Mexican InterLiga to Kick-off January Tournaments
by Richard Farley on Jan 1, 2010 5:19 PM EST
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We are close to the end of the gigantic World Cup group previews, but as we await the previews of Groups E and G (which will be the Group of Death? Guess, below), club and international football moves on with two exciting tournaments.
Starting this weekend in Texas, the FMF starts InterLiga: the between-tournaments competition held to decide the country's final entrants into Copa Libertadores. Chivas, Morelia and San Luis are already in (anybody want to share the story of why Chivas and San Luis are already in the knock-out round?), while Cruz Azul, Pachuca, Pumas and Toluca are not eligible for Copa (as they are in CONCACAF Champions League).
That leaves this year's eight clubs: América, Atlante, Estudiantes and Santos in Group A; Chiapas, Monterrey, Puebla and Tigres.
Monterrey won the Apertura and, if they can get through InterLiga, would be a legitimate contender to take the Copa. In all likelihood, however, they will have to beat either América or Santos in a win-and-in match.
Why do I say that? You can read why in my preview, which was published earlier today at Set Piece Analysts. You can go here to read about how I'd order the clubs, in terms of likelihood of advancing.
Throughout the week we will be podcasting (over at SPA) on InterLiga, but here at World Soccer Digest, I will be sure to keep everybody informed. It is one of the last pieces to the 2010 Copa Libertadores puzzle, and if you don't think myself and SantiagoColombia will be chatting up Copa Lib, you must be new to the blog: Welcome!
In addition ...
We are now less than two weeks away from the African Cup of Nations: Africa's continental championship. Over the last two weeks, players all over the world have left their clubs to join their national teams as the sixteen qualifiers prepared for the championships in Angola.
After I am done with the World Cup analysis (which should be by Wednesday), I will break down the Cup of Nations groups. If you can't wait to get started, I recommend looking up Group A and Group C, comparing the depth of each, and just shaking your head.
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Chivas and San luis are in
because of the whole swine flu fiasco that let them out of last year edition in the first knockout round because of the unwillingnes of the south american teams to fly to Mexico and the inhablility to get a neutral ground for the games.
Richard, do you know how the knockout round is gonna be played, are they gonna eliminate the two worst seconds? or is there a special elimination round to get the number to 16?
"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that." Bill Shankly
And Vincent saw the corn
And Einstein the number
And Zeppelin the Zeppelin
And Johan saw the ball
--Dutch cabaret song
by SantiagoColombia on Jan 1, 2010 6:44 PM EST reply actions
That's the big impact ...
… because they are going to take only the six best second place, group stage finishers. If you are a club in a group with two other strong sides, you’re at a huge disadvantage.
The upside for us: it makes more group stage matches important. Whereas last year a club could have second place locked up going into their last match and could afford to cruise, this year they have to get conscious of the other second place finishers.
by Richard Farley on Jan 2, 2010 10:49 AM EST up reply actions
i can guarantee you
that at least one of those two second teams being eliminated os going to be from Colombia. The other important effect this decision is going to have is that this is probably the best chance the mexican teams will have to win the Libertadores.
"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that." Bill Shankly
And Vincent saw the corn
And Einstein the number
And Zeppelin the Zeppelin
And Johan saw the ball
--Dutch cabaret song
by SantiagoColombia on Jan 2, 2010 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
So there's a chance that Mexico represents both
CONMEBOL and CONCACAF at a future Club World Cup?
That woudl be too funny, and might just force a change in the silly tiered knockout format.
I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
I wonder what would happen ...
… in a Mexican team won Copa Lib. I would assume that the other finalist would represent CONCACAF instead, but yeesh. Who knows?
Props to Dave for pointing that out.
by Richard Farley on Jan 2, 2010 9:21 PM EST up reply actions
if a mexican team wins
the CONMEBOL team which finished in the highest position goes to the world club cup instead. However the mexican team gets to play the Recopa against the winner of the sudamericana.
"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that." Bill Shankly
And Vincent saw the corn
And Einstein the number
And Zeppelin the Zeppelin
And Johan saw the ball
--Dutch cabaret song
by SantiagoColombia on Jan 2, 2010 9:33 PM EST up reply actions
Silly rules
If a team can compete in a tourney it should get all the rewards for winning it.
I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
I found out this weekend ...
… that Copa does not allow two non-SA team in the final. So, in the case that there is an FMF and a CONMEBOL team in the final, the CONMEBOL team will have already qualified.
BTW, anybody else impressed by América? Particularly given their near-two month lay-off?
by Richard Farley on Jan 4, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
