FiftyFive.One

The Soccering: The Greatest Summer of Soccer in North America in a Generation

As we here at Fiftyfive.one started discussing soccer events this summer, we began to realize it was more than just the usual international competitions. No, this would be The Soccering, or #SOCCERING2016, the greatest summer of soccer in North America in a generation.

The Copa Centenario played here in the US. Euro 2016. The Olympics. Domestic competitions. It’s going to be great.

Looking at all the soccering you will quickly see what a great time it is to be a US-based fan of the game: The Copa Centenario played here in the US, Euro 2016 in France, the Olympics in Brazil.

On top of that, all of our domestic competitions will be still going on: NASL, USOC, USL, MLS, APL, PLA, NPSL, USLPDL…the list goes on. For much of the summer, you can find great soccer on TV nearly all day long.

It’s going to be great.

We’ll be providing daily coverage of the Copa Centenario with a special section under News on our menu above., sharing the highlights and lowlights of a unique soccer spectacle. Who will win the Western Hemisphere?

Group A: United States, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Paraguay

How the USMNT could make a run to the final in this year’s Copa Centenario.

Earlier today, Jeff Rueter looked at how the USMNT could make a run to the final in this year’s tournament. However, that master plan greatly hinges on them getting second in Group A, so he predicted them finishing second in the group.

While Colombia (one of the darlings of the 2014 World Cup) is the most talented roster in the group, they haven’t done well to live up to their “Golden Generation” moniker. One of the centerpieces of this movement (striker Radamel Falcao) has seen a nearly unprecedented fall from grace over the past two years and was left off of this lineup entirely. Still, mastermind James Rodriguez is likely one of the top three players in this year’s tournament (along with a couple of guys named Messi and Suarez), and Juan Cuadrado is no slouch as option B.

Another Cinderella story from the 2014 World Cup, Costa Rica has been in their own mire of floundering results since the tournament in Brazil. Many key players have been in poor form, and starting goalkeeper Keylor Nevas (Real Madrid) looks set to miss the tournament due to injury. His backups both play in a Costa Rican domestic league which isn’t known for defending or goalkeeping expertise. Arsenal’s Joel Campbell is the player to watch for The Ticos.

Finally, there’s Paraguay. Given their results at the turn of the decade, it’d seem foolish to write Los Guaranies off. However, Paraguay has a nearly-historic record of bombing out of major tournaments, and the promise they showed in 2010 has mostly fizzled out. Of the 23-man roster, seven slots were given to forwards, giving a clear indication that Paraguay will try to score in numbers. I just don’t see that happening. –Jeff Rueter

Group B: Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, and Peru

Group B is not All About Brazil.

No matter what Copa Cenatrio marketers, history, and that random dude three cubicles down whose comment in every soccer conversation is, “yeah, well, that guy’s no Pele”, Group B is not All About Brazil.

Ecuador has quietly built a consistent pest of a squad, determined to cause problems for the rest of the continent, and awaiting a breakthrough talent to reach the upper echelon (they also get an added bonus for having a strong voice in the Twin Cities).

Haiti has made major strides after a recent spate of disasters, and they offer a tricky challenge to unexpecting global powers during friendlies.

And Peru has…uh…well…um…they’ve inspired admiration for their famous jerseys among fashion-forward fans…so…they’ve got that going for them!

Alright, fine. Brazil is going to win Group B and Ecuador will (barring a stunning upset) make the second round as well, but feel free to make a daring pick or two just to surprise your friends or just the guy three cubicles down. –Ben Mackenzie

Group C: Mexico, Uruguay, Jamaica, and Venezuela

Some people might think that the US is hosting Copa Centenario, but after the attendances of  Mexico got in their two friendlies or US soil, one might be forgiven for thinking the tournament is being held in Mexico.

Some people might think that the US is hosting Copa Centenario, but after the attendances of  Mexico got in their two friendlies or US soil, one might be forgiven for thinking the tournament is being held in Mexico.

Led by Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, Mexico is on the upswing after winning the 2015 Gold Cup and then beat the USMNT in the CONCACAF Championship, punching their ticket for the Confederations Cup.

Likely fighting over the second spot in the quarterfinals will be Uruguay and Jamaica so circle their matchup on June 13th in Santa Clara, CA.

For Uruguay, the small South American country always seems to perform well, even if it means playing the very physical style they are known for. They will be tough for any team to beat but the question will be if Luis Suarez will be able to provide the firepower to win.

Jamaica surprised many with a great performance at the Gold Cup last summer, knocking the US out in the semifinals before falling to group foe Mexico in a very controversial final. Could Jamaica use that frustration to surprise group favorites Mexico in Arizona on June 5th?

Venezuela is the also-ran in this group, a team that rarely manages to have much success in international soccer. Hopefully, the team’s performance will not be as bad as the state of Venezuela’s economy. –Bill Stenross

Group D: Bolivia, Panama, Chile, and Argentina

I defy you to find one single person that thinks someone other than Chile and Argentina will qualify from this group.

I defy you to find one single person that thinks someone other than Chile and Argentina will qualify from this group. The two play on June 6, after which most people will pencil in Chile and Argentina into their respective places in the quarterfinals and think no more about the entire tournament. The idea that either Argentina, one of the two powerhouses of the game in the Americas, or Chile, last year’s Copa winners, could miss out on the quarterfinals is pretty ludicrous.

I would like to write “you ignore Bolivia at your peril,” but Bolivia is… kind of bad. They got hammered 4-0 by the USA in a warm-up game, but they’re also coming off recent beatings by group members Argentina (7-0 in a friendly in Houston last fall) and Chile (5-0 in last year’s Copa America). Occasionally, Bolivia wins World Cup qualifying games because they play them in La Paz, which is roughly four hundred miles above sea level and lacks oxygen of any kind, but they struggle otherwise. If Bolivia earns a point against anyone but Panama, it will be surprising.

Panama has a bunch of veterans you’ve seen in MLS, including Blas Perez, the single most annoying human being in all of CONCACAF. If you don’t know Perez, watch any Panama or Vancouver Whitecaps game; he is the one you will want to bludgeon to death after 15 minutes. He cheats, he dives, he employs the entire bag of tricks. He’s part of a squad that has had some okay recent results; Panama got CONCACAF’d in the semifinals of last year’s Gold Cup, against Mexico, and they’ll probably make the final round of World Cup qualifying. But they probably won’t make it out of this group; like Bolivia, their best hope is to get something in one of the two games against powers.

I doubt I really need to tell you much about Argentina and Chile, but here goes: Argentina has Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, and Messi. If you put those three on a team with four randomly selected defenders and any Copa team’s backup goalkeeper, I would have to think hard about whether I still wouldn’t pick them to finish in the top two in this group. Chile has Arturo Vidal, who might be as annoying as Perez but with far more talent, and Alexis Sanchez, who provides the grace to go with Vidal’s hard-headed midfield creative wizardry.

Much will be decided on June 6. If Argentina loses to Chile or vice versa, the losing team will be under serious pressure to not slip up in its final two group games, while the winning team should coast into the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, if the Panama-Bolivia match produces a winner, the losing team will start packing while the winning team starts hoping for an upset and a surprise quarterfinal berth. –Jon Marthaler

Special thanks to Jeremy Olson, digitalgopher.com, for allowing us to use for our #SOCCERING2016 logo his excellent photo of US fans before 2013 World Cup Qualifier against Mexico.