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USMNT Qualifiers: Why a Mountain Venue for Costa Rica Game Could Be Mistake
Published: January 6, 2013
The idea sounds good at first.
The USMNT can choose its home venues for hexagonal World Cup qualifiers. It has and will continue to choose game sites based on any perceived advantage a specific stadium may offer.
On March 22, the USMNT hosts Costa Rica in its second hexagonal qualifier for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Four days later, the USMNT travels to Mexico City for a game in the dreaded Estadio Azteca, at a smoggy 7,200 feet above sea level.
Therefore, why not use the Costa Rica game as an opportunity to acclimate to altitude? The U.S. needs to be careful here, or run the risk of outsmarting itself.
The formula for a successful campaign through the hex is clear: Win the home games.
As the name implies, the hex consists of six teams. After 10 rounds of games, the top three national sides advance to the World Cup. (Fourth place will play the Oceania winner for a spot in Brazil.) Given that CONCACAF qualifiers are notoriously difficult on the road, a successful campaign includes strong performances at home.
A team that can win all five of its home games most likely would not need a single point from the away ones.
Consider needing points from a trip to Panama City, where local fans of their national team are likely to enjoy all-night fireworks displays outside your hotel. Things can get downright nasty in CONCACAF, and teams do themselves a favor by not needing results on the road.
Because these two March games are many weeks after the Feb. 6 opener (when the USMNT travels to Honduras), players will return to their clubs after that first qualifier.
For the March 22 game, the Costa Rican roster includes numerous players who will be traveling from Costa R...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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