SURPRISING JOHN KERRY DIDN'T TRY TO STOP THE GAME:

Mexico, U.S. taking different routes to 2010 World Cup: While a victory over El Salvador is regarded as a foregone conclusion for the Mexicans, the Americans must overcome a Honduran team that at home is undefeated and has outscored opponents, 22-3. (Grahame L. Jones, October 10, 2009, LA Times)

[M]arquez and Mexico have only to defeat El Salvador at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City today (3 p.m., Telemundo). A Mexico victory is regarded as a foregone conclusion outside of El Salvador.

For Davies and the U.S., the task is more complicated. They will have to overcome Honduras on the road today in San Pedro Sula, where the home team is 8-0-0 and has outscored opponents, 22-3, during the 2010 qualifying campaign.

That has not stopped Davies, 23, from making a prediction that, all things considered, was best left unspoken.

"By beating Spain in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup [in June] and by narrowly losing to Brazil in the final, we showed we can do something global," Davies told L'Equipe in France. "With the players we have, if things go well, we can win the World Cup."

Bob Bradley, the U.S. soccer coach, has no doubt had a quiet word with Davies since that rash prediction and has perhaps told him that actually getting to the World Cup might be a good idea before talking about winning it.

Not with Bob Bradley coaching. Why not hire Roy Hodgson, whop keeps getting passed over for the England jobe because he's English.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 10, 2009 6:41 AM