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roneWhy is it that you cannot find the US-Panama World Cup qualifier on any channel on Dish Network, which has forced me to follow their progress via FIFA's World Cup scoreboard? Why is it that ESPN would rather show socially stunted people playing poker than a crucial match that's a prelude to the preëminent sports tournament in the world?
After today's 3-0 humbling in Barranquilla, Colombia, Ecuador's path to the Cup is a little bumpier. Although they're still in third place, they're only a point up on Paraguay, and three up on Colombia and Chile (with Uruguay still skulking with a remote chance of squeaking in). In addition, they have two games as visitors left out of three, and they've only managed one tie to break up the monotony of losing away from home. This is what the coming games look like:
Ecuador:
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Paraguay:
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Colombia:
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Chile:
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Uruguay:
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Ecuador needs to beat Bolivia, the current last-place team. Since their strength at home is the same (thin air that makes Denver feel like a hill), Bolivia's edge should be dulled. Then they must win at home (which they've done in all their other games, except for a tie versus Perú) versus Uruguay. That should make the game in Chile a formality for them.
Argentina qualified today (as did Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Iran) after beating Brazil 3-1; thus, it's hard to predict whether they'll play their remaining games with their full team (they tried to slack already when they played in Quito last week by sitting two starters, but ended up playing poorly and losing 2-0). This probably means that Paraguay and Uruguay will not face as tough a match at home as you'd expect. Colombia has the toughest road, as it faces three other teams in the thick of qualification. Chile will have a very hard time not losing at Brazil, which will force it to win its remaining two games, and i don't expect them to win in Colombia, either. Uruguay very probably has to win every game, and i don't see it. So i see Brazil, Ecuador, and Paraguay joining Argentina in the Cup, with Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay duking it out for fifth place and a last-chance home-and-away with the Oceania champion (which will be determined in a home-and-away between Australia and the surprising Solomon Islands). It's a close guess, but Colombia has the points and the goal differential, so that's my pick.
And Panama-USA is over, 0-3. USA! USA!
