SOCCER\Not just consolation game for U.S.Byline: Tom Timmermann Thomas Henry Timmermann (May 12, 1940 - ), was a Major League Baseball pitcher for six seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1969-1973) and Cleveland Indians (1973-1974). Born in Breese, Illinois, Timmerman was a tall (6'4") right-handed pitcher who attended Southern Illinois University. Daily News Deputy Sports Editor Noun 1. sports editor - the newspaper editor responsible for sports news newspaper editor - the editor of a newspaper The U.S. soccer team will be relegated to the undercard un·der·card n. The event or events coming before and supporting the main event, as of boxing matches. today as Brazil and Mexico meet for the CONCACAF CONCACAF Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Soccer) CONCACAF Confederacion Norte, Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol Asociacion (Spanish) Gold Cup championship at the Coliseum. The United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , a 1-0 loser to Brazil on Thursday, will face Guatemala in the third-place match at 2 p.m., prior to the championship match at 4 p.m. But for the Americans, this is not only a consolation match, but, potentially, another semifinal on the way to the championship of the North and Central American and Caribbean region. That's because under the tournament's convoluted rules, if Brazil, which is competing here by special invitation, wins the tournament today, the second- and third-place teams will meet in a home-and-home series to determine the region's representative in the Intercontinental Cup next January. (The Intercontinental Cup, held in Saudi Arabia, consists of the champions of FIFA's continental confederations.) That means that the Guatemala match is not one to be taken lightly for the Americans. "We must get motivated for the third-place game," said U.S. coach Steve Sampson. "The Intercontinental Cup is a great opportunity for the team and, financially, a great opportunity for the federation." "It's important to go out and play (Guatemala) and make sure we get third and go to the final," said defender Marcelo Balboa. If that sounds as if people are conceding the final to Brazil, well, it's hard to argue with them. Even though Brazil sent only its Olympic team to this tournament - and not even its full Olympic team at that - it has been the tournament's top team. Though the United States gave it trouble in the semifinal, Brazil's defense was almost impenetrable. In three matches, Brazil has allowed only one goal. Mexico hasn't had much call to show what it can do in this tournament. It was never tested by St. Vincent and the Grenadines Noun 1. St. Vincent and the Grenadines - an island country in the central Windward Islands; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1979 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and then posted back-to-back 1-0 wins against a Guatemalan team that had barely played in the past three years. Mexico looked iffy if·fy adj. if·fi·er, if·fi·est Informal Doubtful; uncertain: an iffy proposition. [From if. in its first game, sharper in the second. Mexico coach Bora bo·ra n. A violent, cold, northeasterly winter wind on the Adriatic Sea. [Italian dialectal, from Latin Bore Milutinovic has his problems with the tournament format; he said after his semifinal win over Guatemala that he felt by reaching the final, his team should go to the Intercontinental Cup regardless of today's result. Guatemala is a relevant opponent for the U.S. team. The two nations are likely third-round opponents in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup. |
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