For the US, CONCACAF Competition Is a Joke

Last night, the United States hosted Mexico in Columbus, OH in the first of two matches between the foes in World Cup 2010 Qualifying. The result lived up to the billing ESPN provided, with a 2-0 win for the United States.

If you watched ESPN at all in the last week you knew that the Americans haven't lost to Mexico in the U.S. in over eight years. The wind was strong in Columbus and that took some of the quality out of the game, but all in all the United States played its traditional game of scrappy, yet utilitarian football.

For someone who watches two to three EPL games each weekend, this game was hard to watch. The passes weren't crisp and the marking wasn't great, but the United States knows how to beat their CONCACAF opponents.

Mexico, on the other hand, looked awful. They created a few chances, a couple of which should have been taken, but weren't. Mexico lacked the passion they usually bring to this fixture and seemed like zombies on the field.

For me, there was only one exciting moment in this game and that is when Rafa Marquez decided to come into Tim Howard with his studs up and was rightly sent off.

U.S. midfielder and coach's son Michael Bradley got both goals.

The first was a scrappy six-yard box rebound and the second on a well-hit shot that should have been smothered by the Mexican goalkeeper.

After winning this game, I simply cannot see the United States losing another match, and the only possibility of a loss may come on Aug. 12 when they have to go to the Estadio Azteca to face Mexico for the second match.

The CONCACAF lacks the quality of the other regions in World Cup qualifying. The United States is so far ahead of the rest that it makes their qualifying games hard to watch. Mexico—once the powerhouse of the division—barely advanced to the final qualifying stage, getting through on goal differential.

The United States can't do much about their qualification opponents, but the lack of tough opposition makes it hard to judge their quality going into the World Cup every four years.

In 2002, the United States was able to squeak by the group stage thanks to the Republic of Korea upsetting Portugal to win the group by three points.

Then came the first knockout round. The United States' 2-0 victory over CONCACAF rivals Mexico sent a shockwave through the rivalry from which Mexico has not yet been able to come back.

The United States then fought Germany tooth and nail and had Oliver Kahn not played one of his career best matches, the US could have won the game 4-1. They didn't, but an appearance in the final eight of the World Cup was something they could take pride in.

In 2006, the United States was drawn in what ended up being the "Group of Death" with African powerhouse Ghana, eventual champion Italy, and a strong Czech Republic side.

The United States was only able to come away with one point finishing last in the group. The U.S. drew with Italy in a game that got away from the referee (the game ended with only 19 men on the field), and a very questionable penalty was granted to Ghana that gave them a late-winner and sent them through, and the U.S. packing.

Hopefully the United States will have some better luck in the draw in 2010. Anything would be better than the group they were a part of in 2006.

Wednesday's 2-0 qualifying result against Mexico is probably the start of another easy qualifying run for the U.S.

The question—as it was for the last World Cup—may just end up being: Does the lack of real competition in CONCACAF put the United States at a disadvantage in 2010?

I would argue that 2002 and 2006 should have shown us that the United States has the fittest team in the entire World Cup. Everyone who starts can go 90 minutes, because that is what Bob Bradley expects.

That fitness can only make up for a lack of quality to a certain extent, not the whole way. It is becoming more and more evident which U.S. national players play in Europe and which play in the MLS. Clint Dempsey makes passes to his U.S. teammates that need good touches and precision that his MLS teammates just don't possess.

Michael Bradley continues to impress, and is maybe the truest holding midfielder the United States has had since John Harkes. He can go forward when needed, but can close down just about anybody whether it's in the center of the pitch or at the top of his own penalty box. His time at Herenveen and now at Monchengladbach is evident in his play.

Until the CONCACAF improves as a group, the United States is going to have to challenge itself in friendlies against the world's top 30 teams as much as it possibly can.

The installation of Bob Bradley and the natural evolution of United States soccer will help the U.S. in the 2010 World Cup. The United States' World Cup expectations have to be to get to the knockout phase.

The question has been, and will remain: Does the competition they'll face this year in qualifying do anything to prepare them for South Africa?