are good together with the U.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 I hope you're right. We got by Mexico 1-0 in the Bronze (there were three U17 spots last time round) to go through to the U17 Cup in 2008, but the only reason the berth was on the line was we went down 0-2 to Costa Rica in the semi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soccer9 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Interesting news, thx! The U17's will have a more difficult path for sure. They also started their prep. programme late, which does not help. But I hear that they may particapte in a tournament in Feb/2010 in T&T. I guess there is some pre-world cup tournament that T&T is hosting as a tune up for them hosting the WC in September. This can give our girls some much needed international experience and work out some kinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Fits with the Pellerud/Bridge relationship and the boys U17 cycle for their Spring CONCACAF qualifier last year: November - Mexico - 5 games February - USA/Guatemala - 4 games April - Costa Rica - 3 games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ref Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 It appears the U20 will be playing two friendlies with the Cuban girls on December 16 & 18 in preparing for the qualifications in January. http://www.cubavision.cubaweb.cu/detalles.asp?ID=47283 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 Great find. Odd the CSA has no mention of it. Cuba is obviously looking to perform well in our group and has probably made a sweet offer to get us down there. Pretty soft opponent - they're ranked beside Malta and Kyrgyzstan (not to be confused with the much larger country of Borat fame). But coming off doubles against the USA and Mexico we're due for something light and that will prepare us for the weak teams in our group. 2009 MENS U17 Prep - 5 months out: International camp: Mexico - 5 games - 2 months out: International camp: USA/Guatemala - 4 games - 1 month out: International camp: Costa Rica - 3 games - 1 week out: International camp: USA - 1 game 2010 WOMENS U20 Prep - 6 months out: International camp: USA - 3 games - 3 months out: International camp: Mexico - 2 games - 1 month out: International camp: Cuba - 2 games (unconfirmed) 2010 WOMENS U17 Prep - 5 months out: Domestic camp: Montreal - 2 games - 1 month out: International camp: Trinidad - X games (unconfirmed) Based on the boy's experience last year and the camps mentioned above there is probably also an additional camp down South early in the New Year for the U17's as well as pre-tournament camps for both just before their World Cups begin. Another interesting note is Even Pellerud's U20's include eight American and British players who are eligible to play for T&T and another half dozen on his U17 roster. His U17's were in Panama and El Salvador in September and are in Mexico next week. It will be interesting to see who they draw and how they perform with their automatic World Cup berth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soccer9 Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 Vic, nothing 100%, but I had heard (last month) a camp in Laval or T.O. in early Jan for the U17s before this supposed T&T trip in Feb and finally followed by the Championship in early-mid March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny63 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Panama qualified from Central America for U17 CONCACAF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted December 3, 2009 Author Share Posted December 3, 2009 Jonny - long time no see. Welcome back. 11/24/2009, Women's U17 Panama U17 3 - 2 Nicaragua U17 11/26/2009, Women's U17 Nicaragua U17 0 - 7 El Salvador U17 11/28/2009, Women's U17 Panama U17 3 - 1 El Salvador U17 Based on the two opening games it must have been quite a surprise to El Salvador to drop the final. I get the feeling Group B will be like walking a tightrope. Thanks Soccer9 that would fit the prep pattern almost perfectly, although it seems a little odd the boys 17's and girls 20's went deep South three times each and the 17 girls just the once. I wonder if they aren't planning an extra long buildup before the tournament with the cost savings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ref Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I understand that the U.S. U17 girls will be playing some friendlies in Argentina next week with Argentina and Chile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 2010 Concacaf U20 championship Schedule is out. http://www.concacaf.com/page/WUnder20s/NewsDetail/0,,12813~1892256,00.html GUATEMALA CITY - Canada will face Costa Rica to open the CONCACF Under-20 Women's Championship while host Guatemala will play Cuba later on January 20 in the struggle to determine the confederation's three qualifiers for the World Cup. Trinidad & Tobago will open play for Group B the following day against Mexico, with the reigning world champion United States completing the first round of group matches against Jamaica immediately afterward. Group A resumes on January 22 with Cuba taking on defending champion Canada, and Guatemala playing Costa Rica. Mexico and Jamaica face off on January 23 with Trinidad playing the United States. Group play concludes with Costa Rica facing Cuba, and Guatemala playing Canada on January 24, while Jamaica faces Trinidad, and the United States confronting Mexico a day later. The group winners will play the runners-up from the opposite group on January 28, with the championship and third-place matches set for Saturday, January 30. The finalists and third-place winner will qualify for next year's World Cup in Germany July 13-August 1. Group A Canada Costa Rica Guatemala Cuba Group B United States Mexico Jamaica Trinidad & Tobago SCHEDULE (Kickoff times in U.S. Eastern; local kickoff times in parentheses) FIRST ROUND Wednesday, January 20 Canada vs. Costa Rica, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.) Guatemala vs. Cuba, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.) Thursday, January 21 Trinidad & Tobago vs. Mexico, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.) Jamaica vs. United States, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.) Friday, January 22 Cuba vs. Canada, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.) Guatemala vs. Costa Rica, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.) Saturday, January 23 Mexico vs. Jamaica, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.) Trinidad & Tobago vs. United States, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.) Sunday, January 24 Costa Rica vs. Cuba 11 a.m. (10 a.m.) Guatemala vs. Canada, 1:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m.) Monday, January 25 Jamaica vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.) United States vs. Mexico, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.) SEMIFINALS Thursday, January 28 Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up, 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.) Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.) FINALS Saturday, January 30 Third Place Semifinal losers, 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.) Championship Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted December 3, 2009 Author Share Posted December 3, 2009 If the Cayman Islands (pop 50,000) beat the Dominican Republic in their home/away series beginning this weekend, they will face the Americans (pop 300,000,000) in Group A of the U17 tournament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 First Cayman/DR leg goes 2-2 in Dominican Republic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted December 14, 2009 Author Share Posted December 14, 2009 It's going to be USA v. Cayman Islands in a U17 Group game. I'm not sure if it's good or bad but it certainly is an event with a story. Can't wait to read the U.S. Soccer press previews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted December 14, 2009 Author Share Posted December 14, 2009 It's going to be USA v. Cayman Islands in a U17 Group game. I'm not sure if it's good or bad but it certainly is an event with a story. Can't wait to read the U.S. Soccer press previews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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