USA team in 15 years?

[Alex]

OK, let's pretend they're better than all the European sides, then.

Who said all of the European sides? Point is that European sides don't play "all of the European sides" in their qualifying either

 

[Mus]

Sweden would qualify over mexico

 

[Mandieta6]

Europeans don't face the top Europeans sides in the qualifying sure, but the 2nd and 3rd seeds are are as good if not better than most of the CONACAF teams and the Euro is at a much higher level than the Gold Cup.

Just the fact that the US is so high in the rankings is sufficient proof that of the difference in level in the two federations, considering what we know about how the rankings are calculated.

 

[Back Door Skip]

Sweden would qualify over mexico

Mexico would make them play in Veracruz and they would forfeit.

 

[Back Door Skip]

Europeans don't face the top Europeans sides in the qualifying sure, but the 2nd and 3rd seeds are are as good if not better than most of the CONACAF teams and the Euro is at a much higher level than the Gold Cup.

Just the fact that the US is so high in the rankings is sufficient proof that of the difference in level in the two federations, considering what we know about how the rankings are calculated.

You keep bringing up the Gold Cup, but the Gold Cup is a mickey mouse tournament that can't even begin to compare to qualifiers. Two thirds of those teams are knocked out by the time the hexagonal starts.

 

[MaestroZidane]

Europeans don't face the top Europeans sides in the qualifying sure, but the 2nd and 3rd seeds are are as good if not better than most of the CONACAF teams and the Euro is at a much higher level than the Gold Cup.

Just the fact that the US is so high in the rankings is sufficient proof that of the difference in level in the two federations, considering what we know about how the rankings are calculated.

I feel this argument is similar to when we are talking about which team is better or over-rated in the CL, because of their League.

 

[Bobby]

I think you guys are underestimating just how difficult it is to win in Central America.

 

[Mandieta6]

Is there another cup in the CONACAF? Do they participate in any sort of noteworthy tournament?

 

[Bobby]

Copa America occasionally. Copa Panamericana in 2016.

 

[Mandieta6]

So the US spends 2 years in quals, plays 3-4 matches in the WC, a meaningless competition and then just friendlies? Right.

 

[ARIAGA II]

Confederations Cup every now and then.

 

[Bobby]

That Olympic thing that takes about a week.

 

[Mandieta6]

Yeah, but both Olympics and WC (and Confed) have European participants, as well. So, the main differences are quals and Gold Cup vs Euros. But sure, the level at CONACAF is the same.

 

[Bobby]

Concacaf is the best.

 

[RobbieD_PL]

I think you guys are underestimating just how difficult it is to win in Central America.

Imagine if Central America had a single team. Would they make the quarters/semis @ a WC?

 

[Bobby]

Quarters, maybe. Costa Rica has a shot this year, they're better than CIV, Greece, or Japan.

The weird thing is that CRC doesn't exactly have a streamlined development system, it's pretty much all over the place. That might actually be a good thing though.

 

[Back Door Skip]

Costa Rica is basically a squad that Lavolpe built.

 

[football909]

You would be better off having just Mexico or Costa Rica etc rather than a central America team because the only reason they do well is they play well as a team. If they had the players to match the European teams there would a large number of central Americans in the premier league. The european sides have so much more quality in terms of players they just don't always play well as a team.

 

[RobbieD_PL]

You would be better off having just Mexico or Costa Rica etc rather than a central America team because the only reason they do well is they play well as a team. If they had the players to match the European teams there would a large number of central Americans in the premier league. The european sides have so much more quality in terms of players they just don't always play well as a team.

Central America = the 5 original republics from 1821. Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua + Costa Rica

 

[football909]

Central America = the 5 original republics from 1821. Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua + Costa Rica

Ok, I got one of the teams wrong but my point is still valid.